SteepleCats Finish Season with a 'W'

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
11:40PM / Thursday, July 30, 2026Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- When SteepleCats designated hitter Tony Woodie Thursday crushed a two-run home run over the fence in left center, he rounded the bases pumping his fist and was greeted in the dugout by teammates leaping in a wild celebration.

For a moment, it was hard to tell which team at Joe Wolfe Field was playing for its postseason life and which was playing out the string.

Woodie's blast highlighted a six-hit attack for North Adams as it beat Keene, N.H., 7-4, in the SteepleCats' season finale.

Woodie went 2-for-4 with three RBIs -- two on the homer -- and nine North Adams pitchers, throwing one inning apiece, combined to strike out 10 as the 'Cats completed their summer with a record of 10-30 and dropped the Swamp Bats two games under .500 with one game left to play.

"Testament to these guys," North Adams coach Mike Gladu said. "They could have easily come out here today and not did what they did. When I talk to them about grittiness, it definitely showed tonight. I'm just happy for them.

"It's easy to walk away when things aren't going good. And for these guys to stay and go through this and find a little fun at the end of the tunnel, I'm excited for them."

It undeniably has been a long season for North Adams in terms of wins and losses, but it ended the year with two wins in its final three games: a road win on Monday at Newport, R.I., and Thursday's win over Keene, which ended the night two games behind Holyoke in the loss column.

Holyoke is scheduled for a double-header tomorrow while Keene finishes its season at home against Upper Valley.

It has been a while since the SteepleCats had to worry about the standings.

But they did what they had to do on Thursday to send their fans home with something to smile about.

North Adams jumped on top early with four in the bottom of the first to take a 4-0 lead and never looked back.

Woodie and Parker Camelo each singled in a run, and Taconic graduate Nick Guachione worked a walk and scored a run during the opening rally.

Keene got a run back in the top of the second and two in the third to draw within a run at 4-3.

But in the bottom of the fourth, Alex Barrist hit a two-out single and came all the way around to score on Matthew Colella's RBI double to make it a two-run game.

Then came the seventh, when Woodie gave the SteepleCats some breathing room.

After Nelphie Lopez was hit by a pitch and lifted for a pinch-runner with two out, Woodie hit his second home run of the season to put North Adams up by four.

Keene scratched out a run against Richie Kerstetter (two strikeouts) in the top of the eighth, but the winning pitcher in last weekend's New England Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game got a groundball out to strand a runner at second and end the inning.

Parker Guthrie then delivered a scoreless ninth, striking out the last two Swamp Bats to end the game.

Although nights like Thursday were rare for the SteepleCats, Gladu said that it was a positive summer for the team -- in part because of the development that players look for in a summer league like the NECBL and, in part, because of North Adams' struggle to accumulate wins.

"We had some good things," Gladu said. "But at the end of the day, the things that we failed on, the guys have to learn from that and carry that on in their careers. You'll learn a lot more when you fail than you do when you win."

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NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
03:33PM / Friday, October 16, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.

The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.

"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."

Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.

Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.

The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.

Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.

Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.

The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.

The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.

"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."

Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.

"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."

He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.

"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."

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