Sports
High schools: South Hadley softball holds off Frontier rally for 5-4 victory (PHOTOS)
A day after completing a comeback victory over Greenfield, the Frontier softball team looked like it had another rally in the works on Friday against South Hadley.The Tigers held a 1-0 lead going into the sixth inning when the Redhawks rallied,...
Softball: Franklin Tech’s Hannah Gilbert holds Hopkins to two hits, leads Eagles to 7-1 victory (PHOTOS)
By THOMAS JOHNSTON
TURNERS FALLS — After giving up a run in the first inning, Franklin Tech pitcher Hannah Gilbert locked in for the final six frames on Friday against Hopkins Academy. The junior gave up one hit and one walk in the first and one hit in the third, but...
Keeping Score with Chip Ainsworth: What’s ahead for Greg Carvel’s crew?
Good morning!During Denver’s four-game run to its 10th national title, Pioneers goalie Matt Davis allowed three goals. The first was by Liam Gorman, his only goal in a UMass uniform, the second by Cornell’s Nick DeSantis, and the last was by BU’s Luke...
High schools: Abigail Schreiber’s hit propels Frontier softball past Greenfield, 3-2
It wasn’t looking good for the Frontier softball team heading into the bottom of the sixth inning against Greenfield on Thursday. The two-time defending state champs held a 2-0 lead, but the Redhawks were able to get a run back in the sixth. Seventh...
Baseball: Frontier handles Greenfield 12-2 in five-inning victory (PHOTOS)
By THOMAS JOHNSTON
GREENFIELD — All three games between the Greenfield and Frontier baseball teams last spring were decided by one run. The Redhawks made sure to leave no doubt when the two squads met Thursday at Vets Field. Frontier jumped out to a 3-1 lead after two...
The Real Score: Curveballs and casinos rarely save cities
About 10 years ago, the two major urban centers of central and western Massachusetts decided to engage in new regional industrial policy to spur on their local economies. Worcester and Springfield had been effectively hollowed up by decades of...
High schools: Frontier girls tennis picks up 5-0 win over Turners (PHOTOS)
Make it two Tri-County North League wins to open the season for the Frontier girls tennis team. After knocking off Greenfield in their league opener, the Redhawks followed it up with a 5-0 victory over Turners Falls on Wednesday in South...
Florence’s Gabby Thomas gearing up for 2024 Paris Olympics
By JOSHUA SPAULDING
NEW YORK — Gabby Thomas has an Olympic experience under her belt and two Olympic medals she can wear around her neck. And as she gears up for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials ahead of the Paris Olympics, she took part in the Team USA Media Summit on...
High Schools: Two-run first inning propels Pioneer baseball past Turners
Turners Falls pitcher Joey Mosca did all he could to hold down a potent Pioneer lineup on Tuesday. Mosca gave up two runs in the first inning but settled in from there, not allowing a run the rest of the way while striking out six. The Turners bats...
Softball: Hannah Gilbert allows two hits as Franklin Tech knocks off Blackstone Valley, 7-3 (PHOTOS)
By THOMAS JOHNSTON
TURNERS FALLS — It was a unique early season challenge the Franklin Tech softball team faced on Tuesday. The Eagles hosted Blackstone Valley Tech — an unfamiliar Central Mass. team which made it to the MIAA Div. 4 Round of 16 last year and bumped up...
UMass basketball: Matt Cross reportedly enters transfer portal
By GARRETT COTE
AMHERST — The vicious one-two frontcourt punch that helped the UMass men’s basketball team to its best season in a decade is now gone.Forward Matt Cross has entered the transfer portal, according to multiple reports early Tuesday afternoon. Cross...
High schools: Mahar softball can’t stay with Northampton in 20-6 loss (PHOTOS)
The Mahar softball team is working hard to get its first win in a long time. The Senators — which are still searching for their first win post COVID — hosted Northampton on Monday, but the Blue Devils put runs up on the board in a hurry. Northampton...
Baseball: Sam Connors, Mahar get past Smith Academy for win No. 2 (PHOTOS)
By THOMAS JOHNSTON
ORANGE — The Mahar baseball team couldn’t have asked for a better first inning on Monday against Smith Academy. After Sam Connors shut down the Falcons in the top of the frame, it didn’t take the Senator bats long to get going when it was their turn...
High schools: Big fifth inning powers Pioneer baseball past Greenfield
By THOMAS JOHNSTON
NORTHFIELD — Not even the pouring rain could slow down the Pioneer bats in the fifth inning on Friday against Greenfield. It was the Green Wave that kicked off the scoring in the fifth, putting three runs on the board in the top of the frame to take a...
Boys volleyball: Athol can’t stay with Holyoke in 3-0 loss (PHOTOS)
By GARRETT COTE
HOLYOKE — Already down two sets to none against Holyoke, the Athol boys volleyball team was in a do-or-die situation late in the third set. With the frame tied at nine apiece, the Bears used a 7-2 run to storm ahead 16-11 and capture all momentum...
Max Homa is among a group of Masters contenders who are vying for their first major title
By STEVE REED
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Max Homa figures if he can conquer the mental task of playing well in a group with Tiger Woods for 36 holes at the Masters, he can accomplish pretty much anything in golf.That includes winning his first major championship.Homa was at 6...
Kentucky hires BYU’s Mark Pope as men’s basketball coach to replace John Calipari
By GARY B. GRAVES
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Initially off the radar among Kentucky’s coaching targets, Mark Pope is now entrusted with maintaining the program’s gold standard.Makes sense, since he helped do so as a player.Kentucky hired the BYU coach to guide its men’s...
Kentucky hires BYU’s Mark Pope as men’s basketball coach to replace John Calipari
By GARY B. GRAVES
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Initially off the radar among Kentucky’s coaching targets, Mark Pope is now entrusted with maintaining the program’s gold standard.Makes sense, since he helped do so as a player.Kentucky hired the BYU coach to guide its men’s...
Keeping Score with Chip Ainsworth: Orioles hand Red Sox a dose of reality
Good morning!Fresh off good reviews in Peoria, the Boston Red Sox returned home this week and got smacked around by their division nemesis the Baltimore Orioles who rolled sevens to beat them in back-to-back games, 7-1 and 7-5.While Boston fretted,...
High schools: Mohawk Trail softball pulls away from Pioneer, 19-4 (PHOTOS)
By THOMAS JOHNSTON
NORTHFIELD — After a big first inning for Pioneer, Riley Giard and the Mohawk Trail softball team shut the Panthers offense down the rest of the way. The Warriors got things going with two runs in the first inning but the Panthers responded by tacking...
