Sports
High schools: Skyler Steele powers Frontier softball past Wahconah
It was a birthday to remember for Skyler Steele.The Frontier slugger smacked a home run and drove in five runs as the Redhawks cruised to a 15-3 victory over Wahconah in a Franklin County League West contest on Monday at Zabek Field in South...
Bulletin board: Landon Allenby, Lucas Allenby shine at USA Snowboard and Freeski Association Nationals
Greenfield’s Landon Allenby and Lucas Allenby traveled to Copper Mountain in Colorado to compete in the United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association Nationals earlier this month, and the brothers showed out well against the best in the...
Baseball: Athol outlasts Franklin Tech in nine-inning thriller (PHOTOS)
By THOMAS JOHNSTON
TURNERS FALLS — Tied 4-4 after seven innings, extra frames were needed to decide a winner between the Franklin Tech and Athol baseball teams on Monday. Both teams stranded a runner on third base in the eighth, but it was the Bears that broke through...
GMLB, Newt Guilbault gets seasons underway Sunday (PHOTOS)
By THOMAS JOHNSTON
Greenfield Minor League Baseball and Newt Guilbault Community Baseball League held their opening days on Sunday, each getting their seasons underway with a parade followed by the first day of games. In a GMLB Majors contest, Maniatty Real Estate’s...
Bulletin Board: Gary Tashjian, Cheri McCarthy win Twice As Smart Pickleball Tournament
Four Rivers Charter School student Sam Whitney hosted the Twice As Smart Pickleball Tournament on Saturday at Green River Park in Greenfield, raising $1,500 for “Twice as Smart,” a Greenfield based program that tutors and supports at-risk...
Greenfield Girls Softball League opens its 2024 season (PHOTOS)
By THOMAS JOHNSTON
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Girls Softball League kicked off its season on Saturday at Murphy Park, with Franklin First Credit Union squaring off against Freedom Credit Union in Junior Division action. Behind a trio of hits and three strikeouts in the...
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...
