GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Hundreds of athletes from throughout Berkshire County converged at Monument Mountain Regional High School on Wednesday for the 38th annual Berkshire Area Special Olympics Track and Field Meet.
Participants competed in running, throwing and jumping events, thrilling to their own accomplishments and inspiring those lucky enough to witness the event.
The opening ceremony featured a torch run conducted by area law enforcement officers, a performance of the national anthem by the Monument Mountain marching band and a reading of the Special Olympic Oath by Kaitlyn Critchley.
"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt," Critchley reminded her fellow athletes.
The opening ceremony also included the bestowment of a number of special awards, including the Keith C. White Memorial Award, won by Jake Bassi; the Ellen C. and Sheilah Graham Award, won by Taylor Fera; and the Daniel Holian Award, won by TJ. Guaccione.
Monument Mountain Principal Marianne Young was presented a special award in recognition of her 16 years as principal at the school, which has hosted the county event for all but one of the 38 years.
Young said the celebration of sport teaches valuable lessons to the students from Monument Mountain, Mount Everett, Lee and Lenox who participate as volunteers.
"I think it demonstrates that there are all kinds of people in the world, and we all are welcome and have a right to participate in life and in programs, regardless of our personal characteristics," she said. "Our students see that all people are entitled to and really enjoy competition, athletics, challenges.
"And then our regular ed students get to help other people who can’t do these things alone. Students who can do those things alone help and give back."
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Belchertown Stops Pittsfield Post 68
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Belchertown Post 239’s Cooper Beckwith set the tone when he crushed the game’s first pitch to left-center field for a double.
The visitors went on to pound out 14 more hits in a 9-1 win over Pittsfield Post 68 in American Legion Baseball action at Buddy Pellerin Field on Monday night.
Beckwith went 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice, and Chase Earle went five innings on the mound without allowing an earned run as Post 239 improved to 15-0 this summer and completed a regular-season sweep of Post 68 (12-4).
“He’s a good pitcher,” Post 68 coach Rick Amuso said. “Good velo[city], kept the ball down. We didn’t respond.”
Pittsfield did manage to scratch out a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, when it already trailed, 7-0.
Nick Brindle reached on an error to start the inning. He moved up on a single by Jack Reed (2-for-2) and scored on a single to left by Cam Zerbato.
That was half the hits allowed by Earle, who struck out three before giving the ball to Alex West, who gave up a leadoff walk in the sixth and retired the next six batters he faced.
The game-winning rally started when Pittsfield junior Jack Abel led off by crushing a 1-1 pitch to left-center and racing all the way to third base, sliding in just ahead of the tag to give the Generals a sterling scoring opportunity. click for more
The Pittsfield baseball team Saturday rallied for five runs in the top of the sixth inning to break a 5-5 tie and went on to a 12-5 win over Clinton in the quarter-finals of the Division 4 State Tournament. click for more
Amanda Pou was named the most valuable player of the regional final after striking out four and walking none in a complete-game effort in the circle. She also ripped a two-run double in Pittsfield’s four-run fourth-inning rally to break open a scoreless game. click for more