SwampBats Snap SteepleCats Win Streak

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —The week-long fire that has been the SteepleCats offense has finally seemed to cool down.

In a makeup game for the June 24th contest, the Keene SwampBats traveled to North Adams and gathering hits all across the field while driving in a total of 14 runs for an eventual 14-2 win over the North Adams SteepleCats.

The SwampBats offense came alive early on Monday, bringing in eight of their fourteen runs in just the first three innings. Much of this damage was done off of SteepleCats starting pitcher Cam Kovachik. The right-hander surrendered the eight runs off of nine hits while walking three.

There wasn’t much help in the field near the start of the game, as two fielding errors in the 1st allowed the big inning to continue for Keene.

Pitching a total of 3.3 innings combined, newly acquired pitchers Andy Purpura and Davis Brown took control of the hill after Kovachik.

Purpura, a sophomore at Centenary College of New Orleans looked strong in the 4th, only allowing one base runner off a walk and striking out one. But the SwampBats seemed to have his number in the 5th, plating six more runs courtesy of four hits, bringing the game just out of reach for the home team.

Davis Brown followed Purpura, as the Amherst College senior allowed just two hits while striking out two in his 2.2 innings on the hill.

Position players Jackson Coutts and Dillon Mendel each tossed an inning for North Adams to close the game. The pair each gave up a hit but held the SwampBats to their run total of fourteen.

For an offense that scored 42 runs over their previous four games, the North Adams lineup seemed to have run out of power on Monday night. Keene’s starting pitcher Colby Dunlop was in complete control of the SteepleCats through his five innings, striking out seven with just two hits allowed. The only damage the SteepleCats made was against the third reliever for Keene in Danger Guevera, as the home offense finally drove two runs in off of three hits to remove the zero on the scoreboard in the 8th.

The SteepleCats head on the road on Tuesday to face off against the Winnipesaukee Muskrats at 6:30. Wednesday however the SteepleCats return home to take on the Sanford Mainers on 4th of July. Following the game’s conclusion, a fireworks celebration will take place just outside the outfield fence to celebrate the holiday. Tickets for Wednesday’s game can be found at www.steeplecats.org or be purchased at the ticket booth one hour prior to the game’s start.

Photos from this game here.

McCann Postsecondary Graduates 'Battle Tested'

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
05:11AM / Tuesday, June 04, 2024

Superintendent James Brosnan tells the graduates to acknowledge those who helped them along the way. See more photos here. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The McCann Postsecondary program graduated 21 students Monday night.

 

School Committee Chairman Gary Rivers addressed the graduates and told them they have already proven themselves.  

 

"You are battle-tested and battle-approved. You have stayed the course and successfully navigated the twists and turns that you have faced this year," he said. "It doesn't surprise me in the least that you are probably all sitting here this evening with a job ready to go as soon as you leave McCann." 

 

He told the graduates to value their life experiences.

 

"Remember experience is knowledge but knowledge is not experience, and I know you all have life experiences that will make you successful in your work or whatever path you follow," he concluded.

 

Superintendent James Brosnan welcomed the graduates and their families in his address and asked the graduates to acknowledge those who have helped them along the way. 

 

"The class of 2024, it is my honor to welcome you," he said. " …We are here to celebrate the class of 2024, and the hard work, and also the family and friends who supported you."