Witek, Racine Earn Athlete of Week Honors

Two game-winning hits by two of their teams' biggest contributors highlighted the final week of regular season baseball and softball in Berkshire County.

 

And for their efforts, Pittsfield's Chase Racine and Hoosac Valley's Rylynn Witek are this week's iBerkshires.com/Southwestern Vermont Health Care Athletes of the Week.

 

Witek is one of the top hitters and the ace pitcher for the 12-4 Hoosac Valley softball team.

 

On Friday, she earned the 100th hit of her high school softball career -- one that included the lost season of 2020.

 

But her milestone hit was only her first triple of the game and not even the most memorable.

 

The most memorable came when she tripled again to drive in a pair of runs in the top of the 10th inning as the Hurricanes outlasted Mount Greylock, 10-8, in a battle of two of the top teams in Division 5 in the state.

 

This week, Hoosac Valely tunes up for the state tourney by starting play in the District 1 Western Mass tourney. As the second seed in Class D, the 'Canes host No. 7 Ware in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

 

Pittsfield's baseball team is seeded second in Class B in this week's Western Mass tourney, and that means a quarter-final home date against Belchertown to start the week.

 

The Generals finished the regular season strong, with a win on the road at West Springfield on Wednesday, avenging a 12-4 loss to West Side earlier this season.

 

The rematch went to extra innings, and Racine delivered an RBI double to give Pittsfield a 3-2 lead that the Generals' defense preserved in the bottom of the frame.

 

Racine was 3-for-3 and also tripled in the regular season finale. For the year, he is batting .444 with two home runs and 20 RBIs -- all tops on the team.

 

The iBerkshires.com Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Southwestern Vermont Health Care.