Mother Nature was about the only thing that could slow down the Berkshire Force 10-and-under softball team this week.
The Force was delayed most of Saturday getting home from the Babe Ruth World Series in Jensen Beach, Fla. The lightning that held up the team's flight north prevented the planned proper escort back into Pittsfield. So that will wait for another day.
But waiting nothing new for this team.
Berkshire Friday won the championship game of the Diamond Bracket at the national championships, edging Levelland, Texas, 4-3, in a game that was delayed six hours -- and played on two different fields -- due to lightning and rain.
When it finally ended, game MVP A.J. Pelkey hit a walk-off double to center field to score Gionnah LeVardi in the seventh inning.
Mia DeJesus earned the win in the circle as the Force finished the week 6-3 against some of the top programs in the country.
Pelkey and Ella Stodden were awarded spots on the tournament's all-defensive team.
Grace Julieano also made her mark on defense, helping turn more double plays, six, than anyone else in the tournament.
Out of 13 teams in the 10-and-under division, the Berkshire Force had several players finish at or near the top of statistical categories.
Stodden finished first in home runs with two. Pelkey led the way in putouts with 62. Julieano was second in the tournament with 11 stolen bases.
Other members of the Force 10U team include: Madison Barber, Mariah Barnes, Jaezsa Bartolotta, Chelsea Capitanio, Kylie Duhamel, Evelyn Julieano, Grace Julieano, Lillian MacDonald, Izabela Miller and Gionnah LeVardi.
The Force 10U and 12U teams both competed in the Babe Ruth World Series this week thanks to their performances in the New England Regional on their home fields at the Doyle Complex earlier this summer.
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Berkshire United Way to Massachusetts: Early-Learning Educators Need Better Wages
By Katherine von Haefen Guest Column
As reported in iBerkshires, state education officials met with Western Massachusetts childcare and early education advocates at Berkshire Community College recently. I had the opportunity to share the following testimony on behalf of Berkshire United Way and our community partners.
Early childhood education provides tremendous benefits to our region. High-quality child care dramatically influences brain development and the future health and success for children in school and life, as well as provides a safe and secure space for our youngest community members so their parents or caregivers can work and provide for their families.
Berkshire United Way has invested in improving early childhood development opportunities in the Berkshires for decades. We fund high-quality nonprofit child-care centers that provide slots for income-constrained families. We also support the sector by co-hosting monthly child-care director meetings to work on shared challenges and collectively propose solutions. We advocate for early childhood education and have a great partner in this work, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.
Staffing is a key component of high-quality care. The research shows that skilled and consistent educators in a classroom create long-lasting change for children. However, wages are stagnant and frequently do not provide educators with basic financial stability. We often hear that educators have left the field because they are unable to make their finances work. Wages need to improve to better reflect the expertise and indelible impact teachers have in the field.
When we look specifically at our region, our data is concerning.
As Berkshire County emerges from the pandemic, we are struggling with transportation, affordable housing and lack of mental health resources, much like the rest of the state. We are also seeing a rise in economically challenged households.
After nearly 10 years of decline, Berkshire County has experienced a significant jump in income inequality, now exceeding the state and national trends and far above comparable counties, according to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Over half of our population are "economically challenged," meaning they are working but struggling to make ends meet. A single parent with a school-aged child needs between $70,000 and $80,000 in income and public benefits just to meet their basic needs.
A large limb from a 32-foot sugar maple in the park fell next to the fountain area over the weekend. Caution tape and traffic barrels now surround the aftermath.
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The last estimate for construction was overly optimistic because, at the time, it was unclear how long obtaining the two easements would take, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said.
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Full cost estimates have not been completed but based on recent repairs made to the Clapp Park splash pad, it is estimated to cost between $350,000 and $450,000.
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King Kone had a soft opening at the end of the week, offering the frozen treats on a "pay what you will" basis while employees perfected the craft.
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