Major shakeup: New PVIAC league alignments set for 2025-26 season

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

When high school sports returned after the COVID-19 pause, it was a natural time to shake things up.

Keeping Score with Chip Ainsworth: Pitching duels, walk-off dreams, and one shocking Sox trade

Good morning!The night before Madi Liimatainen pitched for Turners Falls in front of 2,000 fans at Sortino Field in Amherst, she gave my 12-year-old grandson Carter her softball jersey. They’re cousins, and over the years they’ve bonded.

Bulletin board: Descavich seals GGSL title with 3-0 win over Gilmore & Farrell

Sammi Suhl smacked two hits, and Descavich Plumbing & Heating captured the Greenfield Girls Softball League Ponytail Division championship on Thursday thanks to a 3-0 victory over Gilmore & Farrell Insurance at Murphy Park in Greenfield.

UMass basketball: Minutemen players peel back layers of farm life at Hadley’s Barnwood Valley (PHOTOS)

By RYAN AMES

HADLEY – Members of the UMass men’s basketball team were anything but couch potatoes when they toured Barnwood Valley Farms on Wednesday afternoon.

Bulletin Board: Nate Pecor sinks hole-in-one at Northfield Golf Club

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Nate Pecor cracked a hole-in-one on the sixth hole at Northfield Golf Club on Wednesday during the Timmons-Messer League. 

Senior Legion: East Springfield rolls past Greenfield Post 81, 15-1

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

GREENFIELD — East Springfield Post 420 entered Wednesday’s Senior American Legion contest against Greenfield Post 81 with an unblemished 3-0 record and looked every bit the part. 

Cody Booska returns to competition, dominates Mass. Am qualifier with 3-under 69

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

After taking a few years off from competitive golf, Cody Booska returned to compete in a qualifier for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship at Springfield Country Club on Wednesday.

Orange’s own leaps into national spotlight: Krasco to compete at New Balance Nationals

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Orange’s Mitchell Krasco showed this past weekend he can compete with the best in New England. 

Bulletin Board: 44th Annual Montague Mug Race Kicks Off Aug. 16

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

The 44th Montague Mug Race is right around the corner, with signups ongoing for the race which is scheduled for Aug. 16.

Small school, giant year: Inside Pioneer Valley Regional’s unmatched athletic run

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

It’ll be a long time — if ever — before Pioneer Valley Regional School has an athletic year like the one it just had. 

Bulletin Board: Greenfield Post 81 falls to Pittsfield, 2-0, in season opener

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

The Greenfield Post 81 Senior American Legion team opened its season Monday on the road against Pittsfield Post 68 and it was a pitchers’ duel at Clapp Park. 

Krasco takes silver at New England Track & Field Championships

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

The 2025 New England Interscholastic Outdoor Track and Field Championship took place at Veterans Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut over the weekend, with Mahar’s Mitchell Krasco putting together another impressive performance against the best athletes in the region. 

1,000 strikeouts, countless memories: Western Mass. pitching greats take their final bows

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

High school softball players from Western Massachusetts have been waiting for this week for years; they will never again have to step into the batter’s box and see Greenfield’s MacKenzie Paulin, Turners Falls’ Madi Liimatainen or Franklin Tech’s Hannah Gilbert standing in the pitching circle.

Bulletin Board: Pipione’s wins Newt Guilbault title

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Madden Coates, Dalton Towne and Jaxon Bartlett each had two hits, Bartlett driving in four runs, to help Pipione’s Sport Shop capture the Newt Guilbault Community Baseball League championship following a 16-3 win over St. Stan’s in Game 2 of the championship series over the weekend. 

How Pioneer baseball’s culture fueled an unbeaten season and dramatic state championship win

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

WORCESTER — How do you go undefeated and win a state championship? It starts with culture, which was evident watching the Pioneer baseball dugout late on Saturday. 

Pioneer walks off in extras to win first state baseball title, finish perfect season (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

WORCESTER — It’s always hard for a state championship game to live up to the hype, especially a title game featuring one team going for an unbeaten season and another looking to defend their crown. 

Abarua’s extra-inning heroics power Turners Falls past Greenfield for 12th state softball crown (PHOTOS)

By JEFF LAJOIE

AMHERST — As the innings ticked by Saturday – seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th – and tension grew across Sortino Field, the opportunity arose for someone to etch their name into Franklin County softball lore on the sport’s biggest stage.

Bulletin Board: Northfield Cougars win Tri-County softball title

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

The Northfield Recreation Commission Cougars won the Tri-County League softball championship against Vernon this past week, capping an undefeated season. 

Redemption or Repeat? Turners Falls, Greenfield renew rivalry in state final

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

This decade of MIAA Division 5 softball has been dominated by Turners Falls and Greenfield. It only makes sense that the two powers will duke it out for a second time with a state championship game on the line.