The Boston Celtics will open up the preseason schedule at the Mullins Center on the campus of UMass-Amherst on Oct. 4 at 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The game will feature the first and third overall picks from the recent NBA Draft as the 76ers took former LSU player Ben Simmons with the first overall pick, and the Celtics drafted California’s Jaylen Brown third.
This marks the second time the teams will meet at the Mullins Center after the Sixers defeated Boston, 98-92, in the preseason opener prior to the 2008-09 season, the year after the Celtics won the NBA championship.
Tickets range from $30 to $95 and can be purchased at www.mullinscenter.com.
Greenfield Co-Rec
Matt Luippold went 4-for-4 to help Brad’s Place to a 16-14 win over Hot L Warren in a Greenfield Co-Rec Adult Softball League game Friday night at Hillside Park in Greenfield.
Alyssa Shepard went 3-for-4 with a pair of triples in the win.
Colin Benedict led Hot L with two doubles and a triple as part of a 4-for-4 performance, and Teri Westbrook went 2-for-4.
• Meanwhile, Brian Ginnity went 5-for-5 with two home runs, including a grand slam, two doubles and seven RBIs to power Hubie’s Tavern to a 19-5 win over the Eagles at Greenfield Middle School.
Todd Wiles had four hits including a home run, double and four RBIs in the win, and Chris Arsenault went 4-for-4 with three doubles and four RBIs. Derek Helie had three hits with a triple and two RBIs, and Kelly Smith had three hits with a double and two RBIs.
Mike Corme led the Eagles with four hits including a triple, and Rich Ross chipped in three hits.
• Also Friday, Molly Wickline and Brad Barrett each finished 4-for-5 to help the Spirit Shoppe to a 4½ inning, 20-5 win over Montague Elks Lodge.
Angelica Perfido went 3-for-4 in the win, and Josh Culver had two hits.
Ryan Meuse led the Elks with a pair of home runs, and Art Kaczenski went 2-for-3.
Whitney Fence wins title
Tyler Martin scored 22 points on Thursday, and Tucker Llewelyn added 18 points as Whitney Fence edged Easthampton, 57-53, to win the championship of the DRIVE Hoops Boys’ Varsity Basketball League at Pioneer Valley Regional School in Northfield.
Zach Christafori led Easthampton with 15 points.
Greenfield girls’ victorious
Raegan Hickey’s 13 points helped Greenfield edge Turners Falls, 34-33, in overtime of the DRIVE Hoops Girls’ Varsity Basketball League title game Thursday night at Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Greenfield.
Maddy Chmyzinski scored 22 points to lead Turners Falls.
DRIVE Boys’ JV
Marcus Sanders scored 12 points on Thursday as Turners Falls bested Pioneer, 46-35, in DRIVE Hoops Boys’ Junior Varsity Basketball League action at Indoor Action Sports in Greenfield.
Garrett Cote paced Pioneer with a dozen points.
• In other action, Collin Boudreau netted 15 points and Frontier dumped Leyland & Gray, 55-21.
Evan Rogers finished with 6 points in the loss.
• Finally, Elias Temps poured in 25 points and Northampton topped Amherst, 65-55.
Jaylon Pope scored 16 points for Amherst.
DRIVE Boys’ MS
Jake Sak finished with 21 points as Greenfield edged Deerfield, 38-32, in a DRIVE Hoops Boys’ Middle School Basketball League game Thursday at Indoor Action.
Dylan Royal finished with 8 points for Deerfield.
• Elsewhere, Troy Emond finished with 21 points, and Liam Curtis dumped in 10 as Pioneer topped Hadley, 54-47.
Andrew Ciaglo netted 23 points for Hadley, and Colin Earle added 16.
• Finally, Scott White’s 17 points helped the Raptors to a 57-20 win over Twin Valley.
Dylan Conte scored 8 points for Twin Valley.
Valley Storm tryouts
The Valley Storm Softball organization will hold tryouts for its various fast-pitch teams during the month of August.
The Storm has a 12U, 14U and 16U team and the following is information on tryouts for each:
• The 12U team will hold tryouts at Merritt Field at the Sunderland Elementary School on Aug. 13 at 9:30 a.m. and Aug. 27 at 1:30 p.m. Players must not be older than 12 on Jan. 1, 2017 to be eligible and it’s recommended that players attend both tryouts, but it’s not required. Pre-register by emailing valleystorm12u@gmail.com with name, city of residence and birthday.
Rain dates for tryouts are the next day at the same time and place.
• The 14U team will hold tryouts at Merritt Field on Aug. 13 at 3:30 p.m. and Aug. 27 at 3:30 p.m. Players must not be older than 14 on Jan. 1, 2017 to be eligible and it’s recommended that players attend both tryouts, but it’s not required. Pre-register by emailing valleystorm14u@gmail.com with name, city of residence and birthday.
Rain dates for tryouts are the next day at the same time and place.
• The 16U team will hold tryouts at Merritt Field on Aug. 13 at 1:30 p.m. and Aug. 27 at 9:30 a.m. Players must not be older than 16 on Jan. 1, 2017 to be eligible and it’s recommended that players attend both tryouts, but it’s not required. Pre-register by emailing valleystorm16u@gmail.com with name, city of residence and birthday.
Rain dates for tryouts are the next day at the same time and place.
Bridge of Flowers 10K
Registrations are now being taken for the Bridge of Flowers 10K Classic which takes place on Aug. 13 in Shelburne Falls.
For more information and to register go to www.shelburnefalls.com.
Montague Mug Race
The 36th annual Montague Mug Race will be held on Aug. 20 in Montague Center.
The 5.5-mile race begins at 8:30 a.m. from the Village Common. Pewter Mugs are awarded to top male and female finishers, and coffee mugs are given to the top finishers of each division.
T-shirts will be available for the first 90 runners.
Now in its 12th year, the 2-mile Mini Mug Race will kick off at 8:35 a.m.
Both races will finish at the ball field. All runners are entered into drawing for local prizes.
Registration forms are located at the YMCA, Body Shoppe, Montague Post Office and Parks & Recreation Department. Runners may also register by using runreg.com. The race website is montaguemugrace.com
Proceeds benefit Montague Old Home Days and the Fire Association.
For more information, contact Ann Fisk 367-2812 or email to shollow@crocker.com.
Maynard 5-miler
The 22nd annual Don Maynard Memorial 5-Mile Road Race and 3-mile walk will held Sept. 17 at 9:30 a.m. at the Greenfield Municipal Swimming Area.
Online registration is available at www.runreg.com, and t-shirts will be give to the first 100 registered.
For questions or more information, call Chuck Adams at 413-522-6688 or email to rcrchuck@comcast.net.
Tri-County Open
The Franklin County Bar Association’s fifth-annual Tri-County Open Co-Ed Tennis Tournament will take place on Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. at the Deerfield Academy Tennis Complex.
The tournament is doubles format, single elimination and open to anyone interested. Cost is $40 per team and tennis balls will be provided. Deadline to register is Aug. 4 at 4 p.m.
For more information or to sign up call Tim Prevost at 773-8984.
Wood Racket Tournament
Registrations are now being accepted for a Wood Racket Tennis Tournament Aug. 8 through 11 at the Beacon Field Clay Courts in Greenfield.
The tournament is best of three sets and there will be a consolation bracket for players who lose in the first round. The tournament is open to anyone. Cost is $10 and a can of unopened tennis balls. Draw will take place at 5:30 on the first day of the tournament and matches will take place at 5:30 every day.
Deadline to register is Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. To register, contact Rick at 863-4428.
Youth Soccer Program
The Northampton Parks and Recreation Department is offering a Parent & Child Pre-K and Youth Soccer Program for kids in Preschool, Kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grade on Saturday mornings at Look Park. The seven-week program starts September 10th and runs thru October 22nd. The Preschool and Kindergarten divisions are coed, the 1st / 2nd grade division has both boys and girls teams. For more information contact Northampton Parks & Recreation at 413-587-1040 or stop by the Parks & Recreation office at 100A Bridge Rd. Information is also available at www.northamptonma.gov/recreation. Registration Deadline is Friday, August 19 or until filled.
Northampton Soccer is also accepting registrations for the 2016 fall season. Travel soccer is available for boys and girls ages 7 to 15. The recreation program is for boys and girls grades 3-6. More information is available at www.northamptonsoccer.org.
Track & field
PV pole vault school
The Pioneer Valley Pole Vault School in Bernardston is open by appointment for individual and group lessons through the fall with negotiable rates.
Lessons will be taught by Pioneer Valley Regional School track and Northfield Mount Hermon pole-vault coach Jim Bell, himself a Masters pole vaulter.
For more information, contact Bell at 413-648-8929.