Just like that, we are one week away from Christmas and what better way to get into the holiday mood than by a locally-themed sports version of “The Night Before Christmas?”

So here it is. My present to you:

’Twas the week before Christmas and all through the County

Sports fans recalled the past year’s local bounty.

Cote showed off his range in the Cage

When he hit the game-winner on hoops’ biggest stage.

Pioneer then took on Hopkins for the western Mass. crown

And G-Lo and the Hawks did leave with a frown.

The Panthers ended Hopkins’ three-year title streak

But the state semifinal game ended quite bleak.

The girls from G-Vegas also went on a run

But unlike the Panthers, it ended less fun.

For Hampshire did prove a formidable foe

And in OT the Wave’s shots would not seem to go.

On the ice, Green Wave hockey did capture the Wright

Thanks to a co-op that gave it more might.

Now Turners, now Frontier, now Pioneer, now Tech,

On Greenfield, on Smith, on Mahar for the sect.

On the mats, the Tech school was the Suburban League best

And Spencer Telega captured the 152-pound West.

In the spring, Frontier nipped Hopkins for the league title by a nose

But in the Western Mass. title game, the diamond Hawks were pricked by Taconic’s Rose.

The Braves catcher sent a pair of homers over the fence by a mile

And it was Taconic that left Lorden Field with a smile.

On the softball field the area celebrated not one, but two champs

As Western Mass. titles were hoisted in Turners’ and Greenfield’s camps.

The Powertown also picked up a new nickname; the Thunder

Which didn’t exactly fill the townsfolk with wonder.

The softball team did bring a title to the town

As it rode a dual-threat named Jade to its fifth-straight West crown.

And in Greenfield the softball team was thrown into a tizzy

Ending 32 title-less years thanks to a hit by a Lizzy.

And a pitcher named Joy, brought just that to the city

Who gave up an early bomb, but proved to be gritty.

On the track, Mohawk’s Davis was rare to be beat

And she won the 2-mile at the Central/West meet.

On the gridiron this fall, two grand was the word

As rushing yards were piled up by a Keith and a Byrd.

The Intercounty North was ruled by Turners Falls

But on Turkey Day it was Greenfield who was decking the halls.

And in Athol the Senators ended a Turkey Day drought

While in Buckland the Red Hawks left little in doubt.

And the Tech School got a new opponent on Thanksgiving Eve

But Smith Voke was not kind and left the Eagles to grieve.

On the volleyball court the Red Hawks tooted their western Mass. horn

But in the state semifinals they were beaten by Bourne.

The Wave field hockey team won its third straight western Mass.

As Hickey, Bresciano and Smith left their mark on the class.

And a rarity occurred in the semifinals of the state

A 2-0 win in which Greenfield did dictate.

In the finals, Dennis-Yarmouth they did try to thwart

But in a 3-2 loss the comeback bid fell a bit short.

Two Thousand Eighteen has been one heck of a year

One full of reasons for local sports fans to cheer.

And so we can hope that 2019 is the same

As we watch and we root for these kids in the game.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone.

Jason Butynski is a Greenfield native and Recorder Sports Editor. His email address is jbutynski@recorder.com.