Another big performance from Leverett’s Kim Nedeau highlighted a beautiful Saturday at the challenging 59th Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race at Pinkham Notch, N.H.
Nedeau was the top Franklin County finisher, traversing the 7.6-mile all-uphill Mt. Washington course in 1 hour, 16 minutes and 49 seconds to nab 27th place overall. Her time put her as the third-fastest woman.
Shelburne’s John Herron was the next-fastest finisher from Franklin County. He crossed in 1:20:04, putting him 37th overall in a field that featured more than 1,000 runners.
Shelburne Falls’ Richard Larsen was the 77th finisher across the line in Saturday’s race, crossing with a time of 1:26:58.
South Deerfield’s Amy Rusiecki also impressed, as she was 135th overall with a time of 1:33:39.
Colrain’s Al Ladd (152nd, 1:35:06) and Whately’s Kevin Kells (154th, 1:35:21) were next for Franklin County finishers, while Patrick Pezzati of Montague (208th) and Sarah Dolven of Leverett (232nd) were other top runners from the area.
Eric Blake of West Hartford, Conn. was the overall winner in 1:02:52. Two women tied for first place ahead of Nedeau, as Brittni Hutton (Lubbock, Texas) and Heidi Caldwell (Craftsbury Common, Vt.) shared top honors with identical times of 1:16:17.
Post 81 wins
Two days removed from a disappointing loss in the season opener against Pittsfield, Greenfield Post 81 rebounded with a key early-season victory on Saturday. The club scored a run in the top of the seventh inning and held on in the bottom of the frame to edge Northampton Post 28, 2-1, in an American Legion Senior Division baseball game at Landers Field.
“That was a huge win going against a league opponent,” offered Post 81 manager Kyle Phelps, whose team evened up its record on the young season at 1-1. “Instead of going behind both Pittsfield and Northampton (in the standings), we were able to put Northampton behind us.”
Post 81 took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, when Joel Peabody singled home Ben Arnold (walk). Northampton tied it in the home half, however.
It stayed that way until the seventh, when Colin Cloutier gave the visitors a 2-1 lead on a sacrifice fly that plated Kalen Evans (bunt single).
Starting pitcher Owen Phelps gave way to Arnold in the bottom of the seventh, and he pitched out of a jam to nail the door shut and earn the save. Phelps struck out six and didn’t walk a batter in six-plus innings of work. He allowed five hits.
“It was a huge start for Owen,” said Kyle Phelps. “He pitched really well. Probably the best command he’s had all baseball season.”
At the plate, Greenfield received hits from Cloutier, Arnold, Peabody, Evans and Bryan Baumann.
Post 81 hosts Belchertown tonight at Vets Field at 7 p.m.
• In Junior Legion action on Friday night, Post 81 thumped Wilbraham, 11-3, at Vets Field behind a nine-strikeout performance on the mound by Brody Baird.
Carlos Cardenales was 2-for-3 with an RBI in the win, while Mike Bassett also had two hits. Gabe Gochinski drove in two runs and scored a pair, while Drew Donant had a hit and drove in three runs. Nate Sciandra also had a hit and scored a run.
FC Babe Ruth
Jivason Reil was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Quin Woods (RBI single), Charlie Boyden (single two RBIs) and Joe Boyden (single) all chipped in offensively to help Akey Insurance edge Smitty’s Pub, 10-9, in a Franklin County Babe Ruth League contest Saturday at Abercrombie Field in Greenfield.
Joe Boyden struck out three on the mound for Akey, which trailed 4-0 but scored six runs in the third inning.
Smitty’s received offensive contributions from Jackson Harper (triple), Sam Whitney (double), Jakob Safford (double), Aidan Heffernan (single) and Olivia Noyes (single), while Ian Simpson struck out three in two innings on the mound.
Valley Storm
The 12U Valley Storm softball team went 2-3 at the Conn. Tigers Summer Slam Invitational over the weekend, ultimately getting eliminated in the semifinal round after falling to top-seeded Conn. Diamond Club, 9-1, on Sunday.
MacKenzie Paulin struck out four batters in six innings in the circle in the semifinal loss. Paulin, Maggie Fay and Ashley Taylor all had hits in the outing.
In the quarterfinal round, the Storm defeated the NE Impact, 13-3. Fay got the win, striking out six, and Paulin struck out two in an inning of relief. Madison Liimatainen led the offensive effort with three hits, including a triple, a home run, and four RBIs. Margarette Howland had two hits and an RBI, Paulin had two hits, Sofia Holden had a hit and two RBIs, Sophia Pinardi had a hit and an RBI, Lucia Doulette had a hit, and Fay and Anna Bucala each had an RBI.
In the opening game on Saturday, the Storm lost to the Conn. Diamond Club, 11-3. Fay struck out two in four innings and Holden struck out a pair. Liimatainen doubled twice and drove in a run, Holden had a hit and two RBIs, and Paulin had a hit.
Game 2 was a 3-1 loss to the Conn. Gators, 3-1. Fay and Paulin split pitching duties and scattered three runs on two hits. Doulette had two hits and an RBI, Liimatainen had two hits, Bucala had a hit and an RBI, and Paulin added a hit.
In Game 3 on Saturday, the Storm got a win behind an 11-2 defeat of the Lady Sting. Paulin went the distance, striking out four and surrendering just two runs on two hits. Liimatainen had three hits, including a triple and an RBI, Taylor had three hits, Paulin had two hits and three RBIs, Howland had two hits, including a double and an RBI, Doulette and Pinardi had two hits and an RBI, Skylei Lapan had a hit, and Bucala added an RBI.
Northfield Open
Dan Korpita shot 73 to best the A Division field in the Northfield Open on Saturday at Northfield Golf Course.
Mike Zaborowski was next with a 74, while Jesse Morgan IV was third with a 76. Mike Bishop had the low net in the A Division at 68, followed by Paul Barnard (69) and Tim Holmes (72).
In B Division action, Fred Llewelyn, Jim Miareti and Kevin Lancto tied for first place with gross scores of 84. There was also a three-way tie for low net at 70 between Jack Letourneau, Jon Snow and Steve Roy.
Closest to the pin winners were Steve Ethier (No. 6, 12-8), Tim Holmes (No. 7, 7-8), Dan Korpita (No. 15, 10 inches) and Ken Dunn (No. 16, 12-1½). Longest drives went to Garrett Hasanbasic (No. 9, 290 yards) and Shane Foster (No. 18, 293 yards).
CCG Father’s Day Championship
The father-son duo of Dennis and Cody Booska led the way, taking the overall title at Sunday’s Country Club of Greenfield’s Father’s Day Championship.
Dennis Booska shot 78 and son Cody shot 71 for a total of 148 to pace the field.
Bob and Chris Bourbeau shot 69 to take first in the best ball gross, followed by Ken and Nate Burdick at 71.
Best ball net was won by Mike Duclos and Mike Duclos Jr. at 59, while the teams of Cory and Pete Johnson and Gordon and Mitch Parker tied for second at 63.
The best ball gross father/daughter division was won by Dave and Grace Kennedy (75), while top net honors went to Kelly and Terry Doton (64).
CFC Two-Ball
Mark Waskiewicz and Ray Warga posted a two-day total of 143, finishing first in the Crumpin Fox Club’s Open Two-Ball over the weekend in Bernardston.
Eric Snow and Scott Serwa tied for second with Michael Riley and Pat Dean at 144.
The low net went to Dave and DJ Cronin (129), followed in second place by the teams of Connor and Ed Kivari as well as Jon Shea and Phil Phillips. Both teams posted nets of 131.