The Pioneer Valley Regional softball team has a new coach, as Theresa Tsipenyuk took over the team recently for first-year coach Mark Fortier.
Pioneer did not provide a specific reason for Fortier’s dismissal. When a request went out to Athletic Director Nick Adams for a statement on Fortier’s status, Adams referred to Principal Annie Scanlan-Emigh who provided the following statement via an email.
“Pioneer does not comment about our personnel matters,” Scanlan-Emigh said. “We are always happy to talk about the great work of our players.”
Patricia Kinsella, Superintendent of the Pioneer Valley Regional School District reiterated the school’s stance on Fortier’s employment status during a phone interview.
“The district does not comment on personnel matters,” Kinsella said.
Attempts to reach Fortier were unsuccessful. Fortier last reported a softball score via the Gamechanger Application on April 21. As of May 7, his school related email account produced an “address not found” prompt when contacted.
College
Madi Liimatainen of Turners Falls made the Northeast 10 All-Rookie Team for the Saint Michael’s College softball team. Liimatainen hit .268 with nine doubles, three home runs, 22 RBIs and a .429 slugging percentage. Liimatainen appeared at first base, shortstop and in the circle. In her final 17 games alone, the rookie hit .358 with 10 RBI. She registered a 3-4 pitching record with a shutout and a save. She completed five of her seven starts and made 15 appearances. Liimatainen fanned 33 in 54 frames.
Hannah Gilbert of Colrain pitched seven innings in a 6-3 win for the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts softball team over Salem St. in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) tournament first round on May 5. Gilbert gave up one earned run with four strikeouts in the win.
Greenfield Girls Softball League
Ponytail
Greenfield Garden Cinema 20, Pipione’s 5 — Dani Zraunig led the offense in the the win for Greenfield Garden Cinema on May 4. Zraunig had a double and two singles. Lexi Priessler had three hits while Makenna Ward added two doubles. Penelope Gioules added two base knocks. Charlotte Facey registered two hits for Pipione’s, with Charlotte Matys adding another hit.
Descavich 13, Vermont 5 — Lexi Berry drove in four runs with a double and an inside-the-park home run in the win for Descavich on May 4. Leah Batiste also homered with a triple and two runs scored. Grayson Baker singled (RBI) with Ellie Mcintyre and Mia Beckwith each adding an RBI. In the circle, Berry had nine strikeouts and two walks for Descavich. Coraline Hopewell had eight strikeouts for Vermont.
Freedom Credit Union 3, Pristine Orientals 0 — The Creditors took down Pristine on Tuesday behind a 3-for-3 night from Morgan Beckwith, who also added solid fifth inning in the circle. Ainsley Page added a hit with an RBI. For Pristine, Carly Chadwick and Kayla Renaud had two hits each.
Junior Division
Perspective Learning 2, Sandri Energy 0 — The Learners shutout Sandri Energy on May 4. Ella Kimball got a strikeout in the circle to close out the game and added two hits at the plate. Alexis Roche added an RBI single, with Theresa Barton adding another hit.
Grace Reardon had a couple hits for Sandri Energy and added two strikeouts in the circle. Bradleigh Varilly had a nice game on offense, going 3-for-3.
Elks Club 4, Alliance Partners 3 — Addison Lambert had two hits and made the plays on defense to aid the win for Elks Club. Hazel Muise-Sheldon singled and pitched well in the circle. Willow Bettencourt added two singles.
For Alliance Partners, Aubrey Marshall-Hamburg singled three times. Zoey Taylor contributed with two hits while Sydney Snape added another hit.
Alliance Partners 5, Franklin First Credit Union 0 — Alliance Partners shut out Franklin First Credit Union on Tuesday. For Alliance, Sydney Brown had three singles and a great inning in the circle. Ava Tenerowicz also contributed with two singles and a run scored. Maya Towne had three hits while Addie Parker flashed the leather for Franklin First.
Greenfield Minor League Baseball
Gruber Tripp 8, Ginger Cat 7 — Jaxson Carleton had a single and a inside-the-park home run in the win for Gruber Tripp. Leia Perkins added two hits with a game-winning RBI single. Silas Dodge chipped in with a couple base knocks. For Ginger Cat, Xavier McCarthy had two singles and a double. Jalen Howell added two hits while Gabe Kolosewicz chipped in with a triple.
New Fortune 9, Smitty’s Pub 7 — Miles Williams had two RBIs in the win for New Fortune on Tuesday. Anthony Ruggeri added a double for the victors. Bryce Urkiel had a single and a double while Carson White and Elias Tripp each singled for Smitty’s.
Greenfield Co-ed
Liberty Tax Sharks 27, Posada’s Tavern 16 — The Sharks’ offense popped against Posada’s Tavern on Tuesday. Jacob Christi had three hits with a homer and four RBIs for Liberty Tax. Kenzie Bardwell added three hits and two RBIs. For Posada’s Tavern, Jacob Graveline had three hits with six RBIs. Rachael Renaud added three hits and two RBIs.
Preps
Here are the scores from Deerfield Academy on May 4: Baseball beat Avon Old Farms, 9-4, at home; Boys tennis defeated Loomis, 4-3, at home. Girls tennis lost at Loomis, 5-4; Boys lacrosse completed a three-game sweep of Nobles with a 13-10 win. From Saturday, both the girls and boys track & field team were victorious against St. Paul’s and Choate in a home tri-meet.
On Wednesday, the girls lacrosse team played through the rain and continued its winning ways with a 21-6 over Kimball Union. The boys lacrosse team lost to Culver Academy, 13-12. The girls water polo squad defeated Hamden Hall, 10-9. Boys varsity tennis defeated Hotchkiss, 4-3 and girls varsity tennis dropped a 3-4 decision to Northfield Mount Hermon.
Country Club of Greenfield
9 Hole Women: Putt for Points — Patty Berg Flight — Points: Chris Eugin, 14, Ann McHugh, 14; Liz Archer, 14. Nancy Lopez Flight — Karen Duclos, 11; Lauren Coburn, 11; Joanna Carner; Flight — Sara Currie, 16; Deb Van Dale, 15; Lorena Ochoa; Flight — Brittany Bourassa, 18; Susan Luippold, 13; Annika Sorenstom; Flight — Kim French, 15; Emily Keyser, 12; Michelle Wie; Flight — Bobbee Low, 12; Barb Morris, 10; Carole Akey, 10.
Tuesday women standings: Flight one — 1. Nancy Robie (10 points); 2. Ann McHugh (nine points); 3. Teresa Varner (eight points); Flight two — 1. Julie Bailey (seven points); 2. Anna Echeverria (five points); T3. Christine Kuzmeskus. Nine holes — Sue McDonald (four points); Jane Smith (three points).
Northfield Golf Course
Timmons-Messer League
Gross scores: First low gross — Dan Arsenault and Dave Brady (36); Second gross — Rob Schrader and Pete Blake (39, match of cards); Net scores — Elton Kinsman and Curt White (30, match of cards); Second net: Jim Garanin and Jeff Seymour (30). Closest to the pin — Norm LaCoy on the sixth (6-7.5) and Rich Drozdal on the seventh (10-9). Medalist: Curt White, Jeff Seymour (39).
