The 9-U Greenfield Ducks did something unprecedented after their 23-9 win over Hudson on July 5 at Lunt Field. It wasn’t just raising a 2026 Cal Ripken Massachusetts State Championship banner. It was doing it for the second consecutive season.
The victory makes Greenfield the first tournament team in Greenfield Minor League Baseball (GMLB) history to win back-to-back state championships. The victory earned the Ducks a berth in this week’s five-day Cal Ripken New England Regional Tournament in Marshwood, Maine.
Lunt Field hosted the tournament for the first time in league history. Greenfield opened tournament play with dominant victories over Montachusett (16-0) on July 2 and AshWest (15-0) on July 3 before falling to Sutton (8-7) and Hudson (13-7) in July 4’s doubleheader.
Greenfield entered championship Sunday as the No. 4 seed.
That first challenge came against undefeated No. 1 seed Northbridge. Greenfield responded with a 7-3 win in the semifinals. Blake White allowed just one run over 3 2/3 innings while striking out seven Northbridge batters. Eight-year-old Cooper Deane came on in relief to finish the game and preserve the victory. Deane went 3-for-4 with a double and two singles. Colton Urkiel also collected three hits, while Marshall Royce, Cody Liimatainen and Zach Bensen each added multiple-hit performances.
In the 23-9 win over Hudson, Mason Lovett delivered the biggest offensive performance. Lovett drove in five runs on three hits. Brody Neipp fueled the offense with four hits in five at-bats. White, Dimitri Gioules and Deane each added multiple-hit performances as Greenfield finished with 18 hits.
New to pitching this season, Urkiel earned the win on the mound. Urkiel worked 2 1/3 innings and escaped a huge bases loaded situation with a strikeout to help preserve the win. Cody Castine, Liam Grant and Marshall Royce all helped contribute to the tournament victory. The Cal Ripken New England Regional Tournament begins on Friday.
Franklin County Softball League
Bombers 7, Defenders 6 —The Bombers slipped past the Defenders on July 6. Four runs in the top of the sixth was the difference for the Defenders. Brooke Skowron, Shelby Beck, Abigail Moffatt, Addison Talbot, Kaylin Sevoian, Azariah Stebbins, Alaina Toothaker and Aurora Moynihan had hits for the Defenders. Mackenzie Matthews had a hit and an RBI for the Bombers. Carsyn Bauer added two RBI.
Franklin Tech Girls Summer League Basketball
Greenfield 32, Franklin Tech 28 — Tayler Bergeron led the way for Greenfield in the win over the Eagles in Turners Falls on Tuesday. Bergeron finished with 17 points. Leah Batiste and Sarah McCloud both added five points. Bella Brown-Stratton and Brayleigh Burgh had eight points each for the Eagles. Madison Ross chipped in with six points for Franklin Tech.
Frontier 60, Mahar 13 — The Redhawks kept the offense balanced in the win over the Senators. Addie Harrington (16 points), Abby Cendrowski (13 points), Harper Modestow (10 points) and Jazzy Hayes (12 points) all reached double-figures for Frontier. Adalynn Almeida led Mahar with five points.
Pioneer 29, Mohawk 26 — The Panthers edged the Warriors behind Maggie Tsipenyuk’s 16 points. Sadie Wilcox led Mohawk with 11 points.
Pioneer 53, Athol 11 — In the nightcap, Kayla Gruszkowski’s 16 points helped the Panthers cruise past Athol. Tsipenyuk (11 points) and Deveney Pillsbury (10 points) both scored in double-figures for Pioneer. KK Brito-Jimenez led Athol with four points.
Golf
Country Club of Greenfield
Par 3s and 4s (July 6) Patty Berg Flight — Chris Eugin (33); Nancy Robie (35): Nancy Lopez Flight — Samantha Smith (37); Kathy Nicoll (44): Joanna Carner Flight — Sara Currie (43); Betty Graves (44): Lorena Ochoa Flight — Mary McNally (45); Dawn Bete (45); Brittany Bourassa (45): Annika Sorenstam Flight — Kim French (44); Wanda Pyfrom (46): Michelle Wie Flight — Barb Morris (42); Sharon Meade (46).
Crumpin Fox Club
Independence Day Tournament — Gross: David Donoghue, Shane Powell (67); Net: Carl Hoynoski, Jodi Hoynoski (60).
