UMass Hockey Preview: Expectations high for Minutemen as new season begins

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

While the roster might look different, the expectations haven’t changed for the UMass men’s hockey team.After reaching the semifinals of the Hockey East Tournament last year and booking a spot to the NCAA Tournament — where it fell to eventual...

HS Roundup: Franklin Tech takes second at Massachusetts State Vocational Golf Tournament

It was an impressive showing at the Massachusetts State Vocational Golf Tournament on Wednesday at Acushnet River Valley Golf Course. Competing in the small school tournament, the Eagles combined for a four-player score of 313 to take second overall....

Boys soccer: Younes Oulbied scores twice as Easthampton defeats Mahar, 2-0 (PHOTOS)

By GARRETT COTE

EASTHAMPTON — Back on Sept. 12, the Easthampton and Mahar boys soccer teams played to a competitive 0-0 draw in a physical game up in Orange.Something had to give in Part II at Nonotuck Park on Wednesday afternoon.In the first half, the Senators...

HS Roundup: Mohawk Trail cross country impresses in meet with Greenfield, McCann, Turners (PHOTOS)

The Mohawk Trail girls cross country team showed well while hosting Greenfield, McCann Tech and Turners Falls on Tuesday in Buckland.Warriors Virginia Krezmien (18 minutes, 52.2 seconds), Anya Read (18:52.7) and Natalie Lanoue (19:17) were the first...

High School Football: Intercounty League play begins Friday

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

GREENFIELD — The heart of the high school football season is upon us.After each area team played its three independent games, league play kicks off this Friday. In the Intercounty North, Athol travels to Turners to take on Franklin Tech, Greenfield...

HS Roundup: Pioneer boys soccer knocks off Turners, Mohawk Trail field hockey earns first win of season

Two teams currently in the top 32 of the MIAA Div. 5 boys soccer power rankings met up in Northfield on Monday. Pioneer earned a contested 3-2 victory the first time it played Turners Falls and when the two squads met a second time, it was the...

UMass Football: Head Coach Brown remains confident in team

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

AMHERST — UMass football lost in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday to Miami (Ohio) 23-20 in overtime, but on Monday, head coach Don Brown was relentlessly optimistic about the Minutemen’s prospects. UMass led the defending MAC champs 20-17 with just...

Bulletin Board: Country Club of Greenfield takes 25th annual Franklin Cup over Crumpin-Fox Club, 17-7

A hot start in four ball action set the tone and allowed the Country Club of Greenfield to take the 25th annual Franklin Cup over Crumpin-Fox Club over the weekend.Playing at Country Club of Greenfield, CCG took five of the possible six points in four...

Golf: Local teams compete in PVIAC Boys Golf Two-Ball Invitational

By GARRETT COTE

BELCHERTOWN — Jason Borque peered over at his two players, Ryan MacGregor and Caiden Drohan, as they walked by each other during the final stretch of holes at the PVIAC Boys Golf Two-Ball Invitational on Monday afternoon at Cold Spring Country Club in...

Fit to Play with Jim Johnson: Scholar athlete to mercenary

By JIM JOHNSON

For years, athletic directors and coaches have referred to their college athletes as scholar athletes or student athletes. The reference is that college athletes are students first and athletes second. Meanwhile, college athletes, especially...

Football: Athol suffers first loss of the season in defeat to Lee, 42-7

By HOWARD HERMAN

ATHOL — Midway through the second quarter of Friday’s game, Athol running back Sawyer Lefsyk had given his team momentum with a 64-yard touchdown drive.On the next series, Lee quarterback Omari Smith was picked off by Raydin Sousa and the Bears were...

Football: Northampton defeats Mahar, 28-18, to hand Sens their first loss of season

By GARRETT COTE

NORTHAMPTON — What a difference a year makes.Back in 2023, the Northampton football team didn’t win a game until its very last contest of the year, and it took a miracle touchdown as time expired. But in 2024, the Blue Devils are a completely...

Football: Erik Martineau scores three touchdowns, Angel Politis runs for 177 yards as Greenfield beat Frontier, 30-6 (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

GREENFIELD — In rivalry games, it often comes down to players making plays.On Friday at Vets Field, it was Greenfield’s Erik Martineau and Angel Politis who continuously stepped up against Frontier.Martineau hauled in a pair of touchdowns and returned...

Football: Franklin Tech improves to 3-0 following 46-6 win over Pathfinder

Make it three wins in a row to open the season for the Franklin Tech football team. Taking on Pathfinder at St. Joseph’s Park on Friday, the Eagles got a dominant performance from running back Josiah Little. The senior found the end zone six times,...

HS Roundup: Tayler Bergeron’s hat trick propels Greenfield girls soccer past Frontier

Greenfield’s Tayler Bergeron put on a show to hand the Frontier girls soccer team its first loss of the season on Friday. The sophomore recorded a hat trick and added an assist as well, leading the Green Wave to a 4-3 triumph at Herlihy...

Bulletin Board: Lob for the Library Pickleball Tournament is scheduled for Oct. 26

The Lob for the Library Pickleball Tournament is scheduled for Oct. 26 at Frontier High School, beginning at 8 a.m. The tournament is a fundraiser for the Tilton Library Expansion. The tournament features four divisions, with prizes being awarded. To...

MIAA releases initial power rankings for fall season

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

High school teams around the state found out where they currently stand on Friday, as the MIAA released its initial power rankings of the fall season. The formula for making the state tournament hasn’t changed: the top 32 teams in each division earn...

Keeping Score: Looking ahead to MLB postseason

Good morning!The MLB playoffs are upon us and questions abound. Will Shohei Ohtani take the Dodgers to the promised land? Will Aaron Judge and Juan Soto lead the Yankees down the Canyon of Heroes?Has Baltimore regained its mojo by winning its...

HS Roundup: Three first half goals help keep Pioneer boys soccer unbeaten following 4-0 win over Mount Everett (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

NORTHFIELD — Not even the driving rain could slow down the Pioneer boys soccer team’s attack on Thursday against Mount Everett. The Panthers came out flying in their Schmid League showdown, scoring three early goals to take a 3-0 lead into the...

25th edition of the Franklin Cup set for this weekend at Country Club of Greenfield

By JEFF LAJOIE

A quarter century of competition will be celebrated this weekend at the Country Club of Greenfield, as host CCG will tangle with Crumpin-Fox Club in the 25th annual Franklin Cup.The yearly event, which alternates between the two clubs, will hold two...