Sports
Florence’s Gabby Thomas gearing up for 2024 Paris Olympics
By JOSHUA SPAULDING
NEW YORK — Gabby Thomas has an Olympic experience under her belt and two Olympic medals she can wear around her neck. And as she gears up for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials ahead of the Paris Olympics, she took part in the Team USA Media Summit on...
Jiri Smejkal gets 1st goal, Senators beat Bruins 3-1 in regular-season finale
By DOUG ALDEN
BOSTON — Jiri Smejkal scored his first career goal midway through the second period and Jakob Chychrun scored less than a minute later as the Ottawa Senators beat the Boston Bruins 3-1 on Tuesday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.Artem...
High schools: Belchertown, Easthampton split dual track meet (PHOTOS)
By GARRETT COTE
EASTHAMPTON — The Easthampton and Belchertown track and field teams put a pause on their April vacations on a perfect Tuesday afternoon, as the two tangled for a dual meet at Mountain View School.The two teams split dual meets, with the Eagles...
High school ultimate preview: Amherst, Northampton hoping for big seasons
By GARRETT COTE
The defending Division 1 state champions are going to look much different this spring. After capturing the state’s top ultimate Frisbee title in 2023, only six players return from that roster return to the Amherst boys team for head coach Joe...
UMass basketball: Matt Cross reportedly enters transfer portal
By GARRETT COTE
AMHERST — The vicious one-two frontcourt punch that helped the UMass men’s basketball team to its best season in a decade is now gone.Forward Matt Cross has entered the transfer portal, according to multiple reports early Tuesday afternoon. Cross...
High school: Northampton softball slugs past Mahar for season's first victory (PHOTOS)
Following four frustrating losses to start the season, including three straight in five innings, the Northampton softball team was on the other side of a mercy-rule contest on Monday afternoon.The Blue Devils scored at least three runs in each of the...
Baseball: Smith Academy can't overcome early deficit in 13-6 loss to Mahar
By THOMAS JOHNSTON
ORANGE — The Mahar baseball team couldn’t have asked for a better first inning on Monday against Smith Academy. After Sam Connors shut down the Falcons in the top of the frame, it didn’t take the Senator bats long to get going when it was their turn...
Hadley’s Brad Mish, Northampton’s Elianna Shwayder top Hampshire County finishers at 128th Boston Marathon
By JOHN STIFLER
BOSTON — On a clear day, a bit warm but with no headwind to impede any runner’s efforts, Brad Mish of Hadley and Elianna Shwayder of Northampton led three dozen Valley runners from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Monday’s 128th running of the Boston...
Softball: South Hadley’s Ella Schaeffer records 500th career strikeout in loss to East Longmeadow
By GARRETT COTE
SOUTH HADLEY — With a pitcher as exceptional as Ella Schaeffer in the circle, a five-run lead seems plenty good enough – especially when she’s dealing.Well, the South Hadley softball team spotted the junior ace five runs thanks to a six-run bottom of...
High schools: Holyoke boys volleyball sweeps Athol for 5th straight victory (PHOTOS)
By GARRETT COTE
HOLYOKE — Already down two sets to none against Holyoke, the Athol boys volleyball team was in a do-or-die situation late in the third set. With the frame tied at nine apiece, the Bears used a 7-2 run to storm ahead 16-11 and capture all momentum...
More history for Tiger Woods. He makes the Masters cut for a record 24th time in a row
By PAUL NEWBERRY
AUGUSTA, Ga. — A howling gust – the kind that created havoc at Augusta National all day long – struck the 18th green just as Tiger Woods was lining up yet another testy putt. Fine particles of sand stirred from the pearl-white bunkers, whipping across...
Track & field preview 2024: Not happy with last year’s performance, Northampton boys seeking redemption
By GARRETT COTE
The Northampton boys team entered last year’s Western Massachusetts outdoor track and field championships with lofty expectations.The Blue Devils felt they had plenty to not only compete with their peers, but win the whole thing. And following a...
High schools: South Hadley girls lacrosse pulls away from Belchertown for 14-7 win (PHOTOS)
By GARRETT COTE
SOUTH HADLEY — Entering the second quarter of Thursday afternoon’s game between visiting Belchertown and the host South Hadley girls lacrosse teams, the score was tied at three apiece after each team held a one-goal lead but couldn’t gain any more...
Boys lacrosse preview 2024: Amherst program led by family, friends
By CONNOR PIGNATELLO
Rich Ferro has been around Amherst boys lacrosse for decades. He played at Amherst in the 1990s, served as the Hurricanes’ athletic director from 2001-2019 and has been coaching hockey and lacrosse on and off for most of the past two decades.This...
High schools: John Viola shuts down Monson as South Hadley baseball picks up 1-0 win
Two days removed from a 1-0 loss to Ware, the South Hadley baseball team came out on top in another pitchers’ duel on Wednesday.John Viola went the distance for South Hadley, striking out four while walking just two and scattering three hits to help...
Softball: Bats come alive as Granby pulls away from Smith Academy 21-8 (PHOTOS)
By CONNOR PIGNATELLO
GRANBY – After an even first few frames, the Granby softball team’s bats came to life late against Smith Academy. The Rams captured a 21-8 victory under a consistent drizzle on Wednesday afternoon.With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth...
UMass basketball: Rahsool Diggins signs NIL deal to stay with Minutemen
By GARRETT COTE
AMHERST — Another member of the band has made his decision, and it’s a good one for the UMass men’s basketball team.Following a career year, junior Rahsool Diggins has signed an NIL deal with The Massachusetts Collective, the collective announced on...
Girls lacrosse preview 2024: Hampshire Regional program continues to grow
By CONNOR PIGNATELLO
The Hampshire Regional girls lacrosse team has come a long way since head coach Grace Ahrensdorf helped start up the program in 2017.Hampshire joined St. Mary and Westfield Tech’s cooperative program in 2018 and played a varsity schedule under the St....
High schools: Hampshire Regional baseball thumps Easthampton
Each of the Hampshire Regional baseball team’s nine starters crossed home plate as the Raiders picked up their second Hampshire County win of the week via a 17-4 five-inning victory over Easthampton on Tuesday afternoon.Hampshire senior Liam Pond went...
Boys lacrosse: Northampton rolls past Chicopee Comp, moves to 2-0 (PHOTOS)
By GARRETT COTE
NORTHAMPTON — After surrendering an early first quarter goal, the Northampton boys lacrosse team shook off some early nerves and responded accordingly.The Blue Devils rattled off the game’s next 13 goals, and Chicopee Comp had no answer for the hosts’...
