Bulletin board: Greenfield Post 81 American Legion baseball tryouts May 3 and 4

The Post 81 American Legion Baseball Team will hold registration and tryouts on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 at 1 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field in Greenfield.

HS Roundup: Smith Academy baseball knocks off Mahar, 5-1

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

HATFIELD — Without a senior on the roster and just two returning varsity players from a year ago, Mahar baseball coach Dan Guertin understood it was going to be a rebuilding season in Orange this spring. 

HS Softball: Hampshire blanks Greenfield 4-0 in battle of WMass heavyweights (PHOTOS)

By GARRETT COTE

WESTHAMPTON — As is always the case when western Massachusetts heavyweights Hampshire Regional and Greenfield meet on the softball diamond, high-level pitching was on display Monday afternoon. The Green Wave rely on senior MacKenzie Paulin, a Merrimack commit, while the Raiders typically give the ball to sophomore Ryanne Dubay, who will have her fair share of college offers when the time comes.

Victory Lap with Jessica Lapachinski: You need character, and you need culture

Old school coaching tells us to leave emotion out of sport.We’ve heard it all before – Toughen up! We need you! Get it together! Stop crying!

Rory McIlroy wins Masters playoff to complete the career Grand Slam

By DOUG FERGUSON

Rory McIlroy wins Masters playoff to complete the career Grand Slam

HS Roundup: Autumn Thornton’s game-winning sacrifice fly lifts Turners softball over Greenfield, 3-2

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

TURNERS FALLS — With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning and runners on first and third in a tie game, Turners Falls coach Gary Mullins asked Autumn Thornton, about to bat, if she would rather bunt or try to get a hit against Greenfield ace MacKenzie Paulin. 

Keeping Score with Chip Ainsworth: UMass decidedly now a hockey school

Good morning!The Marty and Martha Maroons of the world would have you believe that the 9,493-seat William D. Mullins Center was built for men’s basketball. Understandable, considering John Calipari’s team was 24-7 and ranked No.14 by the AP the year the building opened its doors. 

Pioneer's Riley Thayer commits to play field hockey at Lasell University

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

GREENFIELD — Riley Thayer made it official where she will continue her field hockey career on Thursday. 

Track roundup: Mohawk Trail opens season with sweep over Franklin Tech/Turners Falls (PHOTOS)

The spring track and field season official got underway in Franklin County on Thursday, with the Mohawk Trail boys coming away with a 103-41 victory over Franklin Tech in Buckland. 

HS Roundup: Chase Earle strikes out 15 to lead Hopkins baseball past Greenfield, 5-1

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

GREENFIELD — On a chilly April day at Vets Field, hits were at a premium between the Greenfield and Hopkins baseball teams. 

Bulletin Board: Frontier Baseball Ham Raffle set for Saturday

The seventh annual Frontier Baseball Ham Slam Raffle will be held on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the South Deerfield Polish Club. 

Franklin Tech’s Hannah Gilbert records her 500th career strikeout in win over Mohawk Trail

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Have a day, Hannah Gilbert. 

Athol and Franklin Tech baseball teams to square off at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford Friday

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Friday night will be a special one for Athol and Franklin Tech baseball players. 

Madi Liimatainen becomes first Turners Falls softball pitcher to reach 1,000 strikeout milestone (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

SOUTH DEERFIELD — When Turners Falls softball pitcher Madi Liimatainen eclipsed the 500 strikeout mark as a sophomore, a question emerged – just how many K’s could the ace rack up before her time with the Thunder came to a close?

HS Roundup: Frontier softball rallies for walk-off 2-1 win over Turners Falls (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

SOUTH DEERFIELD – It was a seventh inning to remember for the Frontier softball team on Wednesday against Turners Falls. 

High School Tennis Preview 2025: Franklin County programs looking to break through in state tournaments

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Franklin County tennis programs continue to make it to the MIAA Div. 4 state tournament.

On The Ridge with Joe Judd: Tips for turkey hunting as opening day approaches

With the 2025 wild turkey hunting season right ahead of us, Massachusetts hunters are thinking full speed ahead, as Opening Day is set to kick off one half-hour after sunrise on April 28! That has turkey hunters beyond excited to get back into the springtime woods to match wits again with the greatest game bird of all time.

HS Roundup: Frontier boys volleyball falls to West Side, continues to navigate challenging schedule (PHOTOS)

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

SOUTH DEERFIELD — The Frontier boys volleyball team knew it had a gauntlet of a schedule to get through this week. 

High school boys volleyball preview 2025: Athol on the cusp of program’s first state tournament appearance

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Can this be the year the Athol boys volleyball team breaks through and reaches the MIAA Div. 2 state tournament for the first time since the new format was put in place?