Sandy McKnight Songwriters Fund Songwriter Series Continues

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LEE, Mass. — The Sandy McKnight Songwriters Fund will host the second event of its new bi-monthly Songwriter Series on Friday, Jan. 17, at Appetito, located at 54 Main Street in Lee.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and features Pittsfield-based singer-songwriter Christine Bilé, followed by an open mic session for original songwriters.

According to a press release:

Christine Bilé is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, blending acoustic pop and folk influences. Playing instruments like guitar and ukulele, she writes, composes, and arranges songs that explore themes of relationships, self-love, and empowerment. Influenced by artists such as Michael Jackson, John Mayer, and Beyoncé, Christine plays music across Massachusetts and beyond, with notable performances including a set at the Ladybug Music Festival in Wilmington, Delaware.

The Songwriter Series, held on the first and third Fridays of each month, celebrates the legacy of Sandy McKnight, a beloved local musician and advocate for the arts who passed away in May 2024. The series offers a platform for seasoned and emerging songwriters to share their work, fostering community and creativity in McKnight’s memory.

 

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Thunder 16U Holds Off Force in Weather-Shortened Contest

By Ben McDonoughFor iBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Greylock Thunder capitalized on an early offensive surge and held off a resilient Berkshire Force squad for an 11-7 victory in a game that was called after five innings because of weather in 16U division of the Battle of the Berkshires Tournament on Friday.
 
Greylock wasted little time getting on the board in the top of the first inning. Consecutive singles put runners on the corners before another base hit brought home the game’s first run. The Thunder continued to apply pressure as a fielder’s choice kept the inning alive and Bayleigh Tatro ripped an RBI double to left field. An ensuing sacrifice fly plated another run, giving Greylock a 4-0 advantage.
 
Berkshire answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. After retiring the first two Thunder batters, Greylock pitcher Avery Lane saw the Force string together quality at-bats. A single put a runner aboard before Madilyn Demary’s RBI double got Berkshire on the scoreboard. Another run-scoring single followed, trimming the deficit to 4-2 after one inning.
 
The Force went ahead, 5-4, in the second thanks to RBI singles from Alliah DiPietro and Mollie Crawford.
 
The Thunder then scored four times in the third to take the lead for good. Gianna Witek got the rally started with a double to left, and Greylock took advantage of a couple of errors and a bases-loaded walk worked by Lane to go ahead, 8-5.
 
Berkshire continued to battle and nearly erased the deficit in the third. The Force put runners on base with a walk and aggressive baserunning kept the pressure on. A runner crossed the plate during a steal attempt, and Berkshire added more traffic on the bases before Greylock's Lane recorded a swinging strikeout to end the threat with runners on first and second.
 
Greylock was able to pull away with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth and one more in the fifth to go ahead, 11-7.
 
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