Westfield 10-Year-Olds Top Pittsfield in Sectional

By Leland BarnesiBerkshires.com Sports
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hunter Werman threw four innings of shutout baseball as the Westfield 10-year-old Litte League All-Stars defeated Pittsfield, 9-5, in the Section 1 Tournament on Thursday.
 
In his strong outing, Werman recorded eight strikeouts.
 
Pittsfield used six different pitchers in the loss.
 
“We really just wanted to test our arms tonight,  and we learned a lot from what we called a 20/20 pitcher,” Pittsfield coach Matt Stracuzzi said.
 
“This means we put a new pitcher in every 20 pitches just to get to see how they perform and I was not disappointed despite the loss.”
 
Caleb Tierney of Pittsfield came up big offensive. He recorded a key RBI single in the fifth to spark his team’s energy late in the game.
 
Werman, who pitched 68 total pitches, led his team through the deeps of the game getting out of bases loaded trouble.
 
The Westfield crowd really came out to support their 10u on Thursday.
 
Meanwhile, Pittsfield had a very strong crowd as well. The players could feel both sides' energy and it propelled a strong first round game.
 
Colton Rowe had a single, double, and a triple as well as recording four runs had the bat for Westfield.
 
For Pittsfield, the production came with good at bats at the plate drawing full count walks late in the game.
 
“I’m not happy with the result but I am pleased with how the team responded late in the game,” Stracuzzi said.
 
“Being down 9-0 did not discourage the kids at all, they came out to play and just came up short. Not much we can do about it now, we just need to focus on our game on Friday.”
 
Despite this loss for Pittsfield in a double elimination tournament it has a chance to survive in a losers bracket. That road begins at home on Friday at 5:30 back at Deming Park.
 
On the flip side, Westfield continues in the winner’s bracket on Friday.
 

 

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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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