Franklin County’s YMCA hosting its first-ever strongman competition “Pioneer’s Strongest” this weekend

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

GREENFIELD — Think you’re the strongest person in Franklin County? Franklin County’s YMCA might be able to help you answer that question this weekend. The YMCA is hosting its first-ever strongman competition, called Pioneer’s Strongest, on Saturday,...

UMass football season preview: Can Minutemen take another step forward in Year 3 of Don Brown’s FBS era?

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — For the first time since 2018, the UMass football team will be hosting the first game on its schedule.Six years ago the Minutemen defeated FCS opponent Duquesne 63-15 to open their campaign. Over a half decade later, they’re looking to make...

Keeping Score with Chip Ainsworth: UMass football seeking a season-opening win over Eastern Michigan

Good morning!UMass opens the 2024 football campaign Saturday against Eastern Michigan at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The season outlook is bleak. UMass plays at top-ranked Georgia and at Mississippi State, and is home against No. 10 Missouri. Already...

Bulletin Board: Ryan Cetto nabs medalist honors but Frontier golf falls to Hampshire in season opener

It was about as close as it could get between the Frontier and Hampshire golf teams in season-opening action on Thursday at Cherry Hill Golf Course in Amherst. Frontier’s Ryan Cetto was the match medalist with a 37, helping Frontier secure a team...

Bulletin boards: Montague Elks soccer shoot winners crowned

The Montague Elks held its soccer shoot on Saturday at Franklin County Technical School, with Benjamin Kolodziej, Maximo Morales, Andrew Morales, Ales Martin Ovalle and Indira Wiles placing first place in their respective age groups. The Montague Elks...

On The Ridge with Joe Judd: Technology and the outdoor world

During a recent meeting of a group of New England outdoor writers, a discussion began in reference to “high technology in today’s world of hunting and fishing,” which completely caught my attention. This stems from the myriad of technological advances...

Golf preview: Franklin Tech aims to reach state tourney for third straight year

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

The Franklin Tech golf team has played its best under the brightest lights the last few seasons. The Eagles have reached the state tournament the past two years after strong showings at the Western Mass. Div. 3 championship — where they placed third...

UMass football: Minutemen relishing the chance to play as themselves in EA Sports College Football 25

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

AMHERST — EA Sports’ long-anticipated college football video game, “College Football 25” finally released in July, and UMass football players wasted little time getting in on the action. The popular game was shelved in 2013 because of disputes over...

Orchards Golf Club plays host to 2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball qualifier (PHOTOS)

SOUTH HADLEY — Mother Nature wreaked havoc on the afternoon wave Monday, as Orchards Golf Club hosted a qualifier for the 2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.The top three teams (and two alternates) advanced to the Four-Ball Championship,...

UMass football: Head coach Don Brown, QB Taisun Phommachanh reflect ahead of Minutemen's season opener against Eastern Michigan

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

AMHERST — It’s year No. 47 for Don Brown as a football coach, but as the head man for UMass came down the hallway for his season-opening press conference at the Martin Jacobson Football Performance Center, he sounded like a kid ready for their first...

Bulletin Board: Amesbury's Drew Everett wins New England Green River Marathon

The New England Green River Marathon took place on Sunday, and Amesbury’s Drew Everett was the first to complete the course in a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes and 34 seconds. The Green River Marathon begins in Marlboro, Vt. and ends at Greenfield...

UMass football: Will Minutemen be faster this year? ‘We’ve brought so much speed back into the equation’

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

AMHERST — As UMass continually reshapes its roster in year No. 3 of the Don Brown era, players and coaches both say that the Minutemen will be faster this year than last year.“I’m going to tell you what we do better right now than at any time I can...

Bulletin Board: Nathaniel Belmont wins weekly Northfield Summer Road Race

Nathaniel Belmont placed first at Thursday’s Northfield Summer Road Race, completing the three-mile course in a time of 18 minutes, 16 seconds. Cyrus Belmont took second (18:25), Michael Townsley came in third (19:45), Michael Bear earned fourth...

Greenfield's Don Maynard 5-Miler to celebrate 30th running on Sept. 21

By LUCY POSTERA

When Chuck Adams and Cathy Coutu founded the Don Maynard Memorial 5-Miler in 1995, they had no idea what the race would become. Now, 30 editions later, the annual Greenfield race continues to withstand time, creating a tradition of remembrance and...

Keeping Score with Chip Ainsworth: Honoring Greg Belanger this weekend

Good morning!The next time you’re at the curve on Rte. 5 a half-mile south of Richardson’s Candy Kitchen, look east and you’ll see a large boulder with a bronze plaque attached to it. The monument memorializes Sgt. Gregory Allen Belanger, who died...

Bulletin Board: Sally Malloy places first in Thomas Women’s League

Sally Malloy shot a low gross of 41 to lead the way at the Thomas Memorial Women’s League on Wednesday in Turners Falls.Amanda Larson carded the low net of 28 while Terry Sall won closest to the pin on No. 7 (4 feet, 7 inches). Timmons-Messer...

UMass football: WR Anthony Simpson details the new role he'll play for Minutemen this year

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

Last year, the UMass football team had 10 players catch a total of 212 passes. Anthony Simpson is the only one of those 10 still on the Minutemen roster.He was last year’s leading receiver – his 57 receptions and 792 yards nearly doubled No. 2...

New Athletic Directors take over at Frontier, Pioneer & Turners Falls for 2024-25 school year

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

As the 2024-25 high school sports season approaches, three new athletic directors in Franklin County are settling into their posts.Glenn Sullivan is taking over at his alma mater, Frontier Regional, for Dave Sanschagrin, while in Northfield, Nick...

The Real Score: From Paris, with Love: 2024 Olympic Games Strike Gold

The next time we tune in to hear the drums of NBC’s Summer Olympics coverage, the torch will be lit in California for the first Summer Olympics in the United States in 34 years. And from the perspective of those studying the business of sports, the...

Greenfield athletic fields to be named for longtime coaches Donna Woodcock, Tom Suchanek

By THOMAS JOHNSTON

Two athletic fields at Greenfield High School will have new names beginning this fall. The Greenfield City Council voted Wednesday to name the athletic fields behind Greenfield High School “Donna Woodcock Field,” and the baseball diamond at Veterans...