Two teams from the Amherst Hockey Association placed first in their age and skill divisions in the Greater Springfield League youth hockey playoffs, held March 17-18 at Olympia Ice Arena in West Springfield.
The Amherst Rangers Peewee Blue team (11-12 year olds) won the Peewee East Division. The Amherst Peewee Red team (11-12 year olds) won the Peewee North Division.
Amherst Peewee Blue beat the Nonotuck Valley Knights in a shootout in the semifinals. Regulation ended tied 1-1. Aiden Torna scored with an assist from Evan Scott for Amherst.
Blue won the best-of-five shootout behind goals from Catharine Ballard, Caiden St. Laurent, Scott and Rob Balcos.
In the championship game against Pioneer Valley Lightening, Scott scored 2:53 into overtime with assists from Torna and Miles Hainsworth as Amherst won 3-2.
The game was tied 2-2 after regulation as Amherst got unassisted goals from Lucas Red Owl and Scott.
Amherst Peewee Red beat Ludlow, 3-2, in the semifinals with goals by Cooper Beckwith, Francis Henderson and Dane Moliterno.
In the championship game, Red beat the Holy Name Stars, 5-2, with goals by Henderson, Taylor Hanson, Eleanor Jacoby and Beckwith, including an empty-net goal.
Two other AHA teams competed in the playoffs: Squirt Red (9-10 year olds) lost in the championship game for the A Division while the Amherst Bantams (13-14 year olds) fell in the semifinals.
Dalby, Bierwert compete at New England Masters
Fred Dalby and Karen Bierwert, both of Northampton, competed at the United States Masters Swimming New England Short Course Yards Championships, held earlier this month at Harvard.
Bierwert competed in the 65-69 age group representing New England Masters. She placed first in the 200-yard backstroke in 3 minutes, 3.81 seconds and first in the 200 individual medley in 2:52.10. Both times established New England records.
She was also first in the 100 backstroke in 1:21.16.
Dalby competed in the 65-69 age group for the Western Mass Waterhorses. He was second in the 100 butterfly (1:21.85), fourth in the 200 freestyle (2:39.87) and fifth in the both the 50 fly (34.54) and 100 back (1:25.84).
Dalby was sixth in the 50 back (38.19), seventh in the 50 free (30.17) and eighth in both the 100 free (1:09.84) and 100 IM (1:21.91).
The Ledges Golf Club in South Hadley is scheduled to open Thursday.
Tee times start at 9 a.m. There will be a $30 special running through April 8 that includes 18 holes with a cart ($25 to walk), or $20 for 9 holes with a cart ($15 to walk).
The Connecticut Valley Soccer Officials Association will conduct an instructional course for candidates for membership during April and May. Members of the CVSOA referee scholastic soccer matches in Franklin and Hampshire counties during the autumn.
Members must be 18 years of age or older and must pass a national background check. For more information, contact Artie Burke at 863-2452 or email AEBurke11@verizon,net.
SEEKONK (AP) — Former NBA star Chris Herren is launching a wellness center aimed at helping people prevent and break free of substance abuse.
Herren says Herren Wellness will offer life skills coaching, educational workshops, and fitness and nutrition advice.
The native of Fall River is setting up the center in Seekonk, Massachusetts, just over the border from Rhode Island.
Herren was a high school standout and a star at Boston College and Fresno State University before being drafted by the Denver Nuggets. He later played for the Celtics and also played seven seasons internationally.
Herren has been in recovery since 2008. He launched a nonprofit in 2011 to provide resources for substance abuse education and treatment.