Year: 2017

WESTFIELD — Tighe & Bond, an engineering and environmental consulting firm, announced the recent addition of three senior environmental professionals to its team — Christopher Koelle, LEP; Shawn Rising, LSP; and Daniel Williams. This expands the firm’s environmental breadth of services across the region:

• Koelle is a Connecticut licensed environmental professional (LEP) and project manager with 19 years of experience providing environmental consulting services for a wide range of large and smaller-scale multidisciplinary projects. This includes environmental assessment, hazardous building material (HBM) surveys, site development and redevelopment of brownfields, remediation, HBM abatement, and facility demolition. Koelle’s projects have involved assessment and remediation of PCBs, petroleum, solvents, and metals at both federal and state regulated sites. He is known for developing innovative approaches to site assessment and remediation that have yielded significant savings at a multitude of sites across Connecticut. Koelle earned his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Lehigh University, and his master’s in Environmental Science from the University of New Haven. He works out of the firm’s Middletown office;
• Rising is a Massachusetts licensed site professional (LSP) and project manager with more than 19 years of experience providing environmental consulting services for a wide range of diverse projects throughout New England. He provides site assessment, remediation, due diligence services, and environmental permitting. In addition, he has designed and implemented a variety of remedial programs for the treatment of oil and hazardous materials impacts to soil and groundwater under various regulatory programs. Rising has managed numerous waste site cleanup projects throughout the Northeast with a focus on petroleum site assessment and remediation. In addition, he has substantial experience with facility compliance in the petroleum industry. Rising also has managed several large-scale due diligence projects, supporting the acquisition of up to 300 properties under single portfolio transaction. Currently he is providing LSP services for the closure of the former Mt. Tom power plant in Holyoke. Rising earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology, with a minor in chemistry, from Westfield State University. He works primarily out of the firm’s Westfield office, routinely providing support to many other Tighe & Bond offices;

• Williams is a senior environmental compliance specialist with more than 27 years of experience in industrial health and safety, as well as regulatory compliance. His expertise includes development and support for process-safety management, risk management programs, Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) programs and various OSHA, EPA and state environmental compliance standards. Williams has developed, coordinated and managed EHS policies, programs, training, and reporting processes for numerous industrial facilities throughout New England. During this time, he has overseen numerous safety improvements and implemented successful accident and cost-reduction strategies. He brings a wealth of safety and compliance experience to the firm gained from past positions at key industrial facilities in Massachusetts. Williams holds a bachelor of Arts in EHS Program Management from UMass Amherst. He works out of the firm’s Westfield o

NORTHAMPTON — The International Language Institute of Massachusetts (ILI) is focusing on improving communications among staff and customers in the workplace with a new product called the Workplace Training Initiative.

With 34 years of experience in teaching languages throughout communities and workplaces in western Massachusetts, ILI’s enhanced Workplace Training Initiative addresses the need for improved interaction between non-native English speaking employees and customers, with a new twist. The core curriculum now includes an emphasis on digital literacy and customer service.

ILI’s teachers travel to businesses for on-site classes that accommodate the unique circumstances of each workplace. Discussions (before classes begin) set the parameters and expectations for the courses. In general, classes focus on everyday conversations that are expected among staff and in working with customers and improvements in digital literacy to help employees increase their productivity.

Courses generally include once-a-week sessions for 1.5 hours each. Costs vary, depending on the frequency and number of the sessions. ILI is an approved provider for the Workplace Training Fund, which means as a qualified organization, businesses may be eligible for state workplace training funds to offset a portion of the costs of the classes. For more information, visit http://ili.edu/workplace-programs

WESTFIELD — The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce recently announced its annual awards. The recipients are:

• 2017 Business of the Year — ProAmpac, formerly Prolamina, is a leading global flexible packaging company. The company provides creative packaging solutions, industry-leading customer service, and award-winning innovation to a diverse global marketplace;
• 2017 Non-Profit of the Year — KEVS Foundation Inc. was founded by Susan Canning in loving memory of her son, Kevin Major, who passed away July 11, 2011 from a condition called “Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Kevin exhibited no symptoms and since his untimely passing, Susan has advocated for legislation to have automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in every school in Massachusetts. She achieved her goal this year, as Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill requiring all Massachusetts schools to be equipped with AEDs on-site by July 2018;

• 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award — the Perez family of East Mountain Country Club. Since opening in 1963, East Mountain Country Club has truly been a family owned and operated business. Throughout the 18-hole public golf course and banquet facility, one will meet up with a member of this close- working family. PGA golf professional Ted Perez Jr. manages the golf business and the greens superintendent duties, while brother Mark is the clubhouse manager and works on the grounds. Sister Brenda (Perez) Coggin and her daughter Deanna are the head chefs and Brenda also serves as their banquet coordinator. East Mountain was founded in 1963 by Ted Perez Sr. and his wife Maria. Ted Sr. founded, designed and built the 18-hole golf course. Today, Maria serves as president of East Mountain Country Club.

The three award winners will be recognized at the Greater Westfield Chamber’s Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet on Nov. 15.  There will be a cocktail hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by a program from 6:30 to 8:30. The event is hosted by East Mountain Country Club, located at 1458 East Mountain Road, Westfield. The Event Sponsor is Baystate Noble Hospital.

To pre-register, or for more information please visit westfieldbiz.org or call Pam Bussell at the Chamber office at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail to [email protected].

SPRINGFIELD — More than 125 Western New England University football team members will volunteer to provide yard clean-up and debris removal at the home of Springfield resident Sophia Jeffery along with another city resident today.

Due to Jeffery’s health conditions, she has been unable to maintain her yard. Mrs. Jeffery has lived in her Wellington Street home for 40 years and is an active member of the Springfield community.

The scope of work today includes removing overgrown bushes; trimming shrubs and trees; painting the foundation and side porch; and repairing and staining the handicap ramp.

Since Revitalize CDC’s inception in 1992, the organization has repaired and rehabilitated more than 600 homes with the help of 10,000 volunteers, investing $30 million into Western Mass. In the past year, Revitalize CDC completed 76 home repair, modification and rehabilitation projects on the homes of low-income families with children, elderly citizens, military veterans and people with special needs.

WESTFIELD — The Westfield Cultural Council (WCC) will be staging a joint reception and question-and-answer session, open to the public, on Sept. 12, 6-8 p.m. at the Horace Mann Center, 333 Western Ave. A light snack and drink will be served.

This celebration will showcase the work of individuals and organizations that have received grant funding from the WCC, ranging from educational performances at elementary schools to music at the farmer’s market. In FY ’17, the council awarded nearly $20,000 in grants to support community-wide programming in a range of creative fields.

At the reception, the public is invited to learn more about the council and the opportunity to apply for and receive funds. Applications for grants will be made available online on September 1, and are due by October 15. A list of past grantees and guidelines can be found at https://www.mass-culture.org/westfield.

Dependent upon state allocation, grants will be awarded in late autumn of 2017, after the application deadline closes. Individuals, nonprofits, unincorporated organizations, public schools, and religious organizations are invited to apply for funds to assist in producing or continuing arts, humanities, or science centered programs that take place within Westfield city limits.

Council members will be present at the reception to answer questions on the grant, as well as to hear feedback from the community on what they would like to see funding allocated for. The council takes feedback from the public on a yearly basis to ensure grant money is given to projects that benefit the public

SPRINGFIELD — Have you noticed changes around Stearns Square and want the inside scoop on what’s happening? The public is invited to a Discover Downtown Springfield Community Tour on Wednesday, Aug. 23 from 3 to 5 p.m.

The event will kick off at 3 p.m. sharp at the Community Foundation and will include stops throughout the neighborhood, where attendees will hear directly from project leads about what’s happening. The tour will wrap up at White Lion Wednesday at Tower Square Park.

To stay in the loop about what’s happening throughout the district and to share ideas and feedback, visit courb.co/springfield-tdi.

SPRINGFIELD — The American International College (AIC) Athletic Department will partner with Continuum Performance Center (CPC) EDGE in East Longmeadow to outfit training programs for all 25 of its athletic programs. In accordance with NCAA standards to ensure proper training for each sport, CPC will work with coaches to design and conduct all strength and conditioning programs on campus. The programs will cater to team and individual player needs.

“This is a big step forward for the AIC Athletic Department,” said Matthew Johnson, Athletic director for the college. “To partner with a reputable company like CPC EDGE provides student-athletes with high-quality, expert training.”

The owner of CPC EDGE, Geoff Sullivan, is looking forward to the partnership. “CPC is a team of professionals committed to providing programs to meet the needs of the student-athletes at AIC,” he said. “Every program will be designed in accordance with NCAA standards and the goals of each team coach. Our mission is to educate, enhance performance, and deliver elite level training.”

HOLYOKE — Leadership Holyoke is a comprehensive community-leadership and board-development program of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce. The series utilizes a combination of classes and practical experiences to help local business people develop their leadership skills, increase their knowledge of the community, and acquire the skills needed to serve as board members and community leaders.

The 2017-18 Leadership series begins on Sept. 22, consists of a weekly series of eight seven-hour sessions, and concludes on May 2 with a graduation ceremony at Holyoke Community College (HCC) with a specialty luncheon prepared by the college’s culinary program students. All sessions will be held on Fridays (except for the Boston State House trip) and take place at Holyoke Community College as well as other locations throughout the city.

Each session will include a segment on organization and leadership skills, and a segment on community needs and resources. Faculty members from HCC will participate as instructors and facilitators, and community leaders will participate as speakers and discussion leaders in areas of their expertise. The Leadership Holyoke series is made possible by PeoplesBank.

Tuition of $600 per participant is due at the start of the course and includes a continental breakfast each week, a bus trip to Boston, and the graduation luncheon. Sign up online at holyokechamber.com or call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 with any questions.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University’s master of occupational therapy class of 2019 has begun its first term. The cohort of 136 students came to the university from 17 states nationwide, as far west as California and as far south as Florida, to earn advanced degrees in their field of practice.

Students’ career aspirations are as varied as their hometowns. Members of the class of 2019 have set their sights on such disciplines within the profession as art and theater therapy, exercise therapy, training therapy dogs, treating PTSD in veterans, and specializing in hand therapy. The university’s occupational therapy program is housed at the state-of-the-art Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center in East Longmeadow.

During Carol Leary’s 22-year tenure as president of Bay Path, the occupational therapy program, originally offered only as a two-year course of study, has seen significant growth. The university recently announced its first-ever doctoral degree will be in occupational therapy. Classes begin in October.

NORTHAMPTON — For a women-owned financial-services firm that thrives on relationships, the local community matters. So when it came time to name the recipient of a special charitable gift in honor of their firm’s 25th anniversary, the choice was easy … and personal.

“Our vision of community is taking care of each other,” said Cheryl Patterson, co-founder of Hart & Patterson Financial Group. “Taking care of each other means we are our brothers’ — and our sisters’ — keepers. This is how we run our firm, and it’s the legacy we seek to create with our gift to Cooley Dickinson’s new Breast Center.”

For Patterson and partners Vikki Lenhart and Sue Patterson, the firm’s recent $20,000 gift to the Breast Center was deeply personal. Their colleague, partner, and friend, co-founder Lorraine Hart, had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. Through that experience, Cheryl Patterson noted, “we learned the importance of locally available services.”

Touring the center as it was being built and learning about its impact on thousands of community members made Cooley Dickinson an easy choice for Hart & Patterson’s generous gift.

“We felt that supporting the Breast Center is the perfect way to show our appreciation by helping individuals prevent and fight breast cancer,” Lenhart said.

The Breast Center, which opened July 31, brings together advanced diagnostic capabilities with skilled, compassionate staff and physicians in an easy-to-navigate, patient-centered environment.

The center takes a multi-disciplinary approach to breast health, with comprehensive services including breast exams, breast screening, diagnostic breast imaging, biopsy and wire localization, ultrasound, and bone-density screening.

The Beveridge Family Foundation has offered a challenge: if $50,000 is raised by the end of August, the center will receive a $25,000 capping grant. For information on making a gift to the Breast Center, e-mail [email protected] or call (413) 582-2684.

SOUTHAMPTON — Glendale Ridge Vineyard, located at 155 Glendale Road in Southampton, will host a family-friendly fund-raising event for the Northampton Survival Center on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. The event will feature Latin folk music by MarKamusic, and food trucks will include the Bistro Bus, La Veracruzana, and Hot Oven Cookies.

The $10 admission goes directly toward purchasing food for clients who visit the pantry. Children age 12 and under are free. Attendees may bring a blanket or chairs if they choose. The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 10 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Established in 1979, the Northampton Survival Center is dedicated to improving the quality of life for low-income individuals and families throughout Hampshire County by providing a stable and reliable source of free, healthy food all year long. With pantries in Northampton and Goshen, the center is open every weekday, and each day distributes over 3,000 pounds of food to between 90 and 100 of its neighbors in need. In all, the center serves about 4,300 clients over the course of the year, one-third of whom are children.

EAST LONGMEADOW — Even the greatest content needs a powerful delivery method to reach its target audience. “Storytelling Strategies to Engage and Influence,” an interactive workshop to be held Thursday, Aug. 24, will introduce participants to the value and power of storytelling as an influence tool.

Lisa Lipkin will lead the workshop, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bay Path University’s Philip H. Ryan Center, 1 Denslow Road, East Longmeadow.

Attendees will learn how to organize their facts and figures within a new narrative structure, making their information more emotionally engaging and memorable. They will also learn strategies for delivering their presentations like a professional storyteller. This learning experience aims to improve team building, recruitment, onboarding, sales, internal and external communication, leadership training, and employee engagement.

This one-day interactive learning experience costs $350 and offers 5.5 professional development credits. To register or for more information, click here.

HOLYOKE — River Valley Counseling Center (RVCC), an affiliate of Holyoke Medical Center and a member of Valley Health Systems, will hold its second annual golf tournament fund-raiser on Friday, Sept. 15 at East Mountain Country Club in Westfield. The funds raised will help RVCC to continue providing behavioral-health and other essential supportive services to individuals, families, and groups throughout the Pioneer Valley.

The cost per golfer is $100 and includes a golf cart, lunch, dinner, and prizes. There will also be a raffle and silent auction. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a 10:30 a.m. shotgun start. There will also be contests on the course, including prizes donated by Marcotte Ford and Teddy Bear Pools. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and donations are being sought for raffle prizes and the silent auction.

For more information about the event, including registration, visit www.rvcc-inc.org, stop by River Valley Counseling Center’s Facebook page, or contact RVCC Marketing and Development Specialist Angela Callahan at (413) 841-3546 or [email protected].

SPRINGFIELD — During the National Assoc. of Clean Water Agencies’ (NACWA) Utility Leadership Conference and 47th annual meeting in St. Louis, representatives of the association’s nearly 300 member utilities elected Joshua Schimmel, executive director of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, to a seat on its board of directors.

NACWA, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a national leader in clean-water advocacy, and Schimmel’s leadership will be instrumental in helping to shape and improve clean-water policy that impacts all states and cities.

“With the addition of Josh Schimmel, the association further bolsters its long tradition of having the most forward-thinking public utility leaders helping shape our regulatory, legislative, and legal clean-water initiatives and showing the path toward the utility of the future,” said said Adam Krantz, CEO of NACWA. “Mr. Schimmel brings exceptional experience, innovation, and commitment to his local utility and to the national stage, and it is a great honor for me to welcome him to NACWA’s board of directors.”

Schimmel has more than 24 years of experience at the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, participating in all facets of the water and wastewater utility business, from operations to engineering to customer service to financial and regulatory issues. Appointed executive director in 2016, he worked proactively with the Board of Commissioners and commission staff to advance efforts to create financial stability, implement an aggressive capital-investment program, and develop a sustainable operating strategy while keeping rates affordable and service reliable.

FLORENCE — Florence Bank promoted Kristen Lemoi to the position of vice president, Marketing manager. She joined Florence Bank in June 2011.

Prior to her recent promotion, Lemoi had served as the assistant vice president, Digital and Merchandising manager for Florence Bank, and played an integral part in the 2014 launch of the bank’s new brand. In her new role, she will help steer the bank’s strategic marketing decisions.

Lemoi received her bachelor’s degree in marketing from UMass Dartmouth. She is currently on the board of the Cancer Connection, and holds the title of certified financial marketing professional from the ABA Institute of Certified Bankers.

“We are very pleased to announce Kristen’s promotion,” said Florence Bank President and CEO John Heaps Jr. “Kristen has proven that she is a visionary within the marketing space, and we are delighted to continue to watch her create new, innovative ways to connect with our customers as well as the communities we serve.”

AMHERST — Anyone in the unique (but not uncommon) situation of working with their spouse or significant other might be interested in being one of eight to 10 couples to take part in an upcoming ‘spouses summit,’ a constructive, honest, cathartic discussion and learning opportunity for couples in business.

The Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley is planning such an event. The business owners represented will be from a mix of non-competing companies of various sizes and industries. A few lessons will be built in a la short talks on communication, conflict, professionalism, marketing oneself as a family business, etc., but it will also be a lightly facilitated, largely free-flowing conversation, comparing notes with others who are in the same basic scenario: working with one’s beloved.

The Family Business Center has been presenting helpful programs, workshops, roundtables, and more for families in business since 1994, including a couple of successful sibling summits and one spouses summit. The cost will likely be around $120 per couple, and limited to the first eight to 10 couples who register and pay. A date will then be chosen that will work for all participants.

For more information, call Ira Bryck at (413) 835-0810.

CHICOPEE — DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology Students spent a recent morning creating stage-worthy looks for 15 children at the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee. The children, ranging in age from 5 to 17, had been working with the team at Ohana School of Performing Arts once a week in preparation for their dance performance at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School in South Hadley later that day. Ashley Kohl, owner of Ohana, had invited the children to join the recital.

The DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology junior class, accompanied by instructor Tamika Jones, had a great time collaborating with the children on hip-hop inspired looks. Using bandanas, bows, and dance-proof up-dos, the children were all smiles and ready to hit the stage.

“We are so thankful to the students at DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology for taking time out of their schedules to come down to the Club on a Sunday morning and do hair and makeup,” said Lynn Morrissette, Marketing & Development Director for the Chicopee club. “This allowed for the Boys & Girls Club kids to enjoy some pampering and feel confident as they performed their dance routines on stage.”

Several Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee staff members, including Program Director Desirae Malave, Training Coordinator Amy Underwood, and Operations Manager Tara Korepta, helped to coordinate this event.

SPRINGFIELD — The Wall Street Journal recently published an article tackling the city’s efforts to “shake off decades of postindustrial malaise and capitalize on fresh economic energy downtown,” while calling its location a liability, as it’s too far from Boston or New York to double as a bedroom community.

“For decades, Springfield had chugged along as a dynamo of innovation, with inventions ranging from gasoline-powered cars to adjustable wrenches to the sport of basketball,” the article notes. “Now it is among many small and midsize cities dotting the Northeast and Midwest that have struggled to rebound from industrial decline and reap the same benefits as large cities from the U.S. economic recovery.”

The article quotes state Sen. Eric Lesser, who notes the city has been “left out of the red-hot gains that you’ve seen in Boston”; Mayor Domenic Sarno, who notes that Springfield needs to take advantage of an improving economy and momentum from developments like Union Station, MGM Springfield, and CCRC Corp.; and a number of economic analysts.

The article is available here for WSJ subscribers.

SPRINGFIELD — In keeping with its mission to empower women to be more confident in their personal and professional lives, Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts is hosting a tag sale at the Eastfield Mall to raise funds and awareness, while also working to meet the needs of women throughout the community. The sale has moved from its original location at the Holyoke Mall.

The sale is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 20 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Customers may peruse through the racks of new and gently used donated items, including suits, dresses, pants, blouses, skirts, shoes, accessories, and more. Items may be purchased by filling a shopping bag for only $25.

“We are delighted and grateful to have the ongoing support of Eastfield Mall, as well as our lead sponsor, MassMutual,” said Dawn Creighton, board president of Dress for Success. “Once again, we have some fabulous items for everyone to enjoy. What could be better than getting great deals on gorgeous clothing while supporting the important work of Dress for Success?”

All proceeds will benefit Dress for Success. Anyone interested in volunteering should e-mail [email protected].

SOUTH HADLEY — The South Hadley Library and the South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce announced a free business educational event for the business community and the public on Thursday, Sept. 14 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the South Hadley Library, located at 2 Canal St. The event, designed for entrepreneurs and businesses, is a joint collaboration between the library and the chamber.

The speaker, Paulina Borrego, is a science and engineering librarian at UMass Amherst. Soon after becoming a librarian in 2007, she took on the role of the Patent & Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) librarian in 2009. She is trained by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office to educate patrons about patents and trademarks, the application process, and how to conduct an effective and thorough search. She works in the UMass Amherst Science & Engineering Library, which is open to the public.

For more information on the program, visit the South Hadley Library’s website at www.shadleylib.org or the chamber website at www.shgchamber.com.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University will hold an open house for its recently announced occupational therapy doctorate program, the university’s first doctoral program, on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bay Path’s Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center, 1 Denslow Road, East Longmeadow.

Attendees will meet members of the admissions team and learn about the curriculum, scheduling, the application process, and financial aid. Those interested in attending the open house should register at www.baypath.edu/otdopenhouse.

A free informational webinar with the program’s director, Dr. Julie Watson, will also be held on Wednesday, Aug. 30 from 1 to 2 p.m. for those interested in learning more about the program. To register, visit www.baypath.edu/otdwebinar.

One of the primary focus areas of the new doctoral program, to be offered fully online, will be a pathway to occupational-therapy instruction at the college level. Other tracks include a career pathway for those students pursuing a career in occupational-therapy administration, and in the area of mental health, where the national opioid crisis is requiring those in recovery to increasingly need the services of occupational therapists. The program will be available to women and men.

Watson maintains ongoing clinical experience at Brooks Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Learning Center in Jacksonville, Fla. She also serves as the North East Florida regional representative for the Florida Occupational Therapy Assoc. She formerly taught in the occupational therapy program at the University of St. Augustine.

Watson said the all-online format is designed to make the program available and accessible to individuals looking to advance their career in occupational therapy and may be particularly appealing to those in mid-career and raising a family.

To learn more about the program, visit www.baypath.edu/occupationaltherapydoctorate. The admissions deadline is Friday, Sept. 15, and the program begins Monday, Oct. 23.

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College’s World Languages Department will be offering a three-credit “Conversational Spanish for Medical Personnel” course for the fall semester. The class meets weekly on Wednesday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. beginning Sept. 6.

“This is a useful class for students, pre-professionals, and medical professionals,” said Jean Zenor, department chair. “It will not only provide practical interactions that may occur in emergency medical situations or work settings in hospitals, emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, or clinics, but it will also provide students with basic Spanish medical vocabulary and reference information.”

According to the course description, “the focus of this course is on conversational phrases that will be useful to medical and emergency personnel. This course will assist medical personnel, police, fire, and other emergency personnel in speaking and understanding Spanish phrases in certain situations. Simple conversational patterns and pronunciations that will assist medical and emergency personnel understand and converse with Spanish speaking persons will be emphasized.”

For more information, contact Zenor at [email protected] or (413) 755-4298. To register for the course, visit www.stcc.edu/explore/register or call the Registrar’s Office at (413) 755-4321.

HOLYOKE — The Valley Blue Sox completed a two-game sweep of the Ocean State Waves Tuesday night, sealing their first-ever New England Collegiate Baseball League championship. The Sox were a perfect 5-0 during their playoff run.

The Blue Sox completed a 9-3 victory in game 1 on Tuesday, a contest that had been stalled by rain the night before. Dave Marriggi earned the win, pitching five innings on Monday before the rain came, allowing three runs on five hits.

Immediately following the completion of that game, the Sox capped their season with a 6-3 win in game 2. Tanner Thomas was the winning pitcher in the deciding game, pitching five innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out seven. Mark Grunberg, Michael Wroth, and Niko Hulsizer each knocked in two runs. Dazon Cole pitched three innings for the save.