A marathon to remember
On May 23, the Greenfield baseball team captured the Western Massachusetts championship after a grueling 17‑inning contest that stretched three hours and 33 minutes. The marathon, featuring 424 pitches, ended with Malik Moore’s walk‑off run that sent the crowd into celebration.
From the opening frames, pitcher Arthur Fitzpatrick set a dominant tone, retiring 10 of the first 11 Lenox batters while his own team built early momentum. Conner Bergeron’s single and stolen base in the eighth tied the game, and Chase Zraunig’s clutch double in the 12th knotted the score again after Lenox had surged ahead.
The tension peaked in the 16th inning when Lenox took a 3‑2 lead on Bryce Hoff’s RBI triple. Greenfield answered in the 17th: Luca Siano singled to right, Fitzpatrick laid down a bunt, and Moore’s subsequent single to right‑center drove home the winning run, sealing a historic victory.
Voices from the dugout
Players and coach Tom Suchanek reflected on the emotional roller‑coaster, describing the game as feeling like a movie. Luca Siano said he entered the final inning confident, while Bergeron highlighted the team’s resilience after a long season of early‑season goals set by Fitzpatrick.
The win was celebrated not only on the field but also by the broader community, with fans and alumni gathering to honor the team’s perseverance. The Greenfield Recorder’s oral history captured the camaraderie, the strategic bunt, and the sheer joy of a championship that will be remembered for years.