Softball season thrown open: Webutuck and Millbrook field a joint varsity team

Softball season thrown open:
Webutuck and Millbrook field a joint varsity team

Continuing a practice regimen during spring break at Webutuck’s athletic field on Monday, March 25, the combined girls’ softball team is preparing for its 2024 season. The newly combined team has gained three members from Millbrook High School this year.

Leila Hawken

AMENIA — Aligned with a growing trend toward schools combining sports programs to field viable teams, Webutuck High School has welcomed three players from Millbrook High School for the 2024 girls’ softball season, growing their team to 13.

Head coach Chris Osterman, now in his second season of coaching the girls’ softball team, was conducting an intensive practice session at Webutuck on Monday, March 25, despite the academic spring break; practice was scheduled throughout the school’s spring break to ensure that the team would be ready for the coming season.

Osterman has been coaching sports at Webutuck for 18 years of experience coaching sports at Webutuck.

Another team experiencing its first combined year is girls’ soccer, said Daniel Pietrafesa, a spokesperson for Webutuck Central School District. The boys’ football team has also joined forces with Millbrook’s team.

“It’s very beneficial, giving young athletes a chance to compete in the sport they love playing,” said Pietrafesa. “We’re all here to give the kids a chance to play.”

Overall, there are three combined teams participating in the spring sports season, Pietrafesa said. Those teams are track and field, softball and baseball.

“Millbrook brings a lot of talent,” said team member Grainne Williams, a Webutuck senior.

“I like to meet and have new people playing with me,” she added, predicting that her team will have a winning season. Williams praised the team’s potential as they are learning to work as a team and she spoke for her team that they have a good coach.

An experienced combined girls’ team soccer player (outside wing) in the fall sports roster, pitcher Madison Krueger of Millbrook, a junior, is no less enthusiastic about her softball team’s prospects this year.

Varsity softball opens its season on Wednesday, April 3 at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. The home opener and league opener will be against Dover on Wednesday, April 10.

The season will continue until mid-May.

Latest News

Village announces annual nighttime parking ban

Millerton Police will be enforcing the ban on overnight street parking over the winter beginning Dec. 10. The ban is intended to keep streets clear for plowing.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON – The Village of Millerton issued an alert last week reminding residents of its seasonal overnight parking ban.

“In accordance with the provisions of article 151-13 of the Village of Millerton Code, all-night parking is prohibited on all streets within the Village between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. beginning Dec. 10, 2025 and ending April 10, 2026, except for Century Boulevard. Violators will be towed at the owner’s expense.”

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Hidden Treasures of the Hudson Valley:’ North East Historical Society Hosts Annual Meeting

North East Historical Society President Ed Downey introduced historian Anthony Musso for his talk on low-cost historical sites across the Hudson Valley before the annual meeting of the historical society at the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex on Saturday, Nov. 15.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — With his signature Brooklyn accent, sense of humor and wealth of knowledge, author and historian Anthony “Tony” Musso brought American Revolution history to life at the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex in partnership with the North East Historical Society.

The talk marked Musso’s first speaking engagement at the Annex and coincided with the historical society’s annual meeting.

Keep ReadingShow less
Students curate Katro Storm portraits at HVRHS

“Once Upon a Time in America” features ten portraits by artist Katro Storm.

Natalia Zukerman

The Kearcher-Monsell Gallery at Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village is once again host to a wonderful student-curated exhibition. “Once Upon a Time in America,” ten portraits by New Haven artist Katro Storm, opened on Nov. 20 and will run through the end of the year.

“This is our first show of the year,” said senior student Alex Wilbur, the current head intern who oversees the student-run gallery. “I inherited the position last year from Elinor Wolgemuth. It’s been really amazing to take charge and see this through.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Mini horses, big impact: animal learning center opens in Sheffield

Le Petit Ranch offers animal-assisted therapy and learning programs for children and seniors in Sheffield.

Marjorie Borreda

Le Petit Ranch, a nonprofit offering animal-assisted therapy and learning programs, opened in April at 147 Bears Den Road in Sheffield. Founded by Marjorie Borreda, the center provides programs for children, families and seniors using miniature horses, rescued greyhounds, guinea pigs and chickens.

Borreda, who moved to Sheffield with her husband, Mitch Moulton, and their two children to be closer to his family, has transformed her longtime love of animals into her career. She completed certifications in animal-assisted therapy and coaching in 2023, along with coursework in psychiatry, psychology, literacy and veterinary skills.

Keep ReadingShow less