Williams-Amherst to celebrate 149th year of college baseball in Pittsfield April 12th

149th year of Williams-Amherst baseball to be celebrated in Pittsfield's Wahconah Park

On Saturday, April 12th at 1:00 pm the Williams and Amherst baseball teams will square off in Wahconah Park in Pittsfield, Mass. to celebrate the 149th year of college baseball in America. Williams and Amherst met in the first intercollegiate contest back on July 1, 1859 in Pittsfield in a game won by Amherst 73-32 in 25 innings.

The 289th meeting between the archrivals is setting the stage for what is expected to be an even larger celebration in 2009 when the 150th year of college baseball will noted.

Former Eph baseball player Mike Barbera '89 got the ball rolling on this project and was assisted by Amherst graduate Dan Duquette who grew up in nearby Dalton, Mass. Barbera and Duquette worked with Williams head coach Bill Barrale and Amherst head coach Bill Thurston to move the game from the Williams campus to Pittsfield. Barbera and Duquette also enlisted the support of the Mayor of Pittsfield James. M. Ruberto and secured the use of historic Wahconah Park.

This year's contest will be preceded by a youth baseball clinic provided by the Dan Duquette Sports Academy.

The College Baseball Hall of Fame, based in Lubbock, Texas, will be on hand to officially recognize the game as the birth of intercollegiate baseball in America. Brad Walker and former major leaguer Neal Heaton will represent the Hall of Fame.

A fan bus for Williams students will be made available from the campus to Wahconah Park for the contest.

You can see and read more about the celebration of the 149th year of college baseball and Pittsfield being the birthplace of college baseball by visiting the Capital News 9 and Berkshire Eagle links below.

Capital News 9 (includes text and video)

Berkshire Eagle