Athletes from the Paper City Flyers Track & Field program delivered standout performances at the USATF Regional Championships held at Gordon College, earning multiple podium finishes and national qualifying spots for the upcoming USATF National Junior Olympics in California.

Leading the group was Ava Rios of Holyoke, who captured first place in the shot put and second place in the javelin, securing her qualification for the national championship meet. Rios was one of six Paper City Flyers athletes competing at the regional level, representing Holyoke in a highly competitive field.

Also contributing to the team’s success were sisters Esther Nwabunor and Ngozi Nwabunor. Esther earned second place in the 80-meter hurdles, while Ngozi finished second in both the shot put and discus, showing strong performances across multiple events.

In the horizontal jumps, Kyrie Petrizzi Richmond placed second in the long jump, with his brother Prestyn  finishing fifth in the same event. Both athletes, along with their teammates, earned qualification for the USATF National Junior Olympics to be held at Cerritos College in Norwalk, California from July 27-August 2.

The Paper City Flyers program continues to emphasize development, discipline, and opportunity for youth athletes in Western Massachusetts. The results at the regional championship reflect the steady growth of the program and the commitment of its athletes and coaching staff.

“These athletes work extremely hard, and what you’re seeing is the result of consistency, coaching, and belief in their development,” Flyers head coach Kevin McDonald said in a news release.

The Paper City Flyers are based in Holyoke and compete under USA Track & Field, serving youth athletes across Western Massachusetts.

Amherst Golf Club

Results from The Steamboat Member-Guest at the Amherst Golf Club from this past weekend:

Low Gross: Aaron Dowd and Joe Worthley: 63-69=132; Second Gross: Jay Morgan and Bill Armstrong: 69-74=143; T-Low Net: Bryan Pelchat and Zachary Hunter: 60-64=124, Ryan Staplin and Jason Carlson: 59-65=124; Third Net: Glenn Allan and Sandy Allan: 65-62=127; Fourth Net: Jim Worthley and Anthony Rossi: 65-68=133.

PVYBL Koufax Division

Northampton 3, Amherst 2 — Mason Hean held the hot bat for the Blue Devils in its close victory over the Hurricanes at Florence Fields on Sunday.

Hean brought home the game-deciding run with a single during the bottom of the fourth inning as Northampton handed Amherst just its second loss (6-2) of the season.

Hean finished the victory with a pair of RBIs, plus earned the save on the mound for the Blue Devils (3-4), throwing 1 2/3 innings while allowing two hits, one walk with one strikeout included.

Maceo Nteta picked up the win, going 5 1/3 innings with just three hits surrendered to his name for Northampton.

The Hurricanes were lead by Oliver Howard (2-for-3) and Gus Garrett Peltier (3 1/3 innings, one run allowed) in the loss. Amherst appeared to be in the driver’s seat in the seventh inning with four straight batters reaching base, but a caught stealing halted its momentum and eventually erased its threat to score.