Springfield native places second nationally in 60-meter dash

March 14, 2013

WESTFIELD – Westfield State University (WSU) sophomore Targie Gervais of Springfield placed second in the nation in the women's 60-meter dash at the NCAA Division III women's indoor track and field championships on March 9 conducted at North Central College in Napierville, Ill.

Gervais ran her fastest-ever time of 7.61 seconds, a school record.

"Targie had a great start, and was closing ground on the winner late, and it was a photo finish," Westfield State coach Sean O'Brien said. "She just ran out of track. If Targie had another 2-3 meters she would have likely won."

Gervais earns all-America honors with her finish.

Gervais missed becoming Westfield's fourth student-athlete to win a national championship by the narrowest of margins. Marlee Berg won the indoor high jump in 2009. Claudine Rice won the hammer throw in 1994 and Cindy Sturm Menard won the cross country race in 1982 and the 3000 meters in 1983.

Gervais punched her ticket to the national championships when she placed first in the 60 meter dash at the ECAC Division III indoor track and field championships at the Armory in New York City on March 2.

The Central High School graduate won that race with a time of 7.67. She set a school record in the trials in 7.66.

She was also named Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) indoor track and field athlete of the week after the ECAC championships.

Berthiaume named to ECAC New England All-Star Team

CENTERVILLE – Senior guard Alex Berthiaume was recently named to the ECAC Division III New England All-Star Second Team after a standout final season for the Springfield College men's basketball team.

The Springfield native was one of 11 players from the region to earn the honor as he was selected to the second team.

Berthiaume led the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in scoring this season at 18.1 points per game. Shooting nearly 43 percent from the field for the season, he scored at least 20 points in 13 games this season, including a career-best 35 points in the NCAA Championship first round. He was second on the team with 66 assists and third in steals with 43.

He finished his two-year career at Springfield scoring 1,008 points, becoming the 28th player in the program's history to reach the milestone.

Bonavita strong at the plate in Elms softball loss

FORT MYERS, FL. – Senior second baseman Ali Bonavita of Agawam went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and senior centerfielder Leah Spring of South Hadley scored a run, but the Elms College softball team lost a pair of 10-2 decisions to Franklin & Marshall College and Saint Joseph's College (Maine) on March 12 during Gene Cusic Classic.

Asselin leads AIC to sweep of Merrimack, win over Caldwell

SPRINGFIELD – American International College (AIC) sophomore right fielder Dan Asselin was 3-for-5 with two RBI and also scored twice in the Yellow Jackets baseball team's 11-2 victory over Merrimack College on March 10.

The win was the first of a doubleheader sweep. Asselin, a Chicopee native, hit a pinch-hit RBI single in the second game, a 9-8 win. Dan Fenton of Agawam went 1-for-3 with two RBI.

On March 12, AIC jumped out to a 3-0 lead back-to-back RBI singles in the second inning from Asselin and Fenton and stretched its lead to 3-0 when Fenton drew a two-out bases loaded walk in the third as the Jackets beat Caldwell College 5-4.

The Yellow Jackets also got contributions from junior leftfielder Dave Clark of West Springfield, who tripled to right to drive in a run.

Clark also had an RBI single in AIC's 5-4 loss to Saint Thomas Aquinas College on March 11.

Vautrin named to March Mania all-tournament team

BEVERLY – Elms College freshman outside hitter Jeff Vautrin of Chicopee was named to the Endicott College March Mania all-tournament team on March 10.

Vautrin had eight kills in the Blazers' 3-0 loss to Emanuel and 11 in a 3-1 setback against The Sage Colleges.

Gallo records hat trick

SPRINGFIELD – Westfield's Kelly Gallo netted a hat trick and Agawam's Colleen Keeley recorded a goal and two helpers in the second half as the Springfield College women's lacrosse team cruised to a 17-5 victory on March 10.

Gallo was the only other member of the Pride with multiple points as she posted a goal and an assist in a 7-6 win over Plymouth State on March 6.

Locals lead Elms lacrosse

TROY, N.Y. – Elms College senior Chelsey Grabowsk and sophomore Nora McDonough, both of South Hadley, netted four goals each to help spark the Blazers to a tightly contested 18-16 victory over The Sage Colleges on March 6.

Junior Kayla Narey, also of South Hadley, found the back of the net twice and sophomore Lauren Mazza of Agawam scored once to highlight the Blazers' first half output.

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