La Festa Exchange Slides Into North Adams

Baseball and brotherhood will be on display again this weekend as the 29th annual LaFesta Baseball Exchange between North Adams and the North End of Boston comes to Joe Wolfe Field.

A team of 13- to 15-year-old players from youth teams around North Berkshire and Southern Vermont will host the North End Dodgers for 2 games in North Adams, before visiting Boston for 2 on August 3-4. This Saturday's game at "The Joe" is scheduled to include opening ceremonies at about 5:30 or so with the 7-inning game to follow. Another game will be played on Sunday morning at about 10:30. Admission is free and the North Adams Steeplecats have agreed to have their concession stand open. The Cats also moved their home game vs. Newport on Saturday to a 1:00 start, so fans can enjoy a day-night doubleheader if they wish.

Appearing on this week's Community Insight show, Baseball Exchange co-founder & organizer George Canales said it's not all about the baseball, or even the final score. It's the friendships built over the years by players and their families, and the chance for local players to experience a trip to Boston as well as for the "big city" kids to come to the Berkshires for a weekend.

The local weekend includes activities like a cookout at Windsor Lake and a pizza party for the players and families. When they visit Boston, the kids get a chance to visit Quincy Market and experience the North End Festival. All of it is made possible through fund-raising events and the generosity of local sponsors.

Canales said he's always impressed by the warm welcome the players get from people that they meet. So be sure to show some Berkshire hospitality to the players and their families this weekend, and come out to root, root, root for both teams Saturday and Sunday.