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Friday, May 9
ADAMS -- Life is full of pleasant surprises, coincidences that can bring a smile to the face of one or more people. The relatives of Ugo C. Balardini had one of those moments on Thursday.

With members of his family watching on, Steve Albareda, Balar-dini's great-grandson, had the chance to play on the field that was recently dedicated to his great-grandfather for the first time. The Hoosac Valley senior served as designated hitter for the Hurricanes as the varsity baseball team played against Pittsfield.

The diamond at Renfrew Field was christened the Ugo C. Balar-dini Baseball Field in 1993. On Sunday, the field was re-dedicated to Balardini, who served as president of the Adams Babe Ruth League from 1961 to 1993.

Before the game against Pitts-field, Albareda said he was "very excited" to play on the field that his great-grandfather looked after for more than 30 years. It was his first -- and probably only -- chance to play at Balardini Field.

"I never thought I'd be able to play on this field," he said. "I didn't know if it would be ready."

John Gelheiser, Albareda's uncle, said the chance to play on the field was a happy coincidence.

"Hoosac

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Valley usually plays at the field at the high school," he said. "It's a fluke they ended up having the game here."

Balardini was an active member of the Adams community, serving eight years as an elected member of the Adams park commission and 25 years as an Adams town meeting member before he died in January 2000. But what he is most remembered for is his dedication to the field that now bears his name and the kids who played there.

"He ran the league all by himself," Gelheiser said. "He did everything from raking the field to cutting the grass."

Mike Koperniak, a player, coach and past president of the Adams Babe Ruth League, said he had fond memories of Balardini, and that the praise for the long-time league president were "richly deserved."

He noted that, because of Balardini, the field they played on was always known as the finest in Berkshire County.

"He wanted nothing but the best for us," Koperniak said. "And we always had the best."