UPDATE Westport’s 12-year-old Little League all stars edged Edgewood of Bristol 5-3 tonight to advance to the the state finals for the first time.

The team after tonight’s victory in Stamford. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

But they had to wait out a one-hour, 40-minute rain delay at Scalzi Park in Stamford to gain the Section 1 victory.

Charlier Roof’s two-run, two-out double in the top of the seventh inning sealed the win for Westport after Edgewood tied the game 3-3 in the sixth.

The best-of-three state finals against Coginchaug of Durham begin Saturday in Southington at 3 p.m.

The Westport District 2 softball champions tonight defeated Seymour 13-3 in their first state tournament game at Newington Memorial Field.

The win allows them to advance to the semifinals where they play the District 8 champs, Enfield, Friday under the lights in Newington at 7:30 p.m. With a win Friday, Westport can advance to Monday’s winner’s bracket final in Newington.

Catherine Connell pitched all six innings for Westport, striking out nine batters and allowing only four hits and no walks.

Sophia Alfero had four hits, Connell and Erica Fanning each hit two-run doubles, Connell’s in the fourth sending Westport up 6-2 and Fanning’s in the fifth.  Madeline Howard hit a triple over the left fielder’s head in the sixth inning.

The Westpot Weston Famuly Y today updated its list of winners in Saturday’s 35th annual Point to Point swim at Compo Beach.  Initially, as reported by WestportNow, the winner appeared to be Mark Loftis, 53, of New York with a time of 19:28. (See WestportNow July 20, 2013)  Later in the day, when official results were posted, the winner was listed as Sebastian Ortega, 14, of Westport (4th l), a member of the Y’s Water Rat team, in 18:05. However, upon further checking, Nicole Turecheck, director of aquatics, said today the actual winner was Jonathan Blansfield, 16, of Westport (7th l) also a member of the Water Rat team, with a time of 17:52. He originally had been listed as finishing 38th, with a time of 27:52. “Simple mix up of just placing Jonathan in the wrong heat,” Turecheck said by way of explanation. As to how Loftis was at first believed to be the winner, she did not say. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport Little League 12-year-old all stars defeated Orange 5-3 today in the Connecticut Little League Section I semifinal in Stamford.

The Westport youngsters advanced to the sectional final on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Scalzi Park in Stamford. The opponent will be determined on Sunday when Orange meets Edgewood of Bristol.

If Westport is successful on Tuesday, it will be the first time Westport has reached the state finals on the 12-year-old level.

Three Westport pitchers—Harry Azadian, Max Popken and Charlie Roof—combined for 13 strikeouts in today’s game. Ricky Offenberg hit a tie-breaking solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

UPDATE Unofficial results showed Mark Loftis, 53, of New York was first through the finish line at today’s Westport Weston Famiily Y’s 35th Annual Point to Point Compo Beach Swim with a time of 19:28.2 for swimming a nautical mile. A math teacher at Riverdale Country School in New York, he began competitive swimming in the fifth grade in Branford and went on to compete in high school and at Yale University. He was a member of the 1981 U.S. National Team, that competed internationally in the Netherlands and Paris. However, official results later posted online showed him coming in second, bested by 14-year-old Sebastian Ortega in 18:05.8. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Chad Knight pitched a no-hitter today to lead the Westport Little League 12-year-old All-Stars to an 8-0 win over Edgewood of Bristol in Stamford in its first game in the Section 1 Little League Tournament.

Knight threw 13 strikeouts as Westport remained undefeated in District 2 and Section 1 play.

Westport advances to face Orange of District 4 on Saturday at Frank Noto Field in Stamford at 1 p.m.

The 11U Girls softball Little League All Star team wion the District 2 championship game today, defeating Fairfield 2-1. It has been 15 years since Westport softball won a district title. The team will advance to the states as there are no sectionals for 11U. Meanwhile, the Westport 12-year-old all-stars defeated Fairfield National 5-2 in Trumbull to win the District 2 title and move on to the sectionals. Pictured (l-r, back row): Coach Andrew Klein, Catherine Connell, Natalie Schenck, Coach Louis Alfero, Maddie McGarry, Head Coach Mark McWhirter (front row): Ali Green, Sophia Alfero, Kate Feinberg, Erin McWhirter, Ellie Klein, Madeline Howard, Sami Levin, Erica Fanning. Missing from the photo is Hannah Fischer. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Saugatuck Rowing Club is competing in the Club Nationals in Cherry Hill, N.J., and the boys junior A squad won the silver medal. There were 30 boats entered in the race. Pictured (l-r) are Nick Balderston (Wilton), Jeff Monahan (Westport), Cameron Yates (Fairfield), and Christoph Bub (Westport). They are coached by Sharon Kriz. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By Zoe Brown

Lizzy Youngling, a 2011 Staples graduate and 2013 U.S. National Rowing Team member, feels that rowing has gotten short shrift from the media.

Lizzy Youngling (l) of Westport and partner Leigh Archer. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

“It has the potential to become as popular as tennis or soccer; it just needs to get more fans,” she says.

Unfortunately, she says, it remains mostly hidden from coverage like an oar beneath the sparkling blue water.

Changing that perception has made her even more determined to train harder as she and rowing partner Leigh Archer prepare to compete against teams from about 70 countries in the Under23 World Championships to take place July 23 through 28 in Linz Ottensheim, Austria.