Harry Birch (show in action earlier this year) led Staples to a 6-0 win today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com

Despite a 14-day weather-induced layoff, the Staples boys soccer team roared out of the gate in their first state tournament match today.

The Wreckers trounced Norwich Free Academy 6-0, in “LL” (extra large schools) action.

That earns Staples a second round match Saturday against archrival Norwalk. Game time is 4 p.m., at Norwalk High School.

The Bears – ranked No. 1 in the state – edged Staples 1-0 during the regular season. Both goals came in the final 13 minutes.

In two wind blown games today, the Staples varsity softball team won the fall softball season. After securing the No. 2 seed with a 6-2 regular season record in the semifinals, Staples beat Fairfield Ludlowe in Fairfield, 9-8 in extra innings. It was a hard fought contest, considered the best game of the season by both teams. Staples, behind steady pitchng and a great fielding play by junior Katie Burke and hitting by senior Nikki Bukovsky, senior Shanon Connors and junior Maya Mandell, came from behind three times before freshman Gabriella Perry stole home to end the game in the eighth. The final game was played an hour later in Westport at Green’s Farms School against Fairfield Warde, which upset No. 1 seed Bethel in their semifinal. Staples dominated from the start and mercied Warde 15-1 behind a two-hitter by freshman pitcher Emily Lustbader, a home run from junior Chrissy McCarthy, and strong batting from senior Maggie Mills, junior Emma Moscovitz, senior Morgan Didonato, junior Katherine Friend as well at Bukovsky, Connors and Mandell. The team was coached by former Staples player Dana Levy, who said, “I think the score says it all about how well this team can play. It’s been a lot of fun.” Pictured (l-r, 1st row): Emily Lustbader, Gabriella Perry, Katie Burke, and Maya Mandell; (2nd row) Chrissy McCarthy, Emma Moscovitz, Morgan Didonato, Maggie Mills, Shanon Connors Katherine Friend, and Dana Levy (coach).  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Matthew Mandell for WestportNow.com

Staples scored 50-plus points for the fourth game in a row today as it crushed Darien 63-28 at Darien.

The Wreckers (6-0) were led by Joey Zelkowitz who scored two touchdowns on 10 carries. Matching the touchdown total was Nick Kelly.

Staples led 28-7 at halftime.

Next up, the Wreckers play Fairfield Warde Friday at 7 p.m. at Warde.

Noah Bender’s goal with just 58 seconds remaining in the match lifted the Staples boys soccer team to a 2-1 victory at Danbury tonight.

Jordan McNair (shown earlier this season) was a sparkplug for Staples tonight. He starred defensively, and was a potent force going forward. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com

The strike –- off a perfect pass from Joe Greenwald –- gave the Wreckers a final regular season record of 10-4-2. That’s good for a sixth-place seed in the FCIAC tournament, which starts Friday. Staples faces either Greenwich or Ridgefield in the quarterfinals.

The Wreckers are shooting for their fifth consecutive appearance in the finals. They won it all in 2008, 2009 and 2010, before falling 2-0 to Trumbull in last year’s championship match.

Bender’s goal capped a great match for the Westporters. They snagged a 1-0 lead four minutes before halftime, when defender Andrew Puchala finished a corner kick from Diego Alanis.

Greg Shikowitz was his usual dominating self at midfield today, at LoefflerField as Staples and New Canaan’s boys soccer teams tied 2-2. The Wreckers, now 9-4-2, finish out the regular season Wednesday night in Danbury, then begin the FCIAC playoffs on Friday. Carl McNair for WestportNow.com

Playing the third and last Friday night game of the regular season, Staples High School’s varsity footballers tonight trounced Trumbull 57-14.

From Junior Patrick Lesch’s return of the opening kickoff for 85 yards for a touchdown, the game was never in doubt. The Wreckers led 43-7 at halftime with junior quarterback Jack Massie accounting for four of the night’s touchdowns.

Both teams wore pink accessories to raise awareness of breast cancer.

Staples, which moves to 5-0 on the season, plays Darien next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Darien. The final home game of the regular season is Saturday, Nov. 10 at 10:30 a.m. against Westhill.

Staples’ defenders get forward often, as shown here. (From l.) Ethan Bradeen, Andrew Puchala, Joe Greenwald and Jack Scott helped the Wreckers to a key 4-1 win today over Westhill in Westport. Staples, now 9-4-1, hosts New Canaan in a key FCIAC contest Monday at 4 p. m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com

Friday’s Staples High School football game at home against Trumbull High School at 7 p.m. will find the Wreckers wearing pink as part of their third annual breast cancer fundraising event. The school is in sports pink week mode with varsity soccer, volleyball and field hockey teams also playing for the cause. This year’s T-shirt “Defy, Wreck, Cure” is the team’s slogan and for the game, players will wear pink receiving gloves to show their support. The pink accessories are on sale with all monies raised donated to “Pink Aid” (http://www.pinkaid.org), a local nonprofit organization started by Andrew Mitchell of the Westport Mitchell family. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Jack Scott has been a stalwart defender for Staples this year. Tonight, despite outshooting Fairfield Ludlowe 19-3, the Wreckers fell 1-0 on a goal in the last 65 seconds. It was Staples’ sixth game in nine days. Now 8-4-1, they host Westhill on Thursday at 4 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com

A quartet of Westporters was on hand Sunday to watch the New York Giants crush the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park, ending their opponents’ fast start to the season. Pictured (l-r) are Bart Platow, Mike Hammer, Cydney Eldh, Danny Platow, and Matt Hammer. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo