There were plenty of cheerleaders on hand for participants in tonight’s PAL basketball event at Staples High School where the Westport All Stars faced the Court Jesters. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Stephen Rubin for WestportNow.com

The Staples High School boys golf team was out Thursday in the drizzle and fog practicing at Westport’s Longshore Golf Course. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Boys of all ages had a great time with the Powell brothers, Mikey and Casey, during a spring warm up clinic for the forthcoming Westport PAL lacrosse season Friday night and today at PJ Romano Field. Cool temperatures and bright sunshine added to the upbeat atmosphere and the excitement of having the U.S. National Team players coaching. Contributed photo

Westport’s Longshore Golf Course will offcially open for play on Saturday with regulation greens in play, John Cooper, PGA professional, announced today.
Golfers were out on the links at Longshore today taking advantage of sunny weather with temperatures in the 50s. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

The golf course cleanup day, sponsored by the Longshore Men’s Golf Association, will take place at 9 a.m., and the course will open for play at noon.

The course opened for winter play on Friday with temporary tees and greens in place. Longshore is a championship 18-hole golf course with a full service pro shop and driving range. 

Westport residents may purchase a golf pass from the Westport Parks and Recreation Department on line at www.westprotrecreation.com. Resident pass holders may book advanced tee time reservations up to five days in advance.

First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff said today that the Board of Selectmen will hear an application on Wednesday, March 25, from the Team Mossman Events for use of town roads for a triathlon and asked for public comment on the proposal.

“The proposed triathlon, to be held on Sunday, Oct. 11, will have some impact on town roadways for the majority of the day,” said Joseloff.

At Joseloff’s suggestion, the board postponed action on the application at its Wednesday meeting to allow more time for public input.

“The triathlon is being held in Westport for the first time and therefore the Board of Selectmen asks Westport residents to comment, both pro and con, before a decision is made,” he said.

Westport Parks & Recreation Director Stuart McCarthy announced today that the Longshore Golf Course will open for play on Friday, weather permitting.

Temporary tees and greens will be in use and winter rates will be charged. 

Play will be on a walk-up basis-–no reserved times will be available until the greens are open.

Friday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with highs in the upper 30s.

More than 50 Westport girls from kindergarten through third grade attended Saturday’s Westport Little League annual Softball Jamboree at Staples High School. The event is intended to introduce the youngsters to the sport in a fun, party-like environment. The Staples softball team took charge of the day, running the Little Leaguers through a variety of fun activities and softball skills. For many, the highlight of the afternoon was the high school team’s dizzy bat home run contest. The older girls first placed their foreheads on the end of a bat, ran around it until they were dizzy, then had to compose themselves and see if they could hit the ball to the home run wall. Sponsors for the event organized by Steve Axthelm, vice president of softball for Westport Little League, were Ben & Jerry’s and Athletic Shoe Factory. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Two Staples High School track and field athletes have signed letters of intent to attend universities. Olivia Massey will be competing for Bucknell Unviersity in the fall. She was recruited for jumping and running short sprints. Matt Marriott will be running track at Duke University. He was recruited to run mid-distance for the Blue Devils. Pictured behind Massey and Marriott are (l-r): Girls Head Coach Jesse McCray, Athletic Director Marty Lisevick, and Boys Head Coach Laddie Lawrence. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Matt Marriott, co-captain of Westport’s Staples High School track team, captured first place in the 600-meter event with a time of 1 minute 26.72 seconds in today’s six-school FCIAC Central Divisional track and field meet at Staples. The event qualifies participants in the progressive process toward state level competition. The other high schools competing today in both boys and girls track and field events include Ridgefield, McMahon (Norwalk), Norwalk, Ludlowe (Fairfield) and Harding (Bridgeport). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

In a trial heat for the 600-meter event at today’s six-school FCIAC Central Divisional track and field meet at Staples, Staples sophomore Jeff Caffrey overcame strong competition from Fairfield Ludlowe to score a first place finish with a time of 1 minute 38.93 seconds. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com