Members of the Westport Fire Department were among players and coaches of the Fairfield County Firefighters hockey team which placed first in its division at a tournament in Laurel, Md. The event raised money for the Washington, D.C. Burn Care Center. Pictured with the winning trophy are (l-r) Lt. Ernie Ruot, co-captain; Fire Chief Chris Ackley, coach; and Firefighter Pete Nichio, co-captain. The team is comprised of firefighters from Danbury, Easton, Stamford, Trumbull, Westport, Wilton, and two Bridgeport police officers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport’s Staples High School tonight honored its wrestling team at the annual banquet at Continental Manor in Norwalk. Seniors given special recognition included (l-r) Spencer Cohen, Alex Crosby, Max DeMonico and Eric Menchaca (not pictured is Tommy Kalb).  Staples Block S Award winners were Cohen and Menchaca. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport schools staff played the Court Jesters basketball team at Staples High School tonight for the annual Police Athletic League (PAL) basketball program fund-raiser. The event drew a full house. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Stephen Rubin for WestportNow.com

One of the Court Jesters delighted the crowd with some spinning basketballs at tonight’s Police Athletic League basketball fund-raiser. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Mark Mathias for WestportNow.com

The Westport Police Athletic League All-Stars made up of school staff lined up for a picture tonight at the annual PAL basketball fund-raiser at Staples High School that featured the Court Jesters basketball team. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Stephen Rubin for WestportNow.com

With chilly temperatures and dwindling light, a group of Clippers watched their teammate up at bat for the final inning of the opening day today of Westport’s 2008 Little League season. The game was played at White Field on Compo Road North. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com

The Westport PAL sixth grade girls basketball team today overtook the Newtown girls team in the final quarter to win their division in the Fairfield County Basketball League in a game played at Ridgefield High School. The game was close with no more than four points separating the teams at any time. Pictured with their coaches and trophies are, front row (l-r): Sophie de Bruijn, Caroline Lagerloef, Natasja George, Jenna Bernard, and Dayna Gelman. Standing: Coach Chris Scholz, Meredith Bemus, Katie Pfefferle, Rachel Paul, Rachel Lebarre, and Assistant Coach John Herbsman. Missing: Erin Lorberbaum and Christina Kennedy. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport’s Lauren Garcia sinks two free throws today as the Westport PAL fifth grade girls basketball team beat Monroe 25-8 at Weston High School to win the Fairfield County Basketball League B Division championship. The team finished with 15-7 record. The Westport girls finished the season winning 12 out of their last 13 games. The team players are Chloe Rosenfield, Gabi Titlebaum, Megan Root, Julia Marino, Maggie Walsh, Lauren Garcia, Maggie Fair, Abigail Lustig, Kelsey Bobrow, Madeline Schemel, and Shoshana Lynfield. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Today’s New York Times sports section spotlights Westport’s John Baumann, the 2004 Staples basketball star who is an Ivy League standout at Columbia University.
John Baumann takes part in the Varsity Vogue fashion show in 2004 at Mitchells of Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow file photo

The Times said that Baumann’s aggressive style of play has earned him the nickname Rambo.

“His family nickname is the cute John-John,” the newspaper said., “but at a muscular 6 feet 7 inches, Baumann attacks life with a raw tenacity that makes the Rambo name appropriate.”

The Times noted that Baumann has averaged 15.0 points a game and 6.4 rebounds and, as a pitcher for the Columbia baseball team, he tied for the team lead with five victories and led the Lions in strikeouts and complete games last season.

The Staples High School boys indoor track team won its ninth straight state class championship today at the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Class L meet at the New Haven Athletic Center.
Members of the Staples boys indoor track team and coaches celebrate their ninth consecutive state championship win today in New Haven. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) David Mortner for WestportNow.com

The Wreckers, with Coach Laddie Lawrence at the helm, successfully defended their title by a 63 to 52 margin over runner-up Wilbur Cross of New Haven.

The team title for Staples was accomplished by only two event wins—Matt Marriott in the 600-meter run as he came from behind to edge Cas Loxsom of Wilbur Cross 1:22:00 to 1:22.04.

The second event win came from Ben Rosa in the long jump with a leap of 21-feet, 6.25-inches.