Max Krakowiak delivers the first pitch of the 2007 season. Len Samela for staplesbaseball.com The Staples varsity baseball team finally got its 2007 season started today after two weather-related postponements but dropped the opener to New Canaan 8-5.

The Wreckers jumped out to an early lead but struggled in the middle innings and couldn’t close the gap late in the game. Max Krakowiak was the losing pitcher.

Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Wrecker home field.

The Wreckers next go up against Bridgeport’s Harding High School at home at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

USA Field Hockey 2006 Volunteer Coach of the Year Jack Kelly of Westport has been named a finalist for the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Volunteer Coach of the Year honor.
Jack Kelly: named finalist. Contributed photo

An 82-year-old assistant coach at Staples High School, Kelly will be one of five finalists for the volunteer honor when the USOC presents its annual National, Development and Volunteer Coach of the Year awards during the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Award luncheon May 3 in Washington, D.C.

As part of the USOC program, USA Field Hockey and other U.S. Olympic and Pan American sports organizations selected their 2006 Coaches of the Year with finalists in each category selected by a panel of former coaches and officials.

Joining Kelly in the Volunteer Coach of the Year category are fellow finalists Tom Barker (Victoria, Texas/USA Archery), Patrick Barry (Las Vegas, Nev./USA Boxing), Chuck Slaughter (Amarillo, Texas/U.S. Fencing) and Booker Woods (USA Track & Field).

The girls lacrosse team at Westport’s Staples High Shool today launched its 2007 season with an invitational “Play Day” scrimmage hosted on the turf field at Staples. The Staples varsity squad won all three of its scrimmages played against Notre Dame, Greens Farms Academy and Bethel High School. Pictured is Staples junior Colby Mello as she evades her opponents from Bethel before scoring in today’s scrimmage. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Hamilton Laux for WestportNow.com

Westport’s Police Athletic League held its annual basketball fund-raiser tonight at Staples High School. A full house cheered on as the Court Jesters played the PAL All-Stars. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Stephen Rubin for WestportNow.com

Westport Field Hockey Association will hold an Indoor Field Hockey Tournament Saturday in the Staples High School Fieldhouse from 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A 12-team middle school division will play at 8:15 a.m. to noon, and the 18-team high school division will play at 1-6 p.m.

Middle school teams include Westport, Wilton, Ridgefield ,Stamford, Danbury, Our Lady of Fatima School and Western Massachusetts Nomads.

High school teams include Staples, Darien, Wilton, Brien McMahon of Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Masuk of Monroe and Wamogo. Also included will be club teams Western Massachusetts Nomads, Sportsplexe, Connecticut Revolutotion and Mystic.

Proceeds will benefit the field hockey association, Staples field hockey and the Westport Field of Dreams project. For more information, contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Westporter Eve Green was one of several of the Saugatuck Rowing Club’s members to compete in the C.R.A.S.H.-B World Indoor Rowing Championships Sunday at Boston University. Green, a passionate rower who only took up the sport in her early 60s, came in second in the lightweight veterans women category (ages 70-74) racing 2000 meters. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By Jennifer Connic

The Westport Board of Selectmen today approved increases in the fees for golfers that will help pay for the improvements to the golf course at Longshore Club Park.

The photo handpass fees will increase from $50 to $75, and the adult handpass fee stays the same at $30. A new senior handpass for those ages 62 years old and older would be $20.

Also, the daily greens fees will increase by $2 each.

Parks and Recreation Director Stuart McCarthy said the fees were outlined more than a year ago when the funding for the improvements for the golf course was detailed.

The girls hockey team, in its first season at Westport’s Staples High School, will hold a fund-raiser titled Icetravaganza on Saturday, March 3 at 8-10 p.m. at the Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport.

The money from the evening will help defray the cost of ice time for the team.

The evening features a broom hockey game between the girls hockey team, which is in the middle of its first season, and teachers from all of Westport’s schools.

There will also be door prices including $200 gift certificates to Toys R US and a silent auction with that includes a variety of professional sporting events.