By James Lomuscio

Shortly after he came on board in March as Longshore Club Park’s golf course superintendent, Todd Salamone got a visit and a special request from a longtime golfer.

Todd Salamone checks out the Longshore course early in his morning rounds.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“He said there’s a bench on the eighth hole dedicated to his father who made a hole in one there, and he asked me to make sure that I clean it, and wipe it down,” Salamone recalled.

“For me, that represents the relationship that this course has with the people of Westport,” he added.

Salamone, 31, is employed by Bright View Golf Maintenance, the California-based contractor hired in 2014 to restore the 100-acre course that had fallen into disrepair, especially after Superstorms Sandy and Irene.

Two Westporters were medal winners today in their events with the U.S. junior national team at the 2017 World Rowing Junior Championships in Trakai, Lithuania. Kelsey McGinley (r) took bronze in the women’s 4- event while Harrison Burke was part of the silver-medal men’s 8+ crew. Both row for the Saugatuck Rowing Club and will be seniors at Staples High School. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Harrison Burke (4th r) was one of two Westporters today who were medal winners in their events with the U.S. junior national team at the 2017 World Rowing Junior Championships in Trakai, Lithuania. Burke was part of the silver-medal men’s 8+ crew while Kelsey McGinley took bronze in the women’s 4- event. Both row for the Saugatuck Rowing Club and will be seniors at Staples High School. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Westport 12U softball all stars today defeated East Haven 3-1 to win the Section 1 title and advance to the state tournament in Rocky Hill starting Thursday. The game was played in Orange. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Some Bridgeport youngsters learned the basics of lacrosse at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield thanks to Staples High School lacrosse team members Donny Macaluso (back row, far right) and Colin Willigan (front row, far right). The two conducted a lacrosse clinic for third to sixth graders taking part in the Horizons program at Sacred Heart. Horizons is a national enrichment program that works to bridge the achievement gap and enhance the social, emotional, creative, and academic lives of local students. All lacrosse equipment was donated by Westport and Weston families. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Two Westport Coleytown Middle School students won medals at the National Taekwondo Championship in Detroit. EJ Herrmann (l) and Alex Turut (r), both 11, won medals for board breaking. Each had to break 30 boards in two minutes in their respective belt/age classes. They both train at World Champion Taekwondo on Franklin Street in Westport with Master Donghyun Jang (c) and have been studying Taekwondo since they were in kindergarten at Kings Highway Elementary School. In preparation for the national tournament, they practiced five days a week for about 10 months, according to EJ’s mom, Susan Herrmann. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Crowded out by Monday’s fireworks coverage was word that the Westport 12U All-Star softball team won the District 2 championship, defeating Monroe 4-2 at Meyer Field. They went 5-0 during the tournament, beating Fairfield, Trumbull and Monroe. The team starts sectional round playing Darien on Thursday and Saturday against East Haven in Orange. Since 2013, the 10U to 12U All-Star teams in Westport have claimed six district titles, two divisional titles, three sectional titles and four state titles. Pictured: (l-r) back row) Coach Jeffrey Schwartz, Katie Mcgillion-moore, Allison Schwartz, Ava Vincini, Grace Alfero, Dylan Halky, Head Coach Louis Alfero, Natasha Taubenheim, Elle Desmarteau, and Coach Steve Vincini; (front row) Hannah Ceisler, Allyson Currier, Katie Gabriele, Lauren Hassell, and Niamh Dougherty. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

In a ceremony today on the steps of Town Hall, First Selectman Jim Marpe presented commendations to the rowers and coaches of the Saugatuck Rowing Club Girls Varsity 8+ who recently won the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, Florida.  Six of the nine-member crew were present. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Saugatuck Rowing Club’s (SRC) women’s youth 8+ capped off three undefeated years today by winning gold at USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, Florida. Pictured (l-r): SRC girls assistant coach Anna Yamamoto, Noelle Amlicke (Westport), Kelsey McGinley (Westport), Imogen Ratcliffe (Westport), Willemijn ten Cate (Westport), Charlotte Powers, coxswain, SRC girls head coach Gordon Getsinger, Tatiana Chermayeff, Grace McGinley (Westport), Caitlin Esse, Sophie Pendrill. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Staples High School varsity baseball team today defeated Amity 5-1 to win the CIAC Class LL championship for the first time in school history.

Teammates mob Staples pitcher Chad Knight (l) at the end of today’s game. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The game was played at Palmer Field in Middletown.

Sophomore Chad Knight, known to Westporters as member of the 2013 Little League World Series team, went the distance, allowing Amity five hits and contributing a two-run homer.

The Amity Spartans were a four-time defending champion. Click HERE for the final out call and video by WWPT-FM.