No. 8 Greenwich defeated the No.1 Staples baseball team 6-2 today in eight innings to advance to the FCIAC semifinals for the third straight year.

Greenwich ace Kyle Dunster kept Staples under control as teammate Kevin Woodring hit a three-run double in the top of the eighth to break the quarter-final game open.

The loss ended an 11-game winning streak for Staples, which defeated Greenwich 2-1 in a nine-inning thriller last month. (See WestportNow April 17, 2014)

Staples has a bye in the first round of Class LL state tournament that begins Monday.

The Staples High School Girls Golf Team battled through the rain and a stormy weather delay into the evening today to defeat Greenwich 180-182 to capture the FCIAC West Division championship title.  This was the first loss in years for the Cardinals at their home course, affectionately known as “The Griff.” Staples is ranked No. 1 in the state and wraps up its home season at Longshore on Tuesday against Warde.  Pictured (l to r) are Erika McDonald, Alexandra McMahon, captains Mary Bennewitz and Faith Garcia, Anelise Browne, Varsity Coach Bob Byiteck, and Marie McHugh. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The annual Staples High School Seniors Night pre-game ceremony for the softball team’s graduating seniors was held at the Greens Farms field today prior to the season’s final home game against Woodbury’s Nonnewaug High School. Receiving flowers were seniors (l-r) Emma Moskowitz, Crissy McCarthy, Lindsay Kiedaisch, Maya Mandell, Katherine Friend, and Katie Burke. Staples won 6-5, qualifying the Wreckers for the state championship tournament in June. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Staples High School girls varsity tennis team today clinched the FCIAC West Division for the first time.  Staples last won an FCIAC division in Girls Varsity Tennis when it won the FCIAC East Division in 1990. Pictured (l-r) are Rachel Lieberman, Avery Wallace, Gabi Titlebaum, Vanessa Mauricio, Julia Bartimer, Xenia Bradley, Alex Collins, Megan Brown, Tess Rubin, Melissa Beretta, Olivia Daytz, Sarah Roundtree, and Kelsey Shockey. The coaches, not pictured, are Paco Fabian and Kim Harizman. Contributed photo

Westport’s Xiaotian Zhang (2nd r), 16, a Staples High School student, was the U16 boys singles winner Saturday at the 2014 Connecticut Badminton Association Junior Badminton Championships in Simsbury. Xiaotian has been playing since age 7 when his dad rallied with him in the backyard. To pursue his interest, he has received coaching in Shanghai, China in middle school and over the summer and winter vacations in high school. He says he is proud to be playing one of the fastest sports in the world in which the shuttlecock can reach speeds up to 306 mph. With him are (l-r) consolation winner Desmond Lau (Norwalk), finalist Bradli Cheng (Weston), and third place winner Daniel Montanez (Fairfield).  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Westport Little League’s Winners Challenger team and their buddies traveled to Mill Hill School in Fairfield today to play the Fairfield American team. The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League to enable boys and girls with physical and mental challenges, ages 5-18, to enjoy the game of baseball just as others do. Westport established its first Challenger team last year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport’s girl athletes have joined forces on the Tame the Hill Campaign, a $165,000 private fundraiser to install safer access to Ginny Parker Field used for Staples High School field hockey and lacrosse.

Plans call for terraced bench seating for spectators, stairways, path lighting and low maintenance landscaping on the hillside overlooking the field. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Organizers say each year about 500 Westport girls ages 7 through 18, as well as visiting teams use the field.

To date, 45 percent of the funds have been raised, and boosters are in their final push, so that a local construction company can begin the project in June and have it completed by August, campaign organizers say.

The architectural design by Franzen and Associates and engineering plans by Redniss and Mead already have been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The Westport Longshore Women’s Golf Association kicked off its season today with an opening day scramble. Eleven teams of golfers competed in the season’s first tournament. Pictured are members of the winning team : (l-r)  Lorene Mattes, Irene Judge, Topsy Siderowf,  and Jane Dally. Following play, they gathered for lunch at the Splash restaurant, where new members were welcomed to the association. There will be weekly fun tournaments for members as well as four major tournaments during the May to October season. For more information,  visit http://www.lwgagolf.org. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport Little League Baseball and Softball this weekend opened the season for its Westport Winners team, part of Little League’s Challenger Division. The team played a team from Norwalk in Westport and Norwalk. Today’s game was with the participation of the Westport Travel Baseball 12U Blue and 11U White teams as buddies supporting the Westport Winners in Norwalk at Broad River Field. The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League to enable boys and girls with physical and mental challenges, ages 5-18, to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Saturday’s Westport Little League Baseball and Softball Challenger Division game involving the Westport Winners included player Dylan Curran, 13, (l) and “Buddy” AJ Konstanty, 12. It was the Westport season opener for the team. Contributed photo