Westport’s Black Duck Cafe was crowded tonight with Westport fans watching the Little League game against Chula Vista, Calif.. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com photo

Fans of Westport’s Drew Rogers cheered him on tonight at South Williamport, Pa. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Keith Stein for WestportNow.com

Westport fans packed the stands tonight in advance of Westport’s game against Chula Vista, Calif. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Keith Stein for WestportNow.com

Westport’s Chad Knight (r) and Chula Vista’s Grant Holman—the starting pitchers—get together before the start of tonight’s game in Williamsport, Pa. for cameras of ESPN, which broadcast the game. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Keith Stein for WestportNow.com

Support for Westport’s Little League team is all over Connecticut. Curran Volkswagen in Stratford displayed a supporting poster today. Owner Jim Curran is a Westport resident. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By James Lomuscio

Since the Town of Westport purchased Longshore Park in 1960, the town has always maintained the golf course, from greens keeping to maintaining the fairways to raking the sand traps. The works.

The weather has provided challenges for maintenance of Westport’s Longshore golf course. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

But a resolution passed by the Parks and Recreation Commission Monday night—to pursue a contract with a golf maintenance firm after repeated maintenance problems on the course—ends the town’s hands-on involvement with the links, placing it in the hands of experts, according to Stuart McCarthy, Parks and Recreation director.

“There are a number of reasons, but the number one reason is the depth of expertise that these companies can bring to a golf course,” McCarthy said. “These companies are able to provide a depth of expertise, like having an agronomist on staff, telling us the best fertilizer to use.

“Why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of that?” he added. “It’s such a specialized field.”

Saugatuck Rowing Club of Westport took the most wins in the just completed 2013 USRowing Masters National Championships in Sarasota, Fla.

Saugatuck Rowing Club members celebrate their victories in Sarasota, Fla.. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The club won the top team points trophy with 638 points, including 20 gold, 26 silver and 9 bronze medals.

Potomac Boat Club finished in second with 496 points and 20 gold medals and Capital Rowing Club in third with 467 points and 11 gold medals.

“Winning the points trophy makes me feel great,” said commodore of Saugatuck Rowing Club Susan Schmidt.

By James Lomuscio

By the end of the second inning today, Westport’s Little League team seemed to have already crushed Sammamish, Wash., the Northwest team, taking a 9 to 0 lead in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Westport fans cheer outside the Black Duck Cafe today after the Westport Little League victory. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

The only question for the hundreds who had gathered at the Black Duck, the iconic waterfront bar and eatery that was filled with cheers and chants of “Let’s go Westport, let’s go,” was just how high a score the town’s boys of summer could rack up.

Buck Iannocone, however, a Westport Little Leaguer himself four decades ago, took a more realistic view as he watched one of the Black Duck’s TV screens. He spoke about the Little League mercy rule, whereby the game would end if one team were ahead 10 runs by the fourth inning.

“If you’re already ahead by 10 in fourth inning, the game’s over,” Iannocone said. “But then again, anything can happen.

Scenes from today’s Westport 9-7 victory over Sammamish, Wash. in the second game of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com

Alex Reiner, Westport’s closing pitcher, saved the win for the New England champions today against Sammasmish, Wash.,  the Northwest champions. Westport held out to clinch the 9-7 victory after giving up a 7-1 lead early in the game. CLICK TO ENLARGE) Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com