“06880” works its magic:
Yesterday’s Roundup noted that MLB.com rated Ben Casparius #23 of all Los Angeles Dodgers.
Also yesterday, the Dodgers called up the 2017 Staples High School graduate to the majors.
He has a 3.48 ERA and a 95/40 strikeout/walk ratio over 77 2/3 innings in 18 starts between AAA Oklahoma City and AA Tulsa this season.
Casparius — a 6-2, 215-pound pitcher who was Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year, when he led the Wreckers to the state championship — will be in the bullpen in St. Louis tonight, when the Dodgers take on the Cardinals.
Click below for a great interview, from 2 weeks ago. (Baseball hat tips: Dave Goldstein, Peter Perry, Jeff Mitchell)
==================================================
Speaking of sports: Matthew Torres — a Westport Weston Family YMCA Water Rat swim team member for 10 years — will represent the US at the 2024 Paralympic Summer Games in Paris. Competition begins August 30.
It’s the 2nd time on the world stage for the 23-year-old Ansonia resident. He finished 3rd in the 400 meter freestyle at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.
The 23-year-old Ansonia resident previously clinched a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and will be competing as a U.S. Paralympian once again in Paris this August.
Torres was born with amniotic band syndrome. He is missing half his right leg, and has deformities on both hands and moderate hearing loss.
Despite those challenges, he has achieved great success. He set a world record in the 1500 meter freestyle, to go along with many medals in international competition.
His Y coach, Ellen Johnston, says, “Watching Matthew excel in the sport has been incredibly rewarding. His work ethic and commitment have been evident since he joined our team. Matthew embodies the spirit and purpose of the Paralympics.”
After Paris, Torres will represent the US at the Open Water Cup in Sardinia, Italy.
In addition to his Paralympic pursuits, Torres will be representing Team USA in the Open Water Cup in Sardinia, Italy, on September 21. Following this, he plans to take a brief respite before considering his next steps.
Click here for a Paralympics schedule. To learn more about Matthew Torres, click here.
Matthew Torres
==================================================
Speaking still of sports: There’s a new one in town.
This fall, Westport PAL is sponsoring a girls flag football league. It’s an outgrowth of the very successful boys program (which has included girls for several years).
All Westport and Weston girls in grades K-8 — with all levels of experience — are invited.
Practices are Mondays (5 to 6:30 p.m., PJ Romano Field), led by Norwalk’s IST pro coaches (featuring Coach Cash Malcolm), and Sacred Heart University female flag players. Games are Saturdays, at 4:30 p.m.
The cost is $350, and includes professional referees at all games.
PAL provides NFL jerseys and flag sets. The league will follow NFL flag rules.
A free kickoff clinic is set for Sunday, August 25 (4 to 6 p.m., PJ Romano Field). Coaches will run drills and answer question. A pizza truck will also be there.
The league is organized by Westport Parks & Recreation Department operations manager Carmen Roda, Marl Carmody of Peak Performance, IST’s Glenn Katz, and parents Melissa Post and Geoff Baldwin.
To register, and for more information, click here.
Parents are needed to help coach. To volunteer, and for more information, email westportpalfootball@gmail.com.
==================================================
Want to feel like a slacker — but also help a great cause? Read on.
The Super Pemi Loop, in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, includes the Franconia Ridge Trail, called “one of the world’s best hikes” by National Geographic, along with other iconic routes.
It’s a celebrated — and gorgeous — hiking trail.
Beginning this Thursday at 10 p.m., and continuing into Friday, Westporter John Sharian will run the Super Pemi Loop.
There’s a reason. He’s raising awareness — and donations — for wounded war veterans and first responders.
Sharian has done it before. But this year he increased it by 10 miles.
He’ll running a 40-mile loop, with 10,000 feet of vertical elevation.
It is not an organized event. This is a solo effort, to highlight the work of Frontline Healing Foundation, and the people they help heal.
Sharian’s goal is $10,000. Click here — from the comfort of your home — to help him reach it.
John Sharian
=================================================
For the 3rd day in a row — sparked by a 1973 New Yorker cover depicting Compo Beach, by a Westport artist — we’re featuring a locally inspired illustration from the venerable magazine.
This one, from July 1935, is by Helen Hokinson. She contributed 68 covers, and more than 1,800 cartoons, during her career.
It shows a classic scene from the Westport Country Playhouse.
What’s especially intriguing is that in 1935, the theater was just 4 years old.
And the New Yorker — at 10 — was not much older. (Hat tip: Pat Blaufuss)
==================================================
Speaking of the Playhouse:
Yesterday’s performances of “Pinkalicious” at the historic theater thrilled plenty of young girls.
To add to the excitement surrounding the adaptation of the popular children’s book series — written and illustrated by Westporter Victoria Kann — many kids (and parents) wore (of course) pink.
(Photo/Lynn Flaster)
And just like that, a new generation of Playhouse theater-goers is born.
================================================
Today is the last day of the season for lifeguard coverage at Burying Hill Beach.
“Sadly, the end of the summer is upon us,” says beachgoer Ed Simek.
To mark the occasion, he took this photo yesterday:
(Photo/Ed Simek)
Lifeguard coverage continues at Compo Beach through Labor Day.
=================================================
Speaking of beaches: Every year, a group of women from the Staples High School Class of 1962 gathers for lunch at Compo.
Here’s a shot from this year’s gathering:
In attendance: Loretta Santella, Holly Miller Watts, Lucia Berger Brooks, Linda Cognato , Maryann Stirling, Marie DiPalma, Sue Celuch, Carol Rutski, Wanda Tedesco, Linda Coniglio, Kathy Smith.
The beach hasn’t changed much since they were in school.
And they look pretty good themselves!
=================================================
The sign asks for respect for Sherwood Island State Park’s 9/11 Memorial.
This bird seems respectful enough, just sitting and thinking.
Johanna Keyser Rossi captured the moment, for our daily “Westport … Naturally” feature.
(Photo/Johanna Keyser Rossi)
==================================================
And finally … Jerry Fuller, a singer/songwriter/producer who had a hand in some of the biggest hits of the 1960s and ’70s, died recently in Los Angeles. He was 85, and was battling lung cancer. Click here for a full obituary.
Among his songs:
(Lifeguards are leaving soon. But “06880” will still be here — 24/7/365, just as we’ve been since 2009. Of course, we couldn’t do it without our readers’ support. Please click here to help. Thank you!)
We all knew this day would arrive way back in kindergarten little league days. Congrats to Ben and the Casparius family.
Congratulations and continued success to my ex first grader, Ben Casparius and his beautiful family. I’ll be cheering you on!
congrats Ben. I wish you could have made the Jets