The Staples High School field hockey team is one win away from a state championship.
The #2-seeded Wreckers dominated #3 Glastonbury yesterday, in the Class “L” (large schools) semifinal at Amity High.
The score was only 2-0 — on goals by Mary Stevens and Leah Larit — but the Westporters did not allow the Guardians any shots on goal.
The title match is this Saturday (November 18, Wethersfield High School, 11 a.m.). The Wreckers face #1-ranked Darien. The Blue Wave squeaked by Wilton, 3-2 in overtime, yesterday.
Darien captured the first 2 meetings of the schools this year. They edged Staples 3-2 in overtime during the regular season, then took the FCIAC (league) championship 3-0 earlier this month.
Coach Ian Tapsall’s girls are shooting for their 5th Connecticut crown. They won it all 4 years in a row, from 2016-19, but have not been back to the final since.
Staples’ girls soccer team was denied a chance at their 3rd straight state championship. Seeded 3rd in “LL” (extra large schools), they fell 4-3 to their archrival, #2 St. Joseph, 4-3 at Fairfield Warde last night.
The Cadets — 2-time reigning champions in the “L” (large) division who moved up to “LL” this year, and who as a private school draw players from outside Trumbull — overcame a 2-goal deficit to win.
Staples and St. Joseph tied 1-1 in the regular season — the only blemish on the Cadets’ 20-0-1 record. They took the FCIAC title over coach Barry Beattie’s Wreckers, with a nail-biting 2-1 win.
US youth national team player Natalie Chudowsky scored twice for Staples last night. Annabel Edwards added the other.
The 2023 Staples field hockey team.
You may know Rex Fowler as the very talented founder of Aztec Two-Step, the folk-rock duo that, despite being “no hit wonders,” has enjoyed a devoted cult following for half a century.
You may also know Rex Fowler as a fellow Westporter. He and his wife, Dodie Pettit — an even longer resident — now comprise Aztec Two-Step 2.0.
Now Rex has added another credit to his long list of achievements. “200 Cadillacs” — his new documentary featuring interviews with people who were recipients of Elvis Presley’s gift of choice (a shiny new car) will show tomorrow (Thursday, November 16, Sacred Heart Community Theatre, downtown Fairfield).
A talkback with Rex — who wrote most of the music — follows the screening. It’s hosted by Susan Granger.
Reviewer Leonard Maltin wrote: “I like Elvis well enough, but I’m not a
devotee, and I never thought I’d find this film as compelling as I did.”
Tickets are just $15. Click here to order.
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Irwin Lebish has been a veterinarian for almost 70 years, and a member of the Westport Rotary Club for 23 years (president from 2011-’12).
But, he says, he has been playing piano “always. Area residents known him from many bands, and the Jazz Doctors trio.
Yesterday, he treated his fellow Rotarians to a jazz concert, with songs like “I’ll Remember April,” “Fried Pies,” “My Funny Valentine” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’
He was accompanied by his son Scott on electric bass guitar.
Irwin’s pre-holiday recitals are a Rotary tradition.
Irwin and Scott Lebish. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
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It’s been a gorgeous fall so far. Here’s one more “Westport … Naturally” foliage photo, from Longshore:
(Photo/June Rose Whittaker)
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And finally … in honor of Rex Fowler’s Elvis-themed “200 Cadillacs” film (story above):
(Elvis never gave “06880 a Cadillac. But our readers are welcome to contribute to this hyper-local blog. Please click here. Thank you — and viva Westport!)
