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Westport’s Ben Casparius “Dominates” with UConn Baseball

Westport’s Ben Casparius, Staples High School class of 2017, is continuing to make headlines as a star baseball player. The former Wreckers player had an incredible game on Friday against University of Miami, Ohio with 8 shutout innings. 

From UConn Baseball

CONWAY, S.C. – Behind eight shutout innings from 4 YR JR Ben Casparius, the UConn baseball team (3-4) shut out Miami (OH), 5-0, on Friday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium.

The Westport, Conn. native struck out a career-high 11 while scattering three hits and three walks. The right-hander had command of three pitches and kept the Redhawk's hitters off balance all afternoon.

The Huskies gave him all the support he would need with a three-run second inning. Christian Fedko opened the frame with his second double of the season and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch.

UConn loaded the bases for team captain Chris Winkel and the UConn centerfield drew a walk to extend the lead to 2-0. Zach Bushling followed with an RBI single to push the lead to three.

Casparius stranded two base runners in the second, fourth, sixth and eighth innings while facing just one batter over the minimum in his odd numbered innings.

Reggie Crawford added an RBI triple while Pat Winkel chipped in an RBI double to make it a 5-0.

Sam Favieri closed out the ballgame with a scoreless ninth inning to lock down the first shut out of the year for the UConn pitching staff.

Next up, UConn faces Davidson at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Joe Simeone is slated to start for the Huskies.

Game Notes

  • Ben Casparius tossed eight shutout innings for the Huskies on Friday. He is the first UConn pitcher since Colby Dunlop pitched eight innings in the 2019 Oklahoma City Regional against Nebraska to get through eight innings of work.

  • The Huskies earned their first shutout as a pitching staff in 2021.

  • Christian Fedko recorded his fourth multi-hit game of the season.

  • Five runs was the largest margin of victory for the Huskies this season.

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COVID-19 James Bairaktaris COVID-19 James Bairaktaris

Sunday COVID-19 Summary: Westport Tests Slowing, Vaccines Increasing

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This summary includes the total cases, deaths, vaccines, and current hospitalizations in our town, county, and state.

The State does not publish any data on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday - so this summary does not include any information collected on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Data from the past three days will be published cumulatively in tomorrow evening’s daily update.

All data comes from Connecticut Open Data portal. Numbers as of 03/04/21:

COVID-19 Cases

Westport:

  • 1,438 positive or probable cases (total) +38 from last week

  • 28 deaths (total) +/- 0 from last week

  • 49,820 tests (total) +1,628 from last week

Fairfield County:

  • 81,783 80,243 positive or probable cases (total) +1,540 from last week

  • 2,074 Deaths (total) +23 from last week

  • 118 currently hospitalized; -22 from last week (as of 03/04/21)

Connecticut:

  • 285,330 positive or probable cases +5,384 from last week(total)

  • 7,622 deaths + 82 from last week (total)

  • 451 currently hospitalized - 23 from last week (as of 03/04/21)

State Daily Test Positivity:

  • 1.84% of COVID-19 tests administered came back positive (on 02/25/21)

  • DOWN from 2.22% on 02/25/21

Westport Vaccine Coverage:

Data Current as of: 03/04/2021

All Ages (est. 28,491 residents)

  • First Dose Coverage: 17.7% vaccinated [+2.43% from last week]

  • First Dose Count: 5,046 [+695 from last week]

Ages 65-74 (est. 2,472 residents)

  • First Dose Coverage: 75% vaccinated

Ages 75+ (est. 2,132 residents)

  • First Dose Coverage: 81% vaccinated

The next update will be published tomorrow evening, and will include all data identified on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of this weekend.

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MoCA Winter Festival Sheds Light on The Arts

The Museum of Contemporary Art Westport (MoCA) held its first annual Winter Lights Festival yesterday for the community. Visitors were able to create arts and crafts, grab a bite from a local food truck, and enjoy the museum’s galleries in celebration of the Winter season.

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James Bairaktaris James Bairaktaris

Morning Weather Report [03/07/21]

WL Logo Weather (1).png

Today

Sunny, with a high near 38. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 20. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. North wind around 7 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunny, with a high near 40. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. North wind 6 to 8 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Tomorrow Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph.

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