UConn: Westporter Ben Casparius Selected in Fifth Round of MLB Draft by Los Angeles Dodgers
Photo by Ian BethuneFrom SB Nation: The UConn BlogUConn pitcher Ben Casparius selected in fifth round of MLB Draft by Los Angeles Dodgers
The Westport, Connecticut native will likely begin his professional career with Los Angeles.
by Shawn McGrath
UConn baseball right-handed pitcher Ben Casparius has been selected in the fifth round of the MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, No. 162 overall. The recommended signing bonus value for this pick is $318,200.
He will join Wills Montgomerie, who was selected in the sixth round in 2017, in the Dodgers organization.
Casparius, originally from Westport, Connecticut, only had one season in Storrs but made it count. He made a team-leading 15 starts, earning an 8-5 record with a 4.03 ERA. His best outing of the season was March 5 against Miami (OH), scattering three hits in a complete-game shutout with 11 strikeouts. He also exited three additional starts without surrendering a run, including against UMass, Georgetown and Creighton. Casparius struck out 15 hitters in seven innings against the Hoyas, his career-high.
He led the Huskies in innings (91 2/3), as well as strikeouts (127), which translates to 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His strikeout mark is also second in UConn history, behind only Colin McLaughlin, who notched 138 punch-outs in nearly 20 more innings (111). This was enough to earn Casparius ABCA First-Team honors for the Northeast region, as well as second-team all-conference honors and a spot on the Big East all-tournament team.
Casparius’ best pitch is his change-up, which MLBPipeline graded a 55 on the 20-80 scouting scale, which translates to above-average. His fastball, slider and control were each given 50 grades, which is average. His fastball sits around 91 mph but he has been recorded as high as 95 mph. He projects as a strike-thrower with a solid three-pitch mix. This, despite his slight 6-foot, 208-pound build, leaves him a chance to start through his professional career.
Casparius spent his first two years at North Carolina, where he played sporadically as both a hitter and pitcher, before missing the 2020 season due to transfer rules. As a result, he has some eligibility remaining, should he decide to return to UConn.
Playhouse Presents an Evening with Ali Stroker, Tony Award Winning Actress
Photo by Jenny AndersonPress ReleaseWestport Country Playhouse will present “An Evening with Ali Stroker,” 2019 Tony Award winner for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Ado Annie in the Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!, on Saturday July 24, at 8 p.m. The live, in-person performance is part of the Playhouse’s series, “Cabaret in the Robards,” featuring Broadway musical talents.
“Ali Stroker is nothing less than a force of nature,” said Mark Lamos, Westport Country Playhouse artistic director. “I first experienced her striking, electric stage presence in the powerful Broadway revival of Deaf West's ‘Spring Awakening’. But that didn't prepare me for the sheer comic zest and magnitude and Broadway musical savvy she brought to the recent revival of ‘Oklahoma!’ She tore the place apart and stopped the show as Ado Annie-- the best I'd ever seen-- and also brought to the role depth, sweet sensitivity and, well, joy. For that she won a richly-deserved Tony Award. I’m thrilled that she'll be appearing on the Playhouse stage and can't wait to see just what she does next, since Ali is a true one-of-a-kind star with all sorts of magic up her sleeve.”
Click here to expand press release and for ticket information.
This past winter, Stroker starred in the Lifetime holiday film, “Christmas Ever After.” She made history as the first actor in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway in Deaf West’s acclaimed 2015 revival of “Spring Awakening.” She starred in 12 episodes of “The Glee Project,” culminating in a guest role on Fox’s “Glee.” She recurred in the ABC series, “Ten Days in the Valley,” and guest starred on CBS' “Blue Bloods,” Freeform's “The Bold Type,” Fox’s “Lethal Weapon,” CBS’ “Instinct,” The CW's “Charmed,” and Comedy Central's “Drunk History.” She recently co-wrote a novel, “The Chance to Fly,” which was released by Abrams Books. She’s performed her cabaret act at Green Room 42 and soloed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., New York’s Town Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and Carnegie Hall. Her mission to improve the lives of others through the arts, disabled or not, is captured in her motto: “Turning Your Limitations into Your Opportunities.”
Lamos added, “There's a special resonance in Ali performing on our historic stage, since it's the same stage that premiered a play called ‘Green Grow the Lilacs’ in 1940. Composer Richard Rodgers was convinced to come to Westport to check it out, and the next thing you know, he and Oscar Hammerstein were writing ‘Oklahoma!’ Please join me in the audience for this very special night, won't you? Thanks! See you there!”
Tickets for “An Evening with Ali Stroker” start at $25 for performance only. Supporter tickets, raising funds to reopen the Playhouse, start at $150 and include VIP perks and pre-show cocktail party.
Sponsors for “An Evening with Ali Stroker” are Athena and Daniel Adamson, and Adam Clemens.
The series, “Cabaret in the Robards,” began in June with in-person performances by Broadway’s Tonya Pinkins and Brad Simmons. The Robards, officially known as The Jason Robards Theatre at Westport Country Playhouse, was named in memory of the actor, who, along with his wife Lois, supported the historic theater’s 2005 major renovation.
The Playhouse’s 2021 Season includes two new virtual productions, “Tiny House,” a timely new comedy, written by Michael Gotch, and directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, playing June 29 through July 18; and “Doubt: A Parable,” the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama written by John Patrick Shanley and directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, playing November 2 through November 21. Two HD video productions from the Playhouse archives will stream on-demand, beginning with the musical, “Man of La Mancha” (2018), from August 23 through September 5, and John Steinbeck’s drama, “Of Mice and Men” (2008), from September 13 - 26. Script in Hand playreadings will be on October 4 - 10, and December 14 - 19, titles TBA. All virtual content in the Playhouse’s 2021 Season will be available on demand for patrons’ convenience, with open captions in Spanish. The complete schedule is available at westportplayhouse.org.
All artists, dates, and formats are subject to change.
To purchase tickets to “An Evening with Ali Stroker,” contact the Playhouse box office at (203) 227-4177, or email boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org. To sponsor one of the evenings, contact Gretchen Wright, Playhouse director of development, at 203-571-1131 or email gwright@westportplayhouse.org.
Westport COVID-19 Cases Down 1; No Deaths; State Positivity Rate 0.97%
The Westport-Weston Health District reports that Westport’s COVID-19 cases were down one today. The State’s daily test positivity rate was 0.97%, slightly higher compared to the previous weeks.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 1,806 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 31 deaths.
State Daily Test Positivity: 0.97%
Sarah Bonner-O’Neill, 68; Staples Graduate
Obituary
Sarah Bonner-O'Neill, 68, of St. Simons/ Brunswick, died peacefully the morning of July 8, surrounded by her family.
She was a graduate of Staples High School, Westport, Connecticut, and Tufts University, Boston.
A resident of Glynn County for almost 30 years, she worked with children as an Early Intervention Specialist before dedicating her life full-time to her own children and grandchildren.
Always passionate and (usually) outspoken, but with a sensitive and loving heart, she epitomized being the ultimate wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Though hindered with medical issues the last few years, she was always someone you could always count on ... no matter what.
She watched over and guided her children and had the enormous joy of being with her 8-1/2 grandchildren (baby Sadie is on the way!), who call her "Gabba."
She will be missed by her adoring husband of 43 years, Tim O'Neill; as well as her children, Chris O'Neill (Jenny Rabbitt) of Boston, Genny O'Neill of Brunswick, Ben O'Neill (Kristen O'Neill) of Brunswick and Kaitlin (O'Neill) Carpenter (Brandon Carpenter) of St. Simons Island; her grandchildren, Xavier and Sadie O'Neill, Madeline and Fenway Westberry, Jack and Charlie O'Neill, and Genevieve, Naomi, and Jude Carpenter.
There will be a gathering to celebrate her incredible life from 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 16, at Confederate Station, which is just past Chapman Funeral Home, at 6045 Golden Isles Parkway (Spur 25). Dress is casual.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Starting Point Foundation, P.O. Box 488, Brunswick, GA 31521, a recovery house for which Ben is board chairman.