New Canaan Sports Digest Sept 8

Curt Casali's first season in professional baseball ended on Monday, when the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps suffered a 7-2 loss to Fort Wayne.

The teams met in a season-ending series to determine a postseason spot in the Midwest League playoffs. Fort Wayne took two of three to claim the Eastern Division's second-half wild card berth.

The loss snapped West Michigan's streak of making the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons.

Casali played in 25 games with the Whitecaps after being promoted from the Connecticut Tigers of the New York-Penn League and batted .227 with two home runs and 14 RBI.

In a combined 35 games, Casali hit .243 with three homers and 16 RBI. The New Canaan native batted .278 with a homer and 10 RBI in 10 contests with the Connecticut Tigers.

SportsNight tickets on sale

Tickets for the Fairfield County Sports Commission's seventh SportsNight awards dinner are available at a discounted price until Sept. 16.

SportsNight is Monday, Oct 17 at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich at 6 p.m. The six new members of the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame will be inducted that evening. The 2011 honorees are: John Bagley (Bridgeport), Bennett Salvatore (Stamford), Joe DeSantis (Fairfield), Ceci Hopp St. Geme (Greenwich), Charlie Bentley (Bridgeport) and the late Albie Loeffler (Westport).

Among the 15 Sports Persons of the Year being honored include Darien High field hockey coach Mo Minicus, USA Hockey U18 World Champion Ryan Haggerty of Stamford, UConn baseball standout L.J. Mazzilli of Greenwich, State Swimmer of the Year Christian Higgins of New Canaan, New England Babe Ruth Tourney organizers Jim and Joe Parlanti of Norwalk and the 2010 FCIAC champion Class LL runnerup Staples High boys soccer team.

Dinner tickets are priced at $115 and will be raised to $125 after Sept. 16. Tables of 10 seats are priced at $1,150 and will go up to $1,250 after the 16th.

For more information and to purchase tickets call Tom Chiappetta at 203-984-4806, email at tomchip21@aol.com or visit www.fairfieldcountysports.com

Here is this week's scrimmage schedule involving New Canaan teams:

BOYS SOCCER

Thursday - Fairfield Prep at New Canaan, 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER

Thursday -- Rye (N.Y.) at New Canaan, 4 p.m.

Satuday -- Shelton at New Canaan, 10 a.m.

FIELD HOCKEY

Saturday -- New Canaan at New Fairfield jamboree, TBA

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Saturday -- at Staples jamboree, 9 am.

The Daily Sports Digest is designed for you to add your best photo and/or video to share (instructions here). If you see anything in our scores, standings, or schedules that requires updating, please e-mail regional editor Michael Dinan at michaeld+sports@patch.com.