BRAKETTES OPEN SEASON WITH TWO WINS OVER REBELLES

May 26, 2007 STRATFORD- The Stratford Brakettes opened their 61st season of women’s major fastpitch play in impressive fashion as they swept a doubleheader from the Quebec Rebelles at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field Saturday night. Brandice Balschmiter and Candice Freel stopped the Rebelles on one hit in each game as the Brakettes won a pair of mercy-rule games by scores of 15-0 and 8-0.

Before a huge opening-day crowd, the Brakettes broke open things with a nine-run third inning outburst in the opener. The Brakettes lashed out 10 hits against three Rebelles pitchers. Leading the offensive attack was Mandie Fishback, the talented all-conference standout at Florida Atlantic University. Fishback had three hits, including a grand slam home run in the third inning. She also drove in six runs.

Balschmiter struck out 10 hitters and allowed only a fourth-inning single by Laurie Naveau.

UMass standout Whitney Mollica had a double and two RBI, while catcher Erin Frank also doubled in a run. Amber Radomski had a single, sacrifice fly and two RBI and Freel, the designated player, singled twice and drove in a pair of runs for Manager John Stratton’s club.

Freel, another FAU graduate, was equally impressive in the second game with a nine-strikeout performance. Karine Gagne had the Quebec hit, a leadoff single in the second inning.

Mollica led the Brakettes with two singles and a double, while Fishback had two hits, including a double, and Denise Denis had a triple and RBI single.