UNBEATEN STRATFORD BRAKETTES WILL HOST BREAKERS AND PITCHER RACHEL FICO THURSDAY

June 27, 2007 - The Stratford Brakettes return to action Thursday, June 28 with a 7 o’clock doubleheader against the Stratford Breakers and Connecticut high school pitching phenom Rachel Fico of Masuk High School.

Fico, the 15-year-old sophomore, led Masuk to the CIAC Class LL title with a 27-1 record and the No. 1 ranking in the state following an unbelievable season in which she allowed only two runs and struck out 486 batters. She is approaching 1,000 in her career. She will be joined on the mound by former Stratford High All-Stater Jessica Dempsey.

Coach Mark Fawver’s Breakers played the Brakettes tough earlier this season in bowing 6-0 and 7-3 in a doubleheader. However, the 24-0 Brakettes were missing such standouts as leadoff hitter Chelsea Bramlett (.606, 40-for-66, 26 runs scored) of Mississippi State, center fielder Sari-Jane Jenkins (.363) of Oregon, third basemen Whitney Mollica (.309, 11 RBI) of UMass, and the NCAA Division I home run queen Beth Boden (.400, 3 HR, 18 RBI) of Tennessee Tech.

In addition to the aforementioned players, Manager John Stratton’s club has been receiving solid performances from shortstop Courtney Bures (.456, 23 RBI), second baseman Mandie Fishback (.460, 29-for-63, 24 RBI), first baseman Steph Hill (.333, 16 RBI) and utility player Amber Radomski (.289, 11 RBI).

Pitching Thursday for the Brakettes will be UMass sophomore Brandice Balschmiter (12-0, 0.57 ERA, 100 strikeouts) and ex-Florida Atlantic star Candice Freel (12-0, 0.66 ERA, 90 strikeouts).

The Brakettes have now won 45 straight games dating back to July 19, 2006 when they dropped a 1-0 game to the Polar Crush of Worcester, MA, at DeLuca Field. Following Thursday’s action, the Brakettes head to the Topton, PA, July 4th Tournament where they open play Friday at 8:30 p.m. against the Reading, PA, Lady Rebelz. The Brakettes have participated in the tournament five times, winning in 1991, 1998, 2002, and 2004, while finishing third in 2001 when the finals were rained out.

All youth softball league players who wear their team jersey to the game will be admitted free of charge.