Brakettes Complete Connecticut Sweep

July 21, 2007 - The Brakettes finished a four-game weekend sweep of the Connecticut Classics, defeating their local rivals by 9-1 and 6-0 scores, Saturday night at DeLuca HOF Field. Katie Burkhart came within two outs of perfection in the late game, and Candice Freel threw a run rule-shortened one-hitter in the first.

The Classics scored their first and only run of the weekend in the first inning, as Kristie Rochette led off with a walk off of Freel. Jen Michels then reached on a fielding error by Freel, moving Rochette to second. Rochette took off for third, drawing a throw from catcher Killian Roessner. The throw was on the money, but the ball kicked away from third baseman Beth Boden, allowing Rochette to score. Michels tried some aggressive baserunning of her own, but was gunned out trying to advance to third.

Sari-Jane Jenkins again proved to be an offensive sparkplug, getting the scoring going in the first inning of the early contest. After leading off with a single, Jenkins stole second, putting her in scoring position with a dangerous Denise Denis at the plate. Denis has sizzled over the past few weeks, and came through as expected. Denis lined a double to score Jenkins, tying the score at one apiece. Denis scored soon after when Mandie Fishback stroked a single to put the Brakettes up for good. After swiping second base, Fishback scored on a single by Killian Roessner, closing out the first inning with a 3-1 Brakettes' lead.

Courtney Bures added a run in the third inning, as she mashed her sixth home run of the season to left-center. The 4-1 lead stood until the fifth, when the Brakettes would put a five-spot on the board, ending the game by eight-run rule.

With one out in the fifth, the Brakettes relied on Jenkins to start the fireworks once more. She singled, then went first to third on a single by Denis. With runners at the corners, Fishback chopped one to third, drawing a throw home, as Jenkins broke on contact. Jenkins slid in safely, as the throw went wide of home plate, and Fishback and Denis advanced to second and third respectively. Jenkins' run made the score 5-1, and the slugging Bures followed with a single to score Denis. Fishback stopped at third, and Bures took second on a throw home. Roessner came through again, lining a single to drive in two runs, putting the Brakettes up 8-1. Boden walked to the plate, knowing the Brakettes needed one run to end the game. She roped a double which scored Roessner, and the Brakettes had a 9-1 victory in hand, leaving the Classics on the field.

Freel struck out eight en route to her 20th victory of the season. She allowed a lone single in the fifth, and her first inning walk of Rochette was the only free pass she would give up. The only Classics' run was unearned.

The second game was more closely contested, just like the night before, as the Classics started Stephanie Zweig. Zweig allowed three runs the night before against the Brakettes, but all three were unearned, and she struck out seven Brakettes to boot. She started strong again, keeping the red and white scoreless through three. Having not allowed an earned run by the Brakettes in ten consecutive innings, Zweig went out to work in the fourth. The Brakettes' bats would finally awaken.

Roessner led off the fourth with a single, and moved up as Boden connected for another base hit. Jill Cimminello singled to load the bases. Allison Twarowski hit a come-backer to the mound, which Zweig fielded and fired home to try to get the lead runner. The throw sailed wide of the plate, and Roessner scored. With the bases still loaded, Jenkins singled to score Boden, and the Brakettes were up 2-0. The hometown favorites scored an insurance run in the fifth, as Denis led off with a triple down the right field line. Fishback lofted a sac fly to deep center, scoring Denis to go up 3-0.

Cimminello reached base with one out in the sixth on a single, and advanced to second when Twarowski also singled. With runners at first and second, Balschmiter attempted to bunt the runners over. The bunt was placed in no-man's land, and no Classic fielder had a play on it. Balschmiter was credited with an infield single, and the bases were loaded for the pesky Jenkins. Sari-Jane grounded one off of Zweig's glove, but shortstop Christine Bordeau charged in and scooped it up, getting Jenkins at first. The groundout still produced a run, with Cimminello marching home for a 4-0 lead. A wild pitch brought Twarowski home from third, and moved Balschmiter to third. Denis followed with her third hit of the game, driving in Balschmiter, and closing the scoring at 6-0.

Burkhart was exceptional on the mound for the Brakettes, as she improved to 5-0. She tallied 13 strikeouts, and had a perfect game until Michels singled to right with one out in the seventh. Burkhart got the next two batters, and Michels stood as the only baserunner for the Classics in the nightcap.

The Brakettes improved to 44-3 with the wins, and will enjoy a few days off before the 23-and-under Nationals at DeLuca HOF Field in Stratford, starting this Thursday. All Brakettes games from the tournament will be broadcast at www.brakettes.com, with other selected tourney games also available. Stay tuned for more information regarding the 23-and-under Nationals, as we will have regular updates throughout the tournament.