Brakettes Draw Strength From, Look To Win One For Doc; Off to Good Start Winning 10-0, 5-0

August 4, 2007 - The Brakettes will look to repeat as ASA Women's Major Fastpitch Champions this week in South Bend, IN, but they will be playing with more at stake than usual. As the Brakettes hope to win their fifth crown in six years, they will be playing with heavy hearts and big aspirations. Longtime sponsor Dr. David Olin Carpenter, a.k.a. "Doc", passed away on June 22nd in Bridgeport, CT, with his wife Dorothy at his side. Carpenter and his wife came to the rescue of the most famous softball team in history in 1995, after the second Raybestos sponsorship ended. What was supposed to be a one-year stop gap measure to keep the team afloat became a long-term relationship, as Carpenter simply "fell in love with the team".

When the Brakettes opened up the 2007 season on Memorial Day Weekend, Dave was there to root for his favorite team, as they swept a four-game series with the Quebec Rebelles. Carpenter was hospitalized later in the weekend, and eventually passed away after years of fighting various illnesses. A graceful and soft-spoken man, Carpenter never flaunted his wealth, and spent most of his time concerned with the well-being of others. He spent millions of dollars on the Brakettes since 1995, and wanted none of the credit. Under his helpful watch, the Brakettes won four national championships, and stretched their unprecedented mark of total titles to 27 overall.

Dave Carpenter may be gone, but he will never be forgotten. The Brakettes' players, coaches, staff, and fans in attendance at the National Tournament are wearing "DOC" patches on their left arms, to keep his memory alive, and to memorialize a great man. After all, without Carpenter, there may be no Brakettes to speak of. The Brakettes will continue to hold David Olin Carpenter close to their hearts, and his family in their thoughts, as they set out on their quest to win one for Doc.

The Brakettes started their trek toward their 28th championship with consecutive wins in pool play on Saturday. They jumped out quickly in their first contest, a 10-0 victory over the Bloomington, IL Lady Hearts. The red and white scored three in the top of the first, giving Brandice Balschmiter all the run support she would need. Balschmiter struck out eight, while allowing just one hit and a walk in an overpowering performance. Only one base runner made it into scoring position, and Balschmiter quickly worked out of trouble.

The first inning started with Denise Denis' one-out bunt single, followed by a base hit by Mandie Fishback. Courtney Bures drew a walk to load the bases, bringing up Whitney Mollica. Mollica sent a drive to deep center field, which was caught just feet from the home run fence. While the blast would have been out of most parks, the fences stood at 260 feet, leaving Mollica with a long sac fly. Killian Roessner walked to load the bases again, and Beth Boden strode to the plate. Boden dropped down a bunt, which she beat out for a single. Fishback raced home for the second run, and Bures also scored when the throw to first was wide of the bag.

The Brakettes scored seven in the top of the fifth, setting up the mercy rule. Denis again bunted for a base hit, and Fishback followed with a line drive single to left. Bures also got on with a bunt single, and the bases were again full of Brakettes. Mollica drove in Denis once more with a sacrifice fly to right, and the lead stood at 4-0. Roessner singled to bring home Fishback and Bures, giving the Brakettes a 6-0 advantage. Following a Boden walk, Stephanie Hill singled to left. Jill Cimminello, who pinch-ran for Roessner, scored from second. Boden also scored on the play, as the ball got away from the left fielder. Joanna Gail walked, and Amber Radomski came in as her pinch-runner. After Allison Twarowski reached on a fielder's choice, Denis smashed her second triple of the game, scoring the Brakettes ninth and tenth runs. Denis was 4-for-4 with two triples, two runs scored, and two RBI. Fishback had two hits and scored two runs. Mollica, Roessner, and Hill each had two RBI in the contest.

Katie Burkhart took the mound for the second game, against an old nemesis, the Southern California Hurricanes. The last two times the squads met was the 2005 ASA National Tournament Championship Game, with the Hurricanes victorious on the Brakettes' home field. The Brakettes and Hurricanes account for the last five national titles, with the Brakettes winning in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006. Burkhart was impressive, striking out twelve, scattering six hits, and walking two.

The Brakettes plated three runs in the top of the second, despite recording just one hit. Mollica led off with a chopper to short, which was bobbled by Courtney Martinez. The error brought Roessner to the plate looking to sacrifice Mollica to second. The bunt went back to Hurricanes' pitcher Gabby Guerrero, who threw in the dirt to first. Roessner was safe, and Mollica advanced to third on the errant toss. Boden tried to lay down a bunt, but popped out to first. Mollica was nearly doubled off at third, but the throw sailed into left field, sending Mollica home with the first run. Hill came up and smashed a triple to the left-center gap, scoring Roessner from first. Gail then scored Hill on a sacrifice fly, and the Brakettes owned a 3-0 lead.

The Hurricanes mounted their biggest threat in the fourth inning, as Rachel Folden led off with a triple to left-center. Burkhart got Katie Gullhardt to pop out to second on the first pitch, then struck out the next two batters to squash out the rally.

Fishback reached in the fifth on a single, bringing up Bures. The speedy shortstop dropped down a bunt single, and the throw to first sailed wide. Fishback took third, giving the Brakettes runners at the corners. Fishback then crossed the plate on a passed ball, and the lead was 4-0.

Sari-Jane Jenkins led off the seventh with a triple to left, and scored on a single by Denis, who went 2-for-4 in the nightcap. Bures and Hill also had two hits apiece in the second game. With the two wins, the Brakettes took the first seed in Pool A, and earned themselves a first-round bye in bracket play. They will play at 12:30 Sunday in a Winner's Bracket Quarter-Final, against the winner of the 9:00 a.m. matchup between the St. Louis Saints and Impact Softball.