STRATFORD BRAKETTES ANNOUNCE 62-GAME SEASON SCHEDULE

May 26, 2008 - STRATFORD-- A 62-game regular-season schedule is on tap for the 2008 Stratford Brakettes, starting June 6 with a three-day Pennsylvania road trip. The defending ASA women's major national champions will play three doubleheaders against the Trailblazers, Topton VIPs and Pennsylvania Spirit.

Following the annual season-opening trek, Manager John Stratton’s Brakettes will play the rest of the regular season at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. "Since we do not have a sponsor this year and we need to have a good year at the gate, it makes a lot of sense for us to play at home," said General Manager Bob Baird. "Besides, we’ve got a high-powered team, one that people will want to see play a lot."

Obviously, the highlight of the team's 62nd consecutive season of operation occurs on Sunday, July 20 when the United States Olympic Team visits DeLuca Field for a 7 p.m. nine-inning game. "This will be the final time Team USA plays here at least until 2016 because that is the earliest softball could be reinstated in the Olympic Games," added Baird. Tickets for the game are selling at a furious pace and reservations may be made by contacting the Stratford Recreation Department (203) 385-4052 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The game is not part of the Brakettes season ticket package.

There are several new additions to the 2008 schedule, starting with the home opening weekend of June 12-15. Following the opener with the Stratford Seahawks, the Brakettes will host the Connecticut High School senior all-stars in a nine-inning game June 13. The New Jersey Elite then comes to town for doubleheaders on June 14-15. The Elite are a top Class A team in the Garden State.

The Outten Trailblazers, who play out of Blandon, PA, were runners-up in the ASA National Class B tournament last summer. Jenn Huyett, who pitched for the Brakettes (1996-2000) and had a 78-10 record, and her husband coach the Trailblazers. The Western New York Xtreme, a co-host for this year"s ASA championships in Buffalo, visit Stratford July 5-6 for a pair of doubleheaders, while the St. Louis Saints, a perennial national contender, conclude the home slate August 4-5. The August 5 doubleheader begins at noon as is billed as "Youth Camp Day" with all youth camps the guests of the Brakettes.In addition to the new entries, the Brakettes will entertain the VIPs, Pennsylvania Spirit (a combination of the Allentown Pates and Spirit), the New York Freedom, B.A.T.S. of Poughkeepsie, NY, and Allentown Lady Gators, traditional rivals on the schedule.

BRAKETTES BRIEFS – Season tickets are on sale. Good for 55-game package, box seats are $130, including special parking privileges and valet wait service; reserved seats with back rests are $100, and bleacher seats are $80. More information may be obtained on the Tickets page or by contacting the Brakettes office at (203) 378-7262.