BALSCHMITER, SANDERS PICK UP WINS AS BRAKETTES RALLY IN BOTH GAMES TO DEFEAT STRATFORD SEAHAWKS

June 27, 2008 - The Stratford Brakettes extended their unbeaten record to 20-0 with a doubleheader sweep of the visiting Stratford Seahawks 4-1 and 6-2 Friday night at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. It wasn't a cake walk for the defending two-time National ASA champions who rallied from behind in both games.

"When was the last time we trailed in both games of a doubleheader?" Manager John Stratton asked after the evening's action. The answer to that question was July 1, 2006 when the Stratford Brakettes lost a twin-bill to their professional counterparts, the Connecticut Brakettes 2-0 and 1-0.

The Brakettes return to action tonight (Saturday) to face the Topton VIPs at 7 o'clock at DeLuca Field before they entertain the XTreme Chaos Sunday at 6 p.m. Leslie Malerich will pitch tonight's opener. The 7-0 Malerich has a string of three perfect games and 23 consecutive perfect innings on the line. Sunday will mark the Brakettes' debut of 16-year-old high school phenom Rachel Fico of CIAC LL champion Masuk High. Fico compiled a 27-0 record this spring and struck out 486 batters in 195 innings. She has verbally committed to LSU. Fico is the most heralded rookie to pitch for the Brakettes since high school standout Joan Joyce made her debut back in 1957.

While the Brakettes again received strong pitching from Brandice Balschmiter (7-0) and Bailey Sanders (6-0), it was timely hitting that enabled them to rally back against a solid Seahawks (8-4) club. The Brakettes got back-to-back home runs from Whitney Mollica (fourth) and Jessica Mouse (first) in the opener, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead. In the nightcap it was Mollica's fifth home run leading off the second inning that started a two-run rally to tie the score at 2-all.

"That was a very good team we played tonight (Friday)," said Stratton. "They’ve got a nice club. I’m glad we’ve got them a few more times this year."

The Seahawks broke through for a 1-0 lead in the third inning of the opener as Sarah Gates led off with a double and was moved to third on Jen Michaels' sacrifice bunt with two strikes on her. Christine Boudreau's single plated the run.

Balschmiter allowed only one more base-runner, a one-out single by Boudreau in the sixth. She advanced into scoring position on a passed ball and moved to third on a ground out, Laura Trout to Mollica at first base. Balschmiter got Sam Salado on strikes to end the threat.

With two outs in the Brakettes' third inning, Mandie Fishback beat out a bunt single and Mollica hit a towering two-run home run to left field. Mouse followed with another shot over the left-field barrier making it 3-1. All three runs were charged to starter Brea Gleason.

Fishback started a rally with a leadoff walk in the fifth off reliever Izzy Santone. She was forced at second on Mollica's grounder to shortstop Jessica Arremony. After Mouse flied out to left field, Denise Denis walked. Mollica scored on an error for a 4-1 lead.

Mouse was the only player with two hits for the Brakettes, a double and home run. Balschmiter struck out 13 Seahawks.

The Seahawks grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning of the second game when Michelle Libby doubled and scored when Kim Church put down a sacrifice bunt and Mollica threw the ball into right field. Jeff Rickel’s sac bunt, a comebacker by Michaels and Lindsay Kinnel’s RBI single accounted for the second run off Sanders.

Mollica cut the deficit half with a lined home run over the center field fence to lead off the home second inning. With two outs, Waters drilled a double to right center and she scored on Amber Radomski’s single to center for a 2-2 tie.

Waters, who led the Brakettes' 11-hit attack with a 3-for-3 day, drilled an RBI double to drive in Denis, who had a one-out double, for a 3-2 Brakettes' lead in the fourth. Jill Cimminello's RBI double capped the scoring in the inning for a 4-2 edge.

The Brakettes closed out the scoring in the fifth off reliever Jen Russell as a single by Fishback, a fielder's choice grounder by Mollica and single by Mouse filled the sacks. Denis and Waters delivered run-producing hits before Ramdoski bounced into a 1-2-3 inning-ending double play.

Fishback and Denis both stroked two hits, while Sanders pitched an impressive game, striking out 13 batters. She allowed only three hits and she retired 15 of the last 16 batters.