Brakettes Blast Four Homers, Top VIP's Twice

June 28, 2008 - Ashley Waters blasted a three-run homer, her first as a Brakette, against the Topton VIP's Saturday, as Stratford recorded 8-1 and 8-0 wins. Jill Cimminello smashed her first round-tripper of the season in the first contest, and Whitney Mollica added two long balls in the second game, giving her seven homers on the season.

Leslie Malerich saw her 23-inning perfect streak come to an end in the early game, but the Italian National Team pitcher still picked up her eighth win of the season. She struck out eight in the game, and scattered three hits.

Brandice Balschmiter also recorded her eighth win of the season, fanning 11 batters in the late game. She allowed an infield single in the fourth inning, the only time a VIP reached base in the second contest.

The Brakettes opened the scoring in the third inning of the first matchup, after Jess Serio led off with a single. She moved to second base on a sac bunt by Cimminello, and scored on a double by Jenna Lopez. After Waters reached on an error, Mandie Fishback launched a triple to right field. The shot scored Lopez and Waters, and Fishback then scored on a sac fly by Mollica. The lead was 4-0 heading to the fourth.

Stratford plated another two runs in the fourth inning, beginning with Cimminello’s blast. The solo shot pushed the lead to 5-0, bringing up Lopez, who followed with a single. Waters doubled home Lopez to put the Brakettes up 6-0.

Cimminello singled in the fifth, scoring Laura Trout for the seventh Stratford run.

Ali Pittman led off the top of the sixth for the VIP’s with a walk, and advanced on a single by Toni DiFilippo. After a groundout moved Pittman to third, Steph Denlinger grounded out to Fishback at second, allowing the run to come home.

The Brakettes tacked on another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Mollica, which scored Waters. With an 8-1 lead, Malerich worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to secure the victory.

Stratford jumped up 2-0 in the first inning of the encore, as Mollica blasted a two-run shot over the left field fence. Fishback extended the inning for Mollica, as she preceded the slugger’s homer with a two-out bloop single.

Laura Trout walked to lead off the second inning, and stole second base. She came home on a single by Serio, pushing Stratford up 3-0.

Mollica took the first pitch in the home fourth over the left field fence for her second homer of the game, her seventh on the season. The blast put the Brakettes up 4-0, as Balschmiter continued to dominate on the mound.

After a 1-2-3 fifth inning for Balschmiter, the Brakettes added four runs in the bottom of the inning to shorten the game via run rule.

Waters sent a three-run shot over the fence in left to push the lead to 7-0, and Mouse rounded out the scoring with an RBI single to score Fishback.

The Brakettes will play two Sunday night against the Xtreme Chaos at DeLuca HOF Field, starting at 6:00. High school phenom Rachele Fico will make her Brakettes’ debut Sunday, as the Brakettes hope to improve on their 22-0 record.

Both games of the doubleheader will be broadcast right here at www.brakettes.com.