BRAKETTES HOST N.Y. XTREME SATURDAY; HENDERSON AND FICO WILL GET STARTS

July 4, 2008 - The Stratford Brakettes will attempt to keep their perfect record intact this weekend as they play host to the Western New York XTreme in a 7 o'clock doubleheader Saturday night at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The teams meet again Sunday at 11 a.m. in another twin-bill.

Entering play with a 24-0 record, the defending National Champion Brakettes will send former Olympian Danielle Henderson to the mound in the opener, while Masuk High School phenom Rachele Fico (1-0) will pitch the nightcap. Henderson has twice been rained out of scheduled starts, while Fico captured her Brakettes' debut with a two-hit, 16-strikeout performance in a 4-0 win over the Xtreme Chaos.

Pitching has been a major strength for Manager John Stratton, who recently surpassed the 700-win plateau in his 13th year at the helm. Leslie Malerich (9-0, 0.36 ERA), Brandice Balschmiter (8-0, 0.17) and Bailey Sanders (6-0, 0.35) have been outstanding thus far, allowing just six earned runs.

Whitney Mollica continues her torrid offensive production with a .533 batting average. She crushed six home runs in her last eight games and leads with seven for the season. However, she is tied for the RBI lead at 22 with Ashley Waters (.406) and Jessica Mouse (.316). Mouse has 18 hits for the season, but 12 are for extra bases. Fifth-year Brakettes outfielder Denise Denis (.489) and center fielder Jenna Lopez (.421) follow Mollica in the batting chase.
The Brakettes have six more doubleheaders after this weekend before they face the vaunted USA Olympic Team in a nine-inning game July 20 at 7 p.m. at DeLuca Field. The game is a sellout, but it will be webcast by the Brakettes.

BRAKETTES BRIEFS- Three-time All-America outfielder Kaitlin Cochran of National Champion Arizona State will make her Brakettes' debut next Friday night at DeLuca Field. . .All youth league players who wear their uniform jersey are admitted free this weekend, while all visiting team players and coaches in the Stratford Breakers Blowout tournament are the guests of the Brakettes as well. . .The 6-foot-2 Henderson (94-10) is only six wins from becoming the seventh player in Brakettes history to win 100 games. Henderson's career wins record at UMass will fall early next spring as Balschmiter (97-27) is only 11 wins from tying her school mark for wins at 108. Balschmiter is the first Minutewoman named to the All-America team three years in a row. . .The Brakettes have announced that the August 5 noon doubleheader against the St. Louis Saints is “Connecticut Camp and Playground Day” with all those youngsters invited free. Reservations may be made by calling the Brakettes office at (203) 378-7262.