Brakettes Again Ride Pitching, as Henderson Makes Return

July 5, 2008 - The Stratford Brakettes eclipsed the Western NY Xtreme twice Saturday night at DeLuca Field, by 7-0 and 9-0 tallies, as former Team USA pitcher Danielle Henderson was victorious in the first game. Henderson allowed just two singles, while striking out 12 batters, as she began her third stint with the Brakettes.

Henderson won gold in Sydney in 2000 with the U.S. national squad, before four successful seasons in the pro league. Danielle provided the Brakettes with a big-game pitcher when she began her career in Stratford in 1997. She was a member of the Brakettes' 2002 and 2003 ASA national championship teams, and a key contributor on the 2006 NPF Champion New England Riptide.

Rachele Fico struck out 13 in the nightcap, as she picked up her second win in as many starts. She has now struck out 29 batters in her first 13 and 2/3 innings of work as a Brakette.

The Brakettes picked up a run in the first inning of the early game on an RBI single by Jess Mouse, scoring Mandie Fishback from second. Stratford tacked on three more runs in the second frame, as Fishback doubled to score Amber Radomski and Jenna Lopez. Whitney Mollica launched a sac fly to score Fishback, and the lead was stretched to 4-0.

After Lopez walked to begin the bottom of the fourth, Denise Denis smashed her second homer of the season to left field, putting the Brakettes up 6-0.

Lopez walked again in the sixth, and moved to second when Denis also earned a free pass. Mollica came through again with a single, scoring Lopez, and closing out the scoring at 7-0.

In the encore, Fico also received all the offense she would need in the first inning, when the Brakettes scored two runs.

Denis walked and Fishback singled, bringing up Mollica. The team's most torrid hitter delivered the first of her three hits in the contest, scoring Denis from second. Fishback also scored as Laura Trout reached on a fielding error, and the 2-0 margin stood until the third.

Denis scored again in the third, giving the Brakettes a 3-0 lead, but the real offensive display would wait until the fifth inning.

The Brakettes plated six runs in the home fifth, breaking open a close game, and sending 11 batters to the plate. Jess Serio had a two-run single in the rally, and Ashley Waters and Denis also had RBI singles.

The Brakettes, now 26-0, and Western NY Xtreme will meet for two more games Sunday, with the action starting at 11 am. Both games will be broadcast right here at www.brakettes.com