Brakettes' Comeback Win Over Saints Highlights DeLuca Field Finale

July 27, 2010 - The Stratford Brakettes won a dramatic 3-2 contest over the St. Louis Saints in the nightcap of a doubleheader Tuesday night, thanks to contributions from some familiar stars. Denis Denis tied it up at 2-2 with a sixth-inning homer, and Carly Normandin dazzled on both sides of the ball in the decisive seventh inning.

Normandin made an amazing diving stab in left-center to steal a would-be extra base hit from Ashley Hall. Her fully-extended catch ended the inning, and prevented the go-ahead run from scoring. Normandin then drove in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh with a double to the corner in left to score Jill Cimminello.

The Brakettes also came from behind in the first game to run-rule the Saints in six innings, 9-1. Rachele Fico improved to 27-0 for the 2010 campaign, as she struck out 11 batters and did not allow a walk.

Saints’ starter Melissa McGee and Fico matched up in a pitcher’s duel over the first three innings, with neither hurler allowing a hit. The only hit Fico ended up allowing was a leadoff home run in the fourth inning to Hall, a shot that put the Saints up 1-0.

The Saints’ 1-0 edge was short-lived, as the Brakettes finally got to McGee in the bottom of the fourth and took the lead.

Denis led off with a single to right field, and ended up at third on the play thanks to a throwing error on the relay to the infield. Mandie Fishback grounded to third with one out, and was able to reach first when Hall paused to look Denis back to the bag. The fielder’s choice put runners on the corners.

Jess Mouse worked a walk to load the bases, bringing Amber Radomski to the plate in a big spot. Radomski battled to earn a base on balls, sending Denis home with the tying run. Sarah Calgreen also reached on a bases loaded walk, sending Fishback across the plate to give the Brakettes a 2-1 lead. Mouse had moved over to third on the walk, and then scored on a wild pitch to put the Brakettes up 3-1.

The Brakettes added three more runs in the fifth to provide some separation, as Waters led off with a walk. She advanced to third on a double by Denis, and both runners went home on a double by Fishback for a 5-1 lead. Jess Mouse followed with a double to score Fishback, putting the Brakettes up 6-1.

Normandin delivered a two-out double in the sixth, and came home on a single by Waters. With a 7-1 edge and Waters at first, the potential decisive run came to the plate in Denis. She came through with her third hit of the game, putting runners at first and second. Jess Serio reached on a walk to load the bases, setting the stage for Fishback.

Fishback stroked her second double of the game to score Waters and Denis, giving the Brakettes a 9-1 victory due to run-rule. Fishback finished with 4 RBI’s.

The Brakettes welcomed Brandice Balschmiter back to the club in the second game. Balschmiter pitched for the Brakettes from 2006-2008, before getting drafted by the Chicago Bandits in the first round of the 2009 NPF Draft. She spent 2009 pitching in the NPF.

Balschmiter allowed two first-inning runs, and it appeared until the late innings that those tallies would stand up.

Hall reached on a bunt single, and moved to second on a bloop single to left off the bat of Chelsey Carmody. Jen Stahlhut sacrificed both runners up a bag, putting two in scoring position with one out. Balschmiter struck out the next batter before Zoe Sinner came to the plate. Sinner grounded to the right side, and first baseman Radomski moved to her right to cut it off. Radomski bobbled the ball before trying to flip it to Waters at first base, but Waters was late to the bag and Hall came home with the first run. Carmody never stopped running on the play, and snuck home before the Brakettes could throw home.

Normandin helped the Brakettes get a run back in the bottom of the first, as she led off with a single. She stole second base and was moved to third on a sac bunt by Waters. Denis delivered another hit to score Normandin to pull the Brakettes within 2-1. After Serio singled, Saints’ pitcher Amanda Zust retired the next two batters to end the threat.

The 2-1 deficit held until the sixth, when Denis tied the ledger with her sixth homer of the year, setting up Normandin’s seventh inning heroics.

Cimminello led off the seventh with an infield single, and moved up a base on a bunt single by Lindsey Kay Bright. Normandin then closed it out with her double to score Cimminello, and the Brakettes gathered to celebrate around home plate.

The Brakettes extended their win streak to 48 games, as they improved to 49-1 on the season. They have not lost since a June 3rd defeat to the Newtown Rock Gold in the second game of Opening Night.

As the Brakettes do not have a lease agreement beyond the 2010 regular season for DeLuca Field, the Tuesday night doubleheader may end up being the final games played by the Brakettes at the field, their home since 1988.

The Brakettes will host the Polar Crush (Worcester, MA) Wednesday night at Biondi Field at West Haven (CT) H.S. in a 7:00 PM doubleheader. The Crush are coached by former Brakettes Robyn King.

Wednesday night’s games will be video webcast at brakettes.com, as will ALL games from the upcoming 2nd Annual Women's Major Softball Championship, slated for Biondi Field from this Thursday through Sunday. The Brakettes and Saints are among the leading contenders hoping to wrestle the Championship hardware away from the defending champs, the New York City Havoc.