Brakettes Close Out Weekend 6-0

June 6, 2011 - The Stratford Brakettes capped off Opening Weekend 2011 with a pair of victories on Sunday, defeating the Newtown Rock 4-1 and the Stratford Seahawks 7-0. Mandie Fishback smashed a homer and a double against the Seahawks and went 5-for-6 on the afternoon.

The contests represented games two and three of a round robin, triple-header between the three squads. The Rock held off the Seahawks in the first game of the day for a 4-2 victory.

For the second game in a row, Lauren Gaskill led off the top of the first with a single off Rachele Fico. Gaskill was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Dee Devine and stole third. She came home to score on a wild pitch, putting the Newtown Rock up 1-0.

Fico dominated the rest of the matchup, striking out 15 batters and allowing just two walks and a bunt single the rest of the way. She improved to 2-0 for the season with the victory.

The Brakettes provided Fico with more support than in Saturday's game, pounding out 12 hits.

Alisa Heronema got the Brakettes going in the third with a leadoff bunt single. Carly Normandin drove her in with an opposite field double, her second of the game, tying the score at 1-1. Ashley Waters picked up a base hit to score Normandin from second base for a 2-1 lead.

Waters moved to second on a walk by Denise Denis and reached third on a groundout by Stephanie Call. Waters pushed the margin to 3-1 when she scored on a ground ball to first base by Jordan Paolucci.

The Brakettes added some insurance in the fifth as Call reached with a one-out single. Melissa Mancuso came in for Call as a pinch-runner and went first-to-third on a blast off the top of the centerfield fence by Paolucci. The ball quickly caromed back to Ashley Black, who held Paolucci at first with a strong throw to second. Mancuso closed out the scoring when she raced home on an infield single by Becca Carden.

Devine had a hit and a stolen base for the Rock, while Ashley Alden and Alexis Gaskill reached base on walks.

Normandin finished with three hits in the game and a stolen base. Fishback had a pair of singles, while Katie Bowen and Denis also contributed base hits.

Brandice Balschmiter also allowed just four baserunners in the second game, striking out 17 Seahawks en route to her third win in as many tries.

Sheri Paci led the Seahawks with a single and a walk, reaching third base in both the first and fourth frames. Balschmiter was able to get out of both jams with big strikeouts. Erin Fisher had the other hit off Balschmiter, and Gina Treglia also earned a base on balls.

Fishback led the charge against the Seahawks, scoring three runs and going 3-for-3. She led off the second inning with a double and moved to third on a sac bunt by Carden. Fishback came home on a fielding error when Mancuso grounded to the left side, giving the Brakettes a 1-0 lead.

Call started a rally in the fourth with a single and moved up a bag on a base hit by Fishback. Carden again laid down a solid sacrifice, moving the runners to second and third. Mancuso reached again on a fielder’s choice, as Call and Fishback stayed put. Sarah Calgreen followed with a double to left-center to score two runs and put the Brakettes up 3-0. Mancuso reached third on the drive and scored on a single by Normandin, pushing the margin to 4-0.

Denis reached on an error in the fifth and was pinch-run for by Heronema. With one out, Fishback smashed her first long ball of the year to left for a 6-0 lead.

Normandin had her third double of the afternoon with one out in the sixth inning. She reached third on a wild pitch and scored on a fielder's choice by Heronema, closing out the scoring at 7-0.

Balschmiter struck out the side in the seventh to end the game. With the weekend sweep, the Brakettes extended their winning streak to 62 games.

The Brakettes (6-0) will return to action next weekend in Lyons, PA against the Lyons Spirit. Tune in at 7:00 Saturday night and Sunday at 12 noon for live broadcasts of the doubleheaders right here at brakettes.com.