BRAKETTES HOST HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STARS AT DELUCA FIELD

June 16, 2011 - The unbeaten Stratford Brakettes will face the Connecticut High School all-star team tonight at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field, Stratford. The nine-inning contest begins at 6:30 p.m.

Riding a 65-game consecutive winning streak, the 9-0 Brakettes will hit the road starting Friday morning for an 11-game, six-day trip to St. Louis, highlighted by the appearance in the 46th annual Saints Invitational over the weekend. It is the longest consecutive running tournament in the country.

Manager John Stratton will divide the pitching chores tonight between Rachele Fico (2-0), Brandice Balschmiter (3-0) and Stephanie Call (3-0). The Brakettes will look to continue their torrid hitting in the friendly DeLuca Field setting with its 200-foot fence, where they hit eight home runs in six games. In last week's three-game sweep of the Lyons, PA, Spirit in Topton, PA, the Brakettes totaled seven triples as the outfield fence is 265-feet from home plate.

Friday night at Manchester, MO, Park, the Brakettes and Saints meet in a doubleheader. The two teams met in the finals of last year's Women's Major Softball National Championship with the Brakettes prevailing, 4-1, for their 29th championship. The team concludes its trip Tuesday night at Millstadt when they play a doubleheader against the Outburst of St. Peter's, MO.

Nine teams are entered in the Saints tournament with the Brakettes playing four pool play games Saturday at Millstadt, IL. They will play the East Peoria, IL, Rage at 10:45 a.m.; the Bloomington, IL, Lady Hearts at 12:30 p.m.; Travelers of McClure, MO, at 4 p.m.; and the Lady Angels of Bloomington at 5:45 p.m. Single-elimination championship play begins Sunday at 11 a.m.

Follow the Brakettes on their audio webcast on every game. Go to www.brakettes.com and click on the line for the webcast.