Brakettes 2-0 in Lyons Ballfield (PA) 4th of July Tourney as Becca Carden Hits for Cycle

July 2, 2011 - The Stratford Brakettes improved to 24-0 on the season with a pair of Saturday victories in the annual Lyons Ballfield Fourth of July Tournament. Stratford beat the Black Widows (PA) 11-0 in five innings in the 8:30 game and defeated the Jersey Fusion 6-1 in a 12 noon matchup.

Becca Carden became the first Brakette to hit for a cycle since Donna McLean in 1996 in the second game, as she belted a home run, triple, double and a single in that order on just four pitches.

Brandice Balschmiter picked up the victory in the first game, her ninth of the year in as many tries. She struck out 12 Black Widows in five frames, allowing just two hits and a walk.

Stratford took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, after Denise Denis roped a two-out double. Stephanie Call then smashed her 14th homer of the year, putting her within one of the Brakettes’ single-season record.

Kristyn Sandberg led off the second with a double and scored on a two-base hit by Becca Carden. Amber Radomski moved Carden to third, and Katie Bowen sent Carden home with a sac fly for a 4-0 edge.

The Brakettes scored five in the third inning, as Denis led off with a single. Call reached on a walk, and both runners moved up a bag on a sac bunt by Mandie Fishback. Sandberg then blooped a single to score Denis and push Call to third.

Carden contributed her second extra-base hit to break the game open, hitting a two-run triple to left field. Call and Sandberg came home on the shot for a 7-0 margin. Radomski followed with a single to score Carden, giving the Brakettes an 8-0 lead.

Katie Bowen reached on a single to right, sending Radomski to third. Carly Normandin stretched the lead to 9-0 with a sac fly to plate Radomski.

Denise Denis walked and scored on an error in the fourth for a 10-run lead, and Fishback drove in Normandin in the fifth with a base hit to close out the scoring at 11-0. Normandin reached base on a single and moved to second on a walk by Stacey Lajoie.

Kayla Merlinsky reached on a single and a base on balls, while Gabby Ziller had the Black Widows’ other base hit.

Stratford scored one run in each of the first four innings of the 12:00 contest and two in the fifth.

Waters roped a one-out triple to left-center in the first inning, scoring the Brakettes’ first run on a single by Denis.
Carden began her impressive feat with an inside-the-park homer to the opposite field in the second, giving the Brakettes a 2-0 lead.

Waters led off the third with a double and moved to third on a sac bunt by Denis. After Call reached on a walk, Waters sped home on a wild pitch for a 3-0 margin.

Carden continued on her path toward a cycle with a leadoff single in the fourth. She scored on a fielder’s choice groundout by Normandin for a 4-0 advantage.

Fishback started the fifth with a single and scored on a triple to the fence by Sandberg. Carden responded with a double to right field, scoring Sandberg to push the lead to 6-0.

The Brakettes finally allowed a run after a scoreless streak of 91+ innings, when Christina Sykora raced home with one out in the seventh inning for the Fusion. Sykora singled to right field and reached second on an error. She was driven home from second base on a single by Sara DiMeglio, ending the impressive stretch for Brakette pitchers.

Rachele Fico improved to 11-0 by winning the second game, striking out 13 along the way. She scattered three singles and did not allow a walk, while giving up just the one unearned run.

The Brakettes have two games left on Saturday afternoon, at 2:00 against the Central PA Krunch and will play at 5:00 vs. the Diamondbacks.

All of the Brakettes’ game at the Lyons Ballfield Fourth of July Tournament will be broadcast (AUDIO ONLY) at brakettes.com.