Brakettes' Offensive Fireworks Help Capture Lyons (PA) Ballfield Fourth of July Crown

July 4, 2011 - The Stratford Brakettes won three games on Sunday to capture the annual Lyons Ballfield 4th of July Tournament, defeating the Shockers (PA), Central PA Krunch and NYC Havoc on a steamy afternoon in Lyons, PA.

Stephanie Call enjoyed quite the morning in the quarter-final against the Shockers, pitching a one-hitter, while tying the Brakettes’ single-season home run record.

Call struck out eight in the game, giving up just a single to Becca Reinhardt and a walk to Jess Womig.

Carly Normandin led off the game with a single, the first of her nine hits on the day. Ashley Waters followed with an inside-the-park homer to put Stratford up 2-0. With one out, Call responded with her own inside-the-parker, tying the home run mark in her first season as a Brakette.

Call now stands even at 15 home runs with teammate Denise Denis, plus former Brakette Germaine Fairchild and National ASA Hall of Hamer Pat Dufficy.

Becca Carden ripped a second-inning triple and scored on a ground ball by Amber Radomski for a 4-0 lead. Alisa Heronema reached on an error and scored on a triple by Waters, putting Stratford ahead, 5-0. Denis drove in Waters with a base hit for a 6-0 advantage.

Heronema led off the fourth with a walk and moved to third on a single by Normandin. With runners at the corners, Waters lined her second homer of the contest, a three-run shot to left. The Brakettes’ lead stood at 9-0 heading to the fifth.

Normandin hit her third single of the game while leading off the fifth and moved up a base on a walk by Waters. Denis contributed a base hit to plate Normandin, closing the scoring at 10-0.

Call retired the side in order in the fifth for a run-rule shortened victory, improving to 5-0 on the year.

Brandice Balschmiter upped her record to 11-0 in the semi-final with a nine-strikout, two-hit performance. She gave up just a double to Cait Payne and a single to Emalie Stroup and did not surrender a walk.

Mandie Fishback singled with one out in the second inning against the Central PA Krunch and went to second a base hit by Sandberg. Carden dropped down a bunt and beat the throw to first for a single. The throw deflected away from the bag, allowing Fishback to race home for the first run.

The Brakettes scored five in the third inning, starting with consecutive singles by Normandin, Waters and Denis. Call lofted a sac fly to score Normandin for a 2-0 edge.

Fishback reached on a bunt single to again load the bases, bringing Sandberg to the plate. Sandberg launched a triple to clear the bases for a 5-0 lead.

Fishback also started the fifth-inning rally, drawing a walk and reaching base for the fourth time. Sandberg also walked to put two runners on with no outs. Carden sacrificed both runners up a base, giving Katie Bowen two runners in scoring position.

Bowen drove in Fishback and Sandberg with a single to close the scoring at 8-0 and leave the Krunch on the field.

The Brakettes met the NYC Havoc in the championship game, matching the 2009 and 2010 WMS champions against each other. The stage was set after the Havoc defeated the NY Raiders 7-3 and avenged their only pool-play loss from Saturday.

The much-anticipated final only further served to display the Brakettes’ dominance. Stratford clobbered four homers and five triples to capture the 4th of July title and improve to 29-0 on the year. The Brakettes have now won 85 games in a row.

Normandin went five-for-five in the game with a homer and four singles, while Carden and Denis contributed a home run and a triple apiece.

Normandin led off the first with a single and scored on a triple by Denis, who in turn came home on a triple by Call.

Fishback put Stratford up 3-0 with a single, and then scored on a triple by Sandberg for a 4-0 margin. Carden sent Sandberg across the plate with a single for the fifth run of the first inning.

Normandin and Denis each had solo shots in the second to put Stratford up 7-0, but the Brakettes would not score again until the fifth.

Carden, who went 3-for-4, led off the frame with a triple and scored on a three-base hit by Radomski. Heronema singled to score Radomski, giving Stratford a 9-0 lead. Normandin followed with a single, pushing Heronema to second. Heronema went to third on a groundout, then scoring on a sac fly by Denis.

Normandin drove in Carden with a single in the sixth for an 11-0 lead, before Stratford plated three more in the seventh.

Sarah Calgreen walked in the seventh and scored on Katie Bowen’s first homer as a Brakette. Carden hit her fourth long ball of the season to end the offensive onslaught at 14-0.

Rachele Fico allowed just three hits in the game as she improved to 12-0. She struck out 12 and did not walk a batter.

Nicole Adisano, Shannon Skeggs and Katie Flynn picked up the only hits for the Havoc, all singles.

The Brakettes return to action this Thursday night at 7:00 at DeLuca Field in Stratford, CT, against the New Jersey Pride. The games will be video webcast at brakettes.com.