Brakettes Capture Two from NYC Havoc as Alumnae Weekend Kicks into Full Gear

July 10, 2011 - The 2011 Stratford Brakettes showed off for their predecessors on Saturday night, twice defeating the NYC Havoc in front of their largest crowd of the year, as Alumnae Weekend kicked into full gear.

The Brakettes defeated the Havoc 14-0 and 8-0 in front of more than 80 of their former players, including nine of the team’s ASA National Hall of Famers.

Carly Normandin started the Brakettes’ three-run, first-inning rally with a single. Ashley Waters contributed a single of her own to move Normandin over to second. With one out, Stephanie Call delivered a base hit to plate Normandin for a 1-0 edge. Mandie Fishback then grounded out to second, allowing both Waters and Call to move up.

Kristyn Sandberg belted another base hit to score Waters and Call, closing out the first inning with a 3-0 lead for the Brakettes.

After Stratford did not score in the second inning, Denis started the home third with a single to right. Call reached on a fielder’s choice, as the Havoc unsuccessfully tried to get the lead runner at second. Fishback beat the throw on a well-placed bunt, reaching with a single and sending Call to second. Denis ran around third and slipped while trying to get back to the bag, getting tagged out as she tried to dive back in.

Sandberg again singled to load the bases for Becca Carden, who grounded out to the right side. Carden picked up an RBI on the ground ball, as Call raced home with the Brakettes’ fourth run. Fishback reached third base on the play and eventually scored on a passed ball, putting Stratford up 5-0.

Denis picked up a two-run single in the fourth inning to score Katie Bowen and Waters, after both players reached on singles. After Call reached on a walk, Denis came home on a fielder’s choice grounder by Fishback for an 8-0 advantage. Sandberg came up next and smacked her third single of the game to score Call, stretching the Stratford lead to 9-0.

Call added to the tally with an RBI single in the fifth, scoring Bowen, who was hit by a pitch. Denis also singled and moved over on Call’s base hit. Fishback responded with her third home run of the season, putting the Brakettes up 13-0.

Sandberg immediately followed with a homer, closed out the scoring with a solo shot. She went 4-for-4 in the game, driving in four runs.

Brandice Balschmiter scattered three hits to pick up the win. She fanned 10 batters and walked none, while improving to 12-0 on the 2011 campaign.

Ashley Frange, Betsy White and Nicole Adisano had the base hits for the Havoc.

The Brakettes topped the Havoc in five innings again in the second game, closing out the scoring with a run in the fifth to leave New York City on the field.

Stratford opened up a big lead early, scoring four runs in the first frame. Normandin led off with a single and scored on a double by Waters. After the next two batters were retired, Carden drove Waters in with a base hit for a 2-0 lead.

Carden stole second base to move into scoring position, bringing Alisa Heronema to the plate. Heronema earned a walk, and moved up a base along with Carden on a wild pitch.

Melissa Mancuso delivered a run-scoring single to send Carden home, and Heronema also scored on a throwing error on the play. The error sent Mancuso to second, but the Havoc got out of the inning without any further damage.

The Brakettes added a second-inning run with some small ball. Normandin was hit by a pitch and then stole second. She came home on a single by Denis to stretch the lead to 5-0.

The Havoc had their only threat in the fourth inning, when Liz Strein reached on an error. Katie Flynn followed with a shot that almost left the park. Her blast to left-center hit the fence and pushed Strein to third. With two runners in scoring position, Rachele Fico retired the next two batters to get out of trouble.

Stratford scored two more times in the fourth inning. After Call walked with one out, Fishback singled, putting runners at first and second. Carden reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases.

Heronema grounded to Flynn, who threw home from third to get the force out on Call. Mancuso then grounded to the right side, and Fishback and Carden raced home when the ball was misplayed at second base. The Stratford lead stood at 7-0 entering the fifth inning.

Stacey Lajoie walked to lead off the home fifth. Normandin reached on a fielder’s choice, but Lajoie was forced out at second on the play. Waters then doubled, moving Normandin to third. Katie Bowen delivered a single to score Normandin to end the game via the run-rule, 8-0.

Fico improved to 14-0 on the season with the seven-strikeout, one-hit performance. She did not issue any walks and allowed just two batters to reach base.

The Brakettes, now 33-0, will take on the Havoc again on Sunday, with a doubleheader starting at 1:00. All Brakettes’ home games are video webcast at brakettes.com.