BRAKETTES' WIN STREAK IN JEOPARDY vs. ROCK

July 13, 2011 - The Stratford Brakettes' 91-game winning streak will be on the line Thursday night when they face the Newtown, PA, Rock Gold in a 7 o’clock doubleheader at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The two teams meet again Friday at 7 before the Rock plays in the Wicked College Showcase over the weekend in Newtown, CT. The Brakettes also play a doubleheader Saturday against the Shoreline Sting at 7.

Back on June 4, 2010 the Gold notched a 7-3 win over the Brakettes. It was the last time Manager John Stratton’s club tasted defeat. They ran the table with 56 straight wins and they have opened this season with a 35-0 record. This June 4, the Brakettes rallied for three runs with two outs in the seventh inning to earn a 4-3 win over the Rock and keep the streak alive.

Newtown Rock features a veteran team with most of last year’s players back from an eighth-place finish in the ASA 18-Under Gold tournament in Oklahoma City. Since that tournament, where they went 9-2, the Gold have lost only three times, all three games at the hands of the Brakettes to open this year.

“They have a great program,” said Stratton. “All but two of their 16 players have college scholarships next fall or they have committed for the following year. The two that don’t are only sophomores. They are the best in the East and they’ve already defeated several top California teams.” Rick Waye is the Rock’s manager and he is assisted by former Brakettes coach Rich Roessner, who spent seven years with Stratton.

While the Brakettes have been receiving excellent pitching from Rachele Fico (15-0), Brandice Balschmiter (12-0) and Stephanie Call (7-0) and tremendous hitting, the only thing Stratton is a bit concerned about is his defense. “We’ve made way too many errors this year. The defense has to improve if we are to defend our championship next month,” said Stratton. The Brakettes will host the third annual Women’s Major Softball National Championship at DeLuca Field and Short Beach Rec Complex August 4-7.

One of the hottest hitters lately is first-year left fielder Becca Carden, a graduate of the University of Arkansas who led her team with a .339 average this spring. The native of Miami, Oklahoma has moved into third in the batting race behind catcher Kristyn Sandberg (.561, 25 RBI) and 2008 batting champion Denise Denis (.480, 26 RBI). Carden, who has already hit for the cycle this year, is batting .464 with 45 hits, 25 runs scored and 15 extra base hits. She also has driven in 19 runs, but with such a deep lineup, Becca bats number seven in the order. Alisa Heronema has also impressed in her first season with a .444 average.

The 2011 edition might be the best hitting team in Brakettes’ history. Last weekend, the team belted nine home runs to move into second place all-time with 49 in a season. The 2003 club holds the mark with 65. Call hit her record-setting 16th home run last Sunday, breaking a tie with Pat Dufficy, Germaine Fairchild and Denis at 15.

Right-hander Susan Wysocki, who will be a high school junior, is the Rock’s top pitcher. She already has committed to South Florida. Sam Greiner (South Florida) and Jessica Epler (Delaware) are the other pitchers for the Rock, which have already qualified for the ASA Nationals next month.

     BRAKETTES BRIEFS - Tickets for the WMS tournament will be on sale at all home games the remainder of the season... Last year the Brakettes won five of six games against the Rock opening weekend, but they surrendered 24 runs. In the remaining 52 games they allowed only 15. This year, the Brakettes have given up only six runs, with just one unearned run allowedin the last 22 games.