PLAYER-COACH AMBER RADOMSKI ENJOYING HER BEST YEAR WITH BRAKETTES

July 20, 2011 - In terms of seniority, Amber Radomski is second among current members of the Stratford Brakettes softball team. However, she has been around the team a lot longer. The former Joel Barlow and American International softball standout is in her sixth year with the team and this season is her best by far, despite the fact that she is dividing her time as a player-coach.

Radomski pitched at Joel Barlow High School and AIC and she will play third base for Manager John Stratton’s Brakettes in one of Thursday night’s games against the CT Charmers 18-U Gold at 7 o’clock at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The Brakettes will be home Friday night at 7 p.m. against the Allentown Patriettes U-23 before hosting the veteran Lyons, PA, Spirit Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 12 noon.

With 10 regular-season doubleheaders remaining before the 3rd Annual Women’s Major National Softball Championship tournament August 4-7 at DeLuca Field and Short Beach Rec Complex, the Brakettes stand at 41-0 on the year. They enter tonight with a 97-game winning streak.

Radomski joined the Brakettes during the 2006 season when the organization sponsored both professional and amateur teams. She managed to make the team again in 2007 when the professional Brakettes disbanded and she has been there ever since. An Easton resident and third-year softball coach at Manhattanville College, Radomski is hitting .340 (16-for-47) with 11 RBI. Last week she hit her first home run since her rookie season. She is the only Brakettes player who has not struck out this year.

Back in her childhood years, Radomski was the team bat girl and her goal was to play for the Brakettes. She has been living that dream for the past six years. Before earning a spot on the roster, Radomski played for the 2001 Connecticut Classics U-23 team, who were sponsored by the Brakettes and won the National ASA title. After graduating from AIC in 2003 she spent two years playing professionally in Italy.

Right fielder Denise Denis, who has been with the team since 2005, has raised her batting average to .500 (45-for-90) were her recent hot streak. While she has hit seven home runs and driven in 35, she is well off the pace of team leader Stephanie Call (20 home runs and 57 RBI). Kristyn Sandberg continues to lead the Brakettes with her .522 average, while left fielder Becca Carden (.473,), Carly Normandin (.441, 37 RBI), Ashley Waters (.420, 35 RBI) and Call (.417) are the other top sticks.

Pitchers Brandice Balschmiter (14-0) and Rachele Fico (18-0) have moved up the ladder for career wins. Balschmiter is now 71-7 in five years, good for ninth place overall, while Fico, who is 61-0 in four years, recently passed both Kaci Clark (60-3) and Lisa Fernandez (60-3) and stands No. 11 overall. Cheri Kempf (65-3) currently holds the No. 10 spot.

It’s likely that the season home run record will fall this weekend as the Brakettes have hit 63 this year, just two behind the record 65. The 2003 team accomplished that feat in 70 games.

Manager Neil Swanchak’s Charmers are one of the top 18-U teams in New England and they feature many of the state’s top players, led by catcher Mariel Schlaefer, outfielder Abby Casey, and shortstop Marisa Dowling of Lauralton Hall. Schlaefer also plays with the Brakettes and tonight she will split her time between the two teams.

Tickets for the Women’s Major Softball National Championship tournament will be on sale throughout the weekend at DeLuca Field.