Heronema Goes 5-5 as Brakettes Sweep Spirit

July 24, 2011 - -by Ilan Woll

The Stratford Brakettes extended their historical winning streak to 105 games on Sunday with shutouts by Rachele Fico and Brandice Balschmiter over the Lyons (PA) Spirit. Stratford was powered by the tremendous slap hitting of Alisa Heronema and more historic home runs from Denise Denis (career number 51), Stephanie Call (23 for the year) and Carly Normandin (16, moving into 2nd place for a single-season mark), extending the 2011 record to 49-0.

Brandice Balschmiter faced off against Danielle Kitchen in game one. Brandice started off in early trouble as Karen Bauer's tap hit fell between first base and pitcher for an infield single. Bauer reached second base following a passed ball and advanced to third as Elaine Bedell grounded out to the right side. However, a nice range play from Mandy Fishback to get Denise Henderson at first saved the Brakettes from an early deficit.

Balschmiter got the drop to work the way she wanted it after that leadoff single, retiring 14 Spirit in a row prior to Caitlin Roach's double down the right field line. However, the former-UMass ace then struck out the next batter to maintain the shutout.

Meanwhile the Brakettes' bats were electric. Ashley Waters singled with one out in the first, advancing on a wild pitch. Denise Denis then hit the ball to deep left field, but was denied an extra base hit by Jenna Rau at the fence. Waters then reached third on a passed ball, and Stephanie Call walked. Mandie Fishback then singled through the infield, bringing in Waters, and Kristyn Sandberg drilled a changeup to right, bringing in Call.

The second inning saw more fireworks as Amber Radomski took a pitch low for ball four. Sarah Calgreen flew to left and Alisa Heronema provided one of her patented two-foot singles. Carly Normandin then walked, loading the bases. Waters lined a two RBI single which was then followed by a towering shot from Denise Denis over the head of Elaine Bedell in center field for her eighth home run of the year, a three run shot. 

In the third, Becca Carden singled and stole second base. Radomski tapped the ball to the pitcher for an out, advancing Becca to third. Sarah Calgreen then hit the ball to Kristin Schultz who opted to try to get Carden at the plate, but was unsuccessful. Heronema then hit the ball slowly up the middle, leaving the Spirit no means to get the Regis University speedster. Carly Normandin then plastered another ball deep to centerfield for her 16th round tripper, 2nd only to teammate Call for the Stratford single-season record and passing Germaine Fairchild, Denise Denis and Pat Dufficy who all had 15 homers. 

However, the offense continued against new Spirit pitcher Caitlin Roach. Waters doubled to left, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a deep shot from Denis which was well-played by Spirit coach Elaine Bedell. Call then walked and Fishback reached on a throwing error. Sandberg then got another RBI before Roach shut down the Brakettes in the 3rd as 12 batters came to the plate in the inning.

However, Stratford was not done yet as Sarah Calgreen doubled to left field, advanced by a solid single from Heronema and scored on a deep drive sacrifice fly from Carly Normandin which ended the Brakettes with 14 runs and 13 hits.

Brandice Balschmiter improved to 17-0, allowing only two hits and striking out eight in five innings. Meanwhile, Ashley Waters and Becca Carden had three hits each and Becca Carden contributed two.

For game 2, Mandi Rush faced off against Rachele Fico. Much like her counterpart, the LSU and Masuk High School star worked out of trouble early as Megan Greiss reached on a one out error and Elaine Bedell singled her to second base, then a passed ball put them both in scoring position. However, Fico was able to force a pop up and strikeout to end the inning without damage. 

Meanwhile, the Stratford offense began as so many others have. Carly Normandin doubled off the wall in left and scored as Ashley Waters singled in front of Elaine Bedell. Denise Denis walked. Stephanie Call singled to right center, but a powerful throw caught Denis trying to reach third. Following a walk to Mandie Fishback, Becca Carden tripled to right field, clearing the bases, but was stranded at the bag after two consecutive ground balls.

The second inning saw Fico regain her composure, striking out the side and the Brakettes also going in order. The top of the third saw Rachele overpower two more hitters before allowing a ground ball to first from Karen Bauer to end the inning.

After a fly-out to center (one of several great plays by Elaine Bedell), Stephanie Call then drilled a drop into right center, clearing the fence by twenty feet for deep drive number twenty three and a 5-0 Stratford lead. 

Both teams threatened in the fourth. After a line drive and ground out, Fico threw strike three on a drop ball to Denise Henderson, but the pitch bounced off of the plate and to the backstop, putting the veteran at first. Danielle Kitchen then helped out her teammate drawing a walk, but a strong play down the line from Melissa Mancuso ended the Lyons rally. The Brakettes meanwhile loaded the bases with one out on a double from American International's Sarah Calgreen followed by a Heronema walk and Normandin single, but Ashley Waters blooped a ball to center field which was chased down by Bedell for the second out and a shot to the pitcher ended the threat.

The pitchers dominated the rest of the way. Fico allowed a walk in the sixth inning and the Spirit's Mandi Rush allowed a single in each of the last two frames, but no runs, holding the Brakettes to their lowest score in 11 games.

The win improves Rachele Fico to 22-0 on the year, allowing just one hit and two walks in seven innings. Normandin, Call, Carden and Heronema each had two hits in the game.

The Brakettes, now 49-0 on the year, play again on Thursday against the Shoreline Sting in their final weekend before the Women's Major Softball National Championships at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. Games begin at 7:00pm and will be broadcast on Brakettes.com