Brakettes Post Two Wins in WMS Pool Play

August 5, 2011 - The Stratford Brakettes blasted their way to a pair of run-rule shortened victories on the first day of play in the 3rd Annual Women's Major Softball National Championships. With wins over the Blandon (PA) Shockers and CT Eliminators, the Brakettes earned a first-round bye in bracket play, and will return to action at 7:15 Friday night.

Stratford routed the Shockers in the first game of the tournament, an 8 am start. They scored nine first-inning runs and six more in the second, taking a 15-0 decision in just three innings.

Ashley Waters walked in the first inning and went to third on a bunt single by Denise Denis, who then stole second. Stephanie Call followed and drove in Waters with a sac fly for a 1-0 lead.

Mandie Fishback continued the momentum with a single to score Denis for a 2-0 edge, bringing Becca Carden to the plate. Carden reached on an infield single and Amber Radomski walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Kate Bowen.

Bowen drilled a double to score two runs, putting Stratford up 4-0. Alisa Heronema beat out a single on a bunt, but both runners had to stay put, again loading the bases. Carly Normandin drove in Radomski and Bowen with a single, stretching the lead to 6-0.

Waters singled in her second at bat of the inning and moved to second base on a throwing error on the play. The error sent Heronema home for a 7-0 advantage and pushed Normandin to third.

Denis delivered her second hit of the inning, a single to score Normandin, extending the margin to 8-0. Waters later came home with Stratford’s ninth run, when Call reached base on an error.

Carden led off the second with a single, but was forced at second on a grounder by Radomski. Bowen then served up her second homer of the year, putting Stratford up 11-0 and giving her four RBI’s for the contest.

Heronema singled and moved to second when Normandin was hit by a pitch. Denis picked up another RBI with her third hit of the game, plating Heronema for a 12-0 margin.

Call followed and smacked her 27th homer of the year, a three-run shot which closed the scoring at 15-0.

Brandice Balschmiter pitched a 1-2-3 third inning to earn the decision, a three-inning no-hitter. Balschmiter struck out five along the way and walked one, improving to 21-0 for the year.

Rachele Fico had to work longer for the win in the second game, as the Brakettes beat the CT Eliminators 8-0 in six innings. Fico struck out 11 batters and walked one, throwing another abbreviated no-hitter for the Brakettes. She upped her mark to 27-0 on the season, while improving to 70-0 in her Brakette career.

Eliminator starter Molly Rathbun got off to a quick start, striking out two Brakettes in the first inning. The Brakettes would break through, however, putting up four runs in the second with two outs.

After two quick outs in the second, Kristyn Sandberg reached on a base hit. Carden followed with a single to put two on. Melissa Mancuso drove in the game’s first run with a single to score Sandberg, moving Carden to third in the process.

Heronema came up next and reached on an error, which allowed both Carden and Mancuso to score. Normandin drove in Heronema with a double, putting Stratford up 4-0.

Stephanie Call launched her 28th homer of the year in the third, a one-out solo shot to left. Sandberg singled with two outs to extend the inning, and scored on Carden’s ninth home run of the season.

Carden’s blast stretched the lead to 7-0, but the Brakettes would not score again until the sixth. Sandberg led off the sixth with a single, her third hit of the game, and was pinch-run for by Stacey Lajoie.

Carden sacrificed Lajoie to second, and the speedy Lajoie raced to third when she saw the bag uninhabited. Mancuso picked up her second RBI and with a sac fly to score Lajoie, sealing the 8-0 win for the Brakettes.

The Brakettes return to action Friday night at 7:15 against the winner of the 10:45 matchup between the NYC Havoc and Stratford Breakers. The Brakettes will have to play just one game Friday, regardless of the result.

All games from Field #1 (DeLuca Field) at the 3rd Annual Women’s Major Softball National Championships will be video webcast at brakettes.com.