Brakettes to Begin FCI Play on Friday Night

July 27, 2012 - The Stratford Brakettes will take on the California Condors on Friday night at 10 pm ET in a prep game at the 2012 Fastpitch Championship Invitational in Henderson, NV. However, many fastpitch fans are already anticipating the start of double-elimination bracket play on Saturday, and for good reason.

Softball enthusiasts won’t have to wait long to see a long-storied rivalry renewed, as a random draw at the Thursday night managers’ meeting yielded a classic first-round matchup. The Brakettes drew the SoCal Hurricanes in the Winner’s Bracket quarterfinals on Saturday morning at 11 am ET.

The Brakettes and Hurricanes combined to win the last seven ASA Major Nationals, with the tournament not being held since 2008. The Brakettes won the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007 Nationals, while the Hurricanes took the 2005 and 2008 championships.

The teams have not met since August 4, 2007, in pool play at the ASA Major Nationals in South Bend, IN, when the Brakettes prevailed 5-0. The previous meetings saw the Hurricanes defeat the Brakettes twice en route to the 2005 ASA title in Stratford, CT.

The Hurricanes have captured the first two FCI tournaments, held in 2010 and 2011.

The field at the 2012 FCI consists of seven teams, including the Brakettes and six quality squads from California. The tournament will be played on three adjacent fields at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park.

Storm USA, which lost in the championship game of the 2004 ASA Major Nationals to the Brakettes, will take on the Scorpions at 11 am ET on Saturday, while the Crusaders and Condors will battle in the other quarterfinal.

Due to the odd number of teams, one team drew a bye into the Winner’s Bracket Semis. The Corona Angels took the bye due to the draw, and will play at 12:45 ET Saturday against the winner of the Brakettes-Hurricanes contest.

All Brakettes games at the 2012 FCI will be webcast at brakettes.com.