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Friday Night
Brakettes Start Season with Twin 10-0 Sweep of Queens Lady Rangers
 June 6, 2015 - by Ilan Woll- Stratford celebrated the first rite of summer with Opening Night for the Brakettes Friday night. After a short delay, and the National Anthem sung by the Coastal Chordsmen, Brakettes season officially began.
Laura Ricciardone from Harvard took the mound and was dominant, striking out the first ten batters she faced on route to a 13 strikeout perfect game, not allowing any ball into the outfield.
For the home team, the scoring started early after a one out bunt single by the speedy Valerie Suto of Seton Hall, Denise Denis walked. Elena Bowman then hit a towering ball that landed ten feet beyond the centerfield fence for a three run homer to take an early 3-0 lead.
After threatening in the second and third, the wheels came off for the Lady Rangers as Holy Cross's Taylor Moss doubled to the fence, then scored on a Tatum Buckley single. Amber Radomski then plated her with a single. Brittany Lampert drove the ball to the gap scoring Radomski. Suto then advanced on an infield hit before Denise Denis showed some power to the left side with the team's second three run home run. Bowman then doubled off the fence before scoring on a Sarah Bencivenga sacrifice fly for the final run of the game.
Laura Ricciardone got the first win of the year for Stratford in the perfect performance. Valerie Suto had three hits and Elena Bowman, and Taylor Moss each adding two hits in the game.
In Game two Kaitlyn Derby started both ends of the double header for the Rangers, facing the Brakettes standout Brandice Balschmiter.
The first inning saw the Rangers get their first offense of the game as Shannon Minihane had an infield hit up the middle with two out. Katie Derby helped herself with a bloop single to the right side putting runners on the corners before Balschmiter got the last out. Meanwhile, Katie Petroski of Penn singled, but otherwise Stratford was unsuccessful in scoring.
 For the second, the Brakettes got on the board after a Sarah Bencivenga leadoff double deep to right centerfield. Taylor Moss then hit a drive to left field which was lost in the shadows to score a run. Moss then scored as Amber Radomski hit a line drive into the outfield. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Mary Sciglimpaglia advanced to second on a ground ball from Val Suto which handcuffed the shortstop. Katie Petroski then singled to right, driving in Sciglimpaglia. Denis then slammed the ball off the left-centerfield fence for a bases clearing double to give the home squad a 5-0 lead.
The second and third went quietly for Queens as Balschmiter retired six of seven hitters, with only Taylor Crofts reaching on a walk. Meanwhile, Delaware's Sarah Bencivenge homered to centerfield for the sixth run.
For the fourth inning, Shannon Minihan reached on an error to lead off the frame. Then with two outs, Katie Siano singled between first and second and Katherine Barbaro walked, loading the bases before Balschmiter ended the threat with a strikeout. Meanwhile, Stratford finished the inning strong. Val Suto bunt singled, Denise Denis walked, and Elena Bowman doubled in the right center gap, scoring Suto. Tufts' Cassie Ruscz singled in Bowman and Denis, then scored on a single by Taylor Moss. Katie Siano then came in in relief to retire the last two batters, but Brandice overpowered the Ranger hitters en route to the 10-0 shutout.
Balschmiter (1-0) struck out 12 in the winning effort, walking 2 and allowing only 3 hits. Sarah Bencienga had 3 hits, including a double and homer. Katie Petroski also had 2 hits.
The Brakettes will play the Lyons (Pa) Spirit in two doubleheaders over the weekend, 7pm Saturday and 11am Sunday. All games will be broadcast on Brakettes.com
| Friday night, June 5th vs. Queens Lady Rangers |
| First Game, 7:30PM - FINAL |
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Second Game - FINAL |
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Batteries: Rangers- Katie Derby (L) and Kat Barbaro; Brakettes- Laura Ricciardone (W, 1-0) and Elena Bowman
Homeruns: Brakettes- Elena Bowman (1), Denise Denis (1) |
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Batteries: Rangers- Katie Derby (L), Katie Siano (4) and Jess Menna; Brakettes- Brandice Balschmiter (W, 1-0) and Mary Sciglimpaglia
Homeruns: Brakettes- Sarah Bencivenga (1) |
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