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Thursday Night
Team Canada Takes Two
 June 26, 2015 - The Stratford Brakettes dropped a pair of decisions to the Canadian National Team on Thursday night at DeLuca Field, by 9-1 and 2-0 scores. Denise Denis launched a solo shot in the opener to pull the Brakettes within 2-1, but a six-run fifth put the game away for Canada. Brandice Balschmiter contributed a solid performance in the nightcap, striking out seven in the losing effort.
Sydney Matzko (2-1) started the early game for the Brakettes, going five innings before being relieved by Laura Ricciardone.
Jenna Caira started for Canada and went four innings to earn the win, striking out four and allowing one run on two hits. Jocelyn Cater worked the last two innings and did not allow a hit.
After Matzko retired the first two batters in the top of the first, Jen Yee reached on a walk. Kaleigh Rafter followed and drilled a two-run homer to center, putting Canada ahead, 2-0.
Denis gave the Brakettes their only score of the evening with her homer in the bottom of the inning, pulling the Brakettes to within 2-1. The towering blast to right-center was the fourth of her season and 97th in her career.
Matzko settled in nicely after the two-run shot by Rafter, retiring nine of ten batters she faced, while holding Canada scoreless in the next three frames.
Team Canada struck again in the fifth, as the wheels fell off for the Brakettes.
Megan Timpf reached on a leadoff error and moved up to second on a bunt single by Larissa Franklin. Victoria Hayward drove in Timpf with a single up the middle to extend the lead to 3-1, and pushed Franklin to second. Both runners moved up a bag on a sacrifice by Joey Lye, and then scored on a base hit by Yee for a 5-1 advantage.
With two outs, Jen Salling reached on an error, which sent Yee to third. Erika Polidori drove in Yee with a single of her own, and then scored along with Salling on a base hit by Sara Riske. The lead stood at 8-1 after Canada’s six-run, fifth-inning outburst.
Franklin beat out an infield single in the top of the sixth and went to second on a base hit by Hayward. Lye worked a walk to load the bases, and Carey-Leigh Thomas sent Franklin home with an RBI groundout to the left side, closing out the scoring at 9-1.
The Brakettes were quickly retired in the bottom of the sixth, bringing the game to an end due to the run rule.
Balschmiter gave the Brakettes a great chance in the late game, as she kept Stratford close throughout. She gave up two runs on eight hits, but at times overpowered the strong Canadian lineup. However, Stratford could not capitalize on their chances at the plate.
Sara Groenewegen picked up the victory for Team Canada, going four scoreless innings, while surrendering only a pair of singles.
Hayward got Canada going again early in the first, reaching on a bunt single. She advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by Rafter, giving Canada the early 1-0 lead.
Jordan Whitley managed a single on the first pitch she saw as a Brakette in the home first, but was quickly forced out at second on a grounder to the right side. Denis had the Brakettes’ other hit, a single in the fourth. She stole second, but was stranded there to end the stanza.
After the lone tally in the first, Balschmiter kept Canada off the boards until the top of the fourth, when they tacked on one more.
Rafter doubled to left field to start the fourth, before giving way to pinch-runner Logan White. Salling sacrificed White to third, and White scored the game’s second run on a wild pitch.
After falling behind 2-0, the Brakettes tried to fight back, but continued to struggle to reach base against the Canadian hurlers.
Denis singled in the home fourth and stole second, but she was stranded there to end the frame. In fact, the last ten batters to the plate were retired in order by the Canadians, as Stratford could not mount a comeback.
The Brakettes and Team Canada will return to action with another doubleheader on Friday night at 7:00 at DeLuca Field in Stratford, CT. The teams will also match up again on Saturday at 6:00 for a pair of games.
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Thursday night, June 25th
vs. Canadian National Team |
First Game, 7:00 PM
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Second Game
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6 |
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7 |
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| CANADA |
2 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
6 |
1 |
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9 |
10 |
0 |
| BRAKETTES |
1 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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1 |
2 |
1 |
Batteries: Canada- Jenna Caira (W), Jocelyn Cater (5) and Kaleigh Rafter; Brakettes- Sydney Matzko (L, 2-1), Laura Ricciardone (6) and Elena Bowman
Homeruns: Canada- Kaleigh Rafter; Brakettes- Denise Denis (4) |
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1 |
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6 |
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7 |
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| CANADA |
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0 |
0 |
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1 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
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2 |
8 |
0 |
| BRAKETTES |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
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0 |
2 |
0 |
| Batteries: Canada- Sara Groenewegen (W), Karissa Hovinga (5) and Kaleigh Rafter; Brakettes- Brandice Balschmiter (L, 6-1) and Mary Sciglimpaglia |
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