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BRAKETTES OPEN HOME STAND; SEEK TO STOP RECORD LOSING STREAK
 July 2, 2015 - STRATFORD - What's wrong with the Stratford Brakettes? They've lost five in a row. If you ask Manager John Stratton he will tell you, “nothing that a few wins won't cure.” At this stage of the season they stand 14-6 overall, something unheard of during the past five seasons when the Brakettes rolled to a 306-8 overall record and five consecutive Women's Major Softball National Championships.
Last weekend talented Team Canada swept all five games from the Brakettes before leaving for the World Cup of Softball in Irvine, CA. The Brakettes open a four-game home stand Thursday night against the Connecticut Seahawks at 7 p.m. at Frank DeLuca Hal of Fame Field. On Friday the New York Swag comes to town for a 7 p.m. twin-bill. The previous record for consecutive losses was four back in 1976 when Stratton took over for ailing manager Ralph Raymond and led the club to an unexpected ASA National crown.
The Brakettes have a young and enthusiastic roster, but they do not resemble the powerhouse ball clubs of recent years. Since 2010 the Brakettes have compiled records of 57-1, 63-0, 68-3, 68-0, and 50-4. However, they have seen 38 players from those squads hang up their cleats or head to the National Pro Fastpitch league.
“I expect by the end of the season we will be the favorite at nationals (August 6-9 at DeLuca Field),” added Stratton. “You just don't recover all at once from what we've had to replace.”
Since they began their torrid pace five years ago, the Brakettes have lost six players to the NPF, including last year's pitching ace Allyson Fournier (23-2, 295 strikeouts). Five-year pitcher Rachele Fico (94-1, 916 K's), pitchers Whitney Canion, Sara Plourde and Emily Weiman, and catcher Kristyn Sandberg (.479 average, 64 RBI) have also gone to the NPF.
Fico, Fornier, Bailey Sanders (36-1), Call (36-0), Canion (7-0), Sam Greiner (27-0), Weiman (10-0) and Plourde (1-0) combined for a 234-4 mound record. In addition, the Brakettes have said goodbye to four batting champions in Carly Normandin (.430 career average, 176 RBI), Becca Carden (.430, 24 home runs, 76 RBI), Alisa Heronema (.468), and Call (.457, 79 home runs, 263 RBI). Denise Denis, in her ninth year, won last year's batting title at .407. She is the all-time career home run leader with 97.
Stratton has had to replace his keystone combo of eight-year shortstop Mandie Fishback (.395 career average, 370 RBI) and six-year second baseman Ashley Waters (.383, 261 RBI). Jessica Mouse patrolled third base for six years and compiled a .422 average with 194 RBI, while two-year utility player Elise Fortier hit. 457 and hit 40 home runs and had 157 RBI.
Call, Waters, Fortier and Normandin all rank in the Top Eight in home runs all-time for the Brakettes, while Fishback is sixth all-time in RBI. And then there's Norwalk's Jill Cimminello (.325 career, 73 RBI), Newtown's Kate Bowen (.344, 104 RBI) and Brookfield's Mariel Schlaefer of Lauralton Hall fame (.337 average) who made big contributions during the recent surge.
While Stratton relies on veteran outfielder Denis and pitching standout Brandice Balschmiter (6-2 this year and 145-7 overall) to lead this year's club he is confident that others will step up. “We have already played the toughest portion of our schedule. It was a baptism under fire for our nine first-year players. I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for us because we will be back.”
BRAKETTES BRIEFS- Team Canada opened play in the World Cup with a tough 3-2 loss to Japan, but they bounced back to defeat the U.S. Junior Women, 4-1. Canada manager Mark Smith was offered the chance to pitch for the Raybestos Cardinals back in 1977 but opted to play for the Lakewood, CA, Chameleons and he led them to two ISC World crowns. He is a member of both the ISC and Canadian Halls of Fame.
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