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Brakettes Capture 2015 USSSA Invitational
 July 20, 2015 - The Stratford Brakettes outlasted the competition in the USSSA Invitational on Sunday, winning the tournament for the third year in a row at DeLuca Field in Stratford. The Brakettes defeated the CT Eliminators, 7-1, and the New York Swag, 3-0, to earn the prize.
The Brakettes were the only team without a defeat in both round-robin and bracket play, winning all five games they played on the weekend. They knocked the Swag into the loser’s bracket with the 3-0 decision, and waited to play in the scheduled 5:00 championship game. The Swag beat the CT Eliminators, 2-1, in the loser’s bracket final, but forfeited the championship game, as the Brakettes took the title in a walkover.
Sydney Matzko pitched in the morning tilt against the Eliminators, as the Brakettes kicked off their day with a 10:30 start. Matzko (8-2) struck out five and scattered three singles in the six-inning win, giving up just one unearned run in the third.
Sarah Bencivenga doubled up the middle in the home first and scored on a single by Denise Denis, giving the Brakettes a 1-0 edge.
Molly Parker started for the Eliminators and pitched well against the loaded Brakette lineup. After giving up the first-inning run, Parker retired the next two batters and then kept the Brakettes from scoring again until the fifth.
Taylor Marcotte reached on an error in the top of the third for the Eliminators, after Matzko retired the first seven batters she faced. Marcotte made it to second on a base hit by Jess Dubioso and was driven in on a single by Parker, tying the score at 1-1.
The Brakettes broke up the pitchers’ duel in the fifth, exploding for six runs on six hits.
Katie Petroski started the rally with a one-out walk and stole second base. With two outs, Taylor Moss delivered an opposite-field single to score Petroski for a 2-1 edge. Val Suto followed and delivered a looping double to left, pushing Moss to third on the play. Bencivenga singled to bring home Moss for a 3-1 lead, while sending Suto to third. Denis then singled home two more runs, stretching the advantage to 5-1. Denis moved to third on the relay throw home.
 Emily Lochten added some firepower to the offensive display, cranking a two-run homer to close out the scoring at 7-1.
Matzko kept the Eliminators off the scoreboard again in the next frame, and the game was called due to time limit after the top of the sixth.
The Brakettes met the Swag in the Winners’ Bracket Final, after New York defeated the CT Titans, 7-1.
In the final, Brandice Balschmiter and Swag starter Katie Baker traded scoreless innings for the first two innings. Neither pitcher surrendered a hit until the third, when the Brakettes hung a two up on the board.
Petroski again started the rally, reaching on a leadoff single. Mary Sciglimpaglia sacrificed her over to second, and an infield single by Suto sent Petroski to third. Bencivenga added a bunt single to load the bases, as Petroski stayed put at third.
Denis gave Stratford a 1-0 edge with a single up the middle, plating Petroski, but Suto was thrown out at home on a strong throw from center. With two runners on and two outs, Lochten doubled to score Bencivenga from second for a 2-0 lead.
Tatum Buckley gave the Brakettes another run in the fourth, when she led off and was hit by a pitch. Amber Radomski followed and reached on a fielder’s choice, and an errant throw sent Buckley to third. Buckley raced home as Petroski reached on another New York error, pushing the margin to 3-0.
Balschmiter shut the Swag down the rest of the way, and gave up just one hit in the game. She struck out nine and walked two, while improving to 11-2 on the year.
The Swag were dropped into the lower bracket after the loss, where they defeated the Eliminators, 2-1, in the Losers’ Bracket Final. The Eliminators had advanced after a 9-8 win over the CT Titans.
After the forfeit by the Swag was announced, the Brakettes were declared champs.
The Brakettes return to action on Thursday night, as part of a tripleheader of games at DeLuca Field in Stratford. They will face the CT Seahawks at 7:00, followed by the Stratford Breakers at 9:00. The Breakers and Seahawks will play each other at 5:00 to kick off the round-robin. |
Sunday, July19th
USSSA Brakettes Invitational
Bracket Play |
| 10:30 AM vs. CT Eliminators |
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12 noon vs. New York Swag
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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4 |
5 |
6 |
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7 |
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R |
H |
E |
| ELIMINATORS |
0 |
0 |
1 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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1 |
3 |
0 |
| BRAKETTES |
1 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
6 |
x |
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7 |
10 |
1 |
Batteries: Eliminators- Molly Parker (L) and Kristen Ryan; Brakettes- Sydney Matzko (W, 8-2) and Elena Bowman
Homerun: Brakettes- Emily Lochten (4)
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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4 |
5 |
6 |
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7 |
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R |
H |
E |
| NY SWAG |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
1 |
4 |
| BRAKETTES |
0 |
0 |
2 |
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1 |
0 |
x |
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3 |
6 |
0 |
| Batteries: Swag- Katie Baker and Christine Martinez; Brakettes- Brandice Balschmiter (W, 11-2) and Mary Sciglimpaglia |
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