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BRAKETTES HOST ST. LOUIS SAINTS AT DELUCA FIELD IN TOURNEY TUNEUP
 August 3, 2015 - Whenever the St. Louis Saints come to town, the Stratford Brakettes know they will be in for a tough game. Tuesday night should be no different as veteran Manager Ed Martz leads the Saints into Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field for a 6:30 p.m. doubleheader with the Brakettes.
The Saints enter with a 22-5 overall record, after finishing third in the National Softball Association's tournament last weekend in Peoria, IL. This is the seventh time since 2008 that Martz, now in his 56th year as manager, has brought the Saints to DeLuca Field to meet the Brakettes. It will be the sixth time the Saints are entered in the Women's Major Softball National Championship tournament, which runs Thursday through Sunday at DeLuca and the Short Beach Rec Complex. They have finished runner-up five times, including last year when they lost to the Brakettes in the finals.
Prior to last year's WMS event, the Saints split a pre-tournament doubleheader with the Brakettes, losing the opener 4-2 and then beating 2014 ace Allyson Fournier 5-3 in the nightcap as they scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning. That victory snapped the Brakettes' record home field winning streak at 241 games.
“Ed always puts together a solid team,” said Brakettes Manager John Stratton, who has piloted this year's team to a 36-6 overall record and currently rides a 22-game winning streak. He has his two top pitchers from last year back, Taylor Lockwood and Wendy Macias, who owns the win over the Brakettes.
“We have gone through a little rebuilding job this year. While we lost virtually our entire infield, we still have a very talented team,” added Martz, whose team finished third in the inaugural WMS tournament in 2009. Kelly Kapp and Lockwood are two all-tournament team selections from the 2014 WMS tourney.
The Brakettes tuned up for the tournament by sweeping the Lyons, PA, Spirit 8-1 and the NYC Havoc 9-1 on Sunday in Staten Island, NY. They pounded out 26 hits in the twin-bill sweep that saw Laura Ricciardone (12-2, 0.91 ERA) and Brandice Balschmiter (14-2, 0.32) pick up the wins. Sydney Matzko (9-2, 1.59) is the other member of the Brakettes' dynamic pitching staff.
Since the Brakettes lost a record five straight games to Team Canada (June 25-27) they have not lost. “Those losses made our season,” added Stratton. “It showed our new kids how hard you have to work to be successful. Nothing is just given to you at this level.” Team Canada proved to be the real deal as they handed Team USA its only two setbacks this summer, including a 4-2 defeat in last week's Pan American Gold Medal game.
The 2015 batting title race figures to be a two-way battle between center fielder Val Suto (.441) and DH/outfielder Brittany Lampert (.435) of Shelton. Right fielder Denise Denis (.385), left fielder Katie Petroski (.377) of Seymour, infielder Sarah Bencivenga (.368) and Norwalk's Mary Sciglimpaglia (.362) are the other top hitters.
Denise has a comfortable lead with 43 RBI, while Bencivenga and shortstop Emily Lochten are next with 32 followed by Torrington's Cassie Ruscz with 30 and catcher Elena Bowman with 28. Bowman has seven home runs and trails all-time leader Denis by one.
The Brakettes will continue their policy of admitting all youth league teams, boys and girls, and their coaches free throughout the tournament. All WMS games played at DeLuca Field will be streamed on the Brakettes website, www.brakettes.com.
The 7th annual WMS tournament begins Thursday with eight pool play games on tap, followed by three more Friday before the start of bracket play. Opening ceremonies start at 5:45 p.m.
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Sunday, August 2nd
at The College of Staten Island
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2:25 PM vs. Lyons Spirit
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4:15 PM vs. NYC Havoc
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Batteries: Brakettes- Laura Ricciardone (W, 12-2) and Mary Sciglimpaglia; Spirit- Jenn Shellhammer, Danielle Thacker (4, L), Liz Parkins (6) and Kim Fryer
Homerun: Brakettes- Mary Sciglimpaglia (1) |
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Batteries: Brakettes- Brandice Balschmiter (W, 14-2) and Elena Bowman; Havoc- Alyson Chiaramonte (L), Nicole Flint (7) and Linsey DeDomenico
Homerun: Brakettes- Elena Bowman (7) |
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