BRAKETTES HIT THE ROAD FOR 33rd TOPTON TOURNEY JUNE 29 THROUGH JULY 1
Riding a seven-game winning streak heading into a Wednesday (June 27) home doubleheader with the Breakers at DeLuca Field, the Stratford Brakettes will be on the road for the holiday weekend. The team will participate in the 33rd annual Topton, PA, July 4th Invitational tournament Friday, June 29 through Sunday, July 1 at the Lyons Fire Company Field.
"This is always one of the best run tournaments in the country," said Manager John Stratton. "We enjoy playing there. They have outstanding fans and they like to see the Brakettes play. They may not always root for us, but we appreciate playing in such a high-caliber event."
Eighteen teams will be competing at Topton, including the Connecticut Classics. Also, the Breakers, Hamden Eclipse and Stratford Seahawks will be vying for top honors. In addition to the Brakettes, the host Topton VIPs, Allentown Pates and Montclair, NJ, Majestics are other pre-tourney favorites.
The Brakettes open the tourney on Friday night at 10 p.m. against the Milton, PA, Stars. A victory sends them into the second round at 9:30 a.m. Saturday against the Xplosion of New Jersey. The quarter-final round opponent will be either the Adirondack Ice or Eclipse at 3:30 p.m. with the Pates, Seahawks and Raiders in the lower bracket.
The Classics have a tough opener against the Majestics at 8 a.m. Saturday at Field #2. If Jerry Katona's club prevails, they will face either Topton or the Breakers, who meet Friday at 8:30 p.m., on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Long Island Angels, Kars Aces and Divas are three touted teams in the lower part of the bracket.
The Brakettes have played in the tourney four times since 1991, when they went 6-0 and beat Puerto Rico 1-0 in 11 innings for the title. The 1997 team finished third at 4-2, while the 1998 club had a 5-0 record and beat Topton for the crown. Topton avenged that defeat in 1999 when they went 5-0 and the Brakettes (3-2) finished runnerup. In 1998, Jen Smith was the tourney's MVP and Danielle Henderson the Most Valuable Pitcher.
Women's ASA 23-and-UNDER Nationals Expected to Draw 15 teams for July 27-29 Meet
While the deadline for the second annual Women's ASA 23-and-Under National Tournament is fast approaching, Stratford Tournament Director Patricia Patusky expects between 12 and 15 teams in the field, which will be played at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field and the Short Beach Recreation Complex July 27-29.
The Connecticut Classics will be one of the co-hosts for the tourney. State teams in the field are the Stratford Seahawks, Hamden Eclipse, Stratford Breakers, Tradition of Hamden and Chaos of Stamford.
New Hampshire is expected to send three representatives, while the Northeast Magic of Albany, NY, and Redbirds Girls Softball Club of Reston, VA, are also entered. Patusky is expecting the top three finishers from last year's tourney to return.
Following a draw breakfast on Friday, July 27, the tourney begins at 6:30 p.m. at DeLuca. A doubleheader also is on tap at Short Beach, starting at 7 p.m. The championship game is set for 5 p.m. Sunday, July 29 at DeLuca Field.
BRAKETTES TO ANNOUNCE ADDITION OF IMPACT PLAYER WITHIN A WEEK
The Brakettes will announce the addition of an impact player to their 2001 roster within the next week to 10 days, according to General Manager/Coach Bob Baird and Manager John Stratton.
"Once we receive our roster form back, we will introduce her to the Brakettes softball family. I know everyone will be delighted with the news. This young lady already is a star and she will be one of the key players on the 2004 Olympic team," said Stratton. "In addition to her softball talents, she is a quality person. She will be a wonderful addition to our program. We expect she will be another in the long line of standouts in the Brakettes tradition and fan favorite for years to come."
BRAKETTES BRIEFS
Catcher Keri McCallum and outfielder Kellie Wilkerson both made the USA National Blue Team, one of two all-star teams competing in the Canada Cup June 28-July 8. They will be back in Stratford July 11-24 before they depart for Venezuela and the Pan American Game Trials July 28-August 5. . .All former Brakettes players are invited to attend the July 13-14 weekend series with the Phoenix Storm. We will recognize all of those in attendance in pre-game ceremonies. Former players should contact John Stratton (203) 378-6623 or call the Brakettes office (203) 378-7262 to let us know if you can make it.
Whenever a Brakettes player hits a home run at DeLuca Field, she will receive a free pizza from Lordship Pizza, which is located at 346 Stratford Road in Lordship, just two miles from the ballpark. The pizza is compliments of owner Bo Ernst. Lordship Pizza has a complete menu of Italian foods, chicken, burgers and salads. Call (203) 375-7234. . .Erica Sobel, a utility infielder, has been added to the Brakettes roster. She is from Worcester, Mass., and will be a senior at the University of Maine in the fall, where she is the team's starting shortstop. Erica filled in for two weekends when we were missing several players, impressed Manager John Stratton and landed a spot on the roster. . .The Northeast Seaboard Women's Fastpitch League tourney is August 3-5 at DeLuca Field. On Friday night, August 3, the Brakettes will host the league all-stars in a 7 p.m. doubleheader. The round robin tourney begins Saturday at 8 a.m. and continues through Sunday night with 14 games on tap. . .It will be Lordship Father's Club Day with the Brakettes on July 8 against Topton and Sterling House Community Center Day Camp Night July 25 against the Classics.
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DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMP PHOENIX STORM VISITS TOWN JULY 13-14 FOR 4-GAME SERIES
The highlight of the 2001 softball season will take place on Friday night, July 13 and Saturday night, July 14 as the defending National Champion Phoenix Storm comes to Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field for a pair of doubleheaders. Games both days will start at 7 p.m.
The Storm and Brakettes have met three times in the past two years with Phoenix on top 2-1. Phoenix eliminated the Brakettes, 3-1, in the loser's bracket of last year's championship tourney in Clearwater, FL. It then went on to beat Team Texas twice to capture the title. In 1999 at DeLuca Field, the Storm finished runnerup to the California Commotion.
The Storm is managed by Rick Beach, who is the Rocky Mountain ASA Commissioner and the tournament director for the ASA National Women's Major Tournament, August 15-19, in Phoenix, AZ. Pitching is the name of the game and the Storm is loaded in that department.
Jennie Finch of LaMirada, CA, who led the University of Arizona to the College World Series title with a 1-0 win over UCLA on May 27 in Oklahoma City, leads the Storm into action. She had a 32-0 record for the Wildcats this year and has won 40 straight games dating back to April, 2000.
Joining Finch on the staff are two pitchers she faced en route to the NCAA crown. UCLA freshman Keira Goerl saw limited action behind Cortney Dale and Amanda Freed, but she will be in the starting rotation next year. Goerl, who was the winning pitcher for Phoenix last year in the finals, had an outstanding career at Valley View High in Moreno Valley, CA. She registered a 76-11 record with 24 no-hitters, eight perfect games and 66 shutouts. She was a NFCA Scholastic All-America in 2000. Another Storm pitcher is Arizona State star Erica Beach, a lefty. Beach fashioned a 17-11 record with a 1.35 ERA for the Sun Devils. The junior also hit .299 with 47 hits and 34 RBI.
The ticket window will open at 5:30 p.m. both nights. There will be an advance ticket sale during the week. Call the Brakettes office at (203) 378-7262 for information.
Booster Club Picnic Set for July 25th
The Booster Club picnic is set for Wednesday night, July 25 at DeLuca Field. It begins at 4:30 p.m. and is open to all Brakettes and Classic players and booster club members. Desserts are welcomed!
STRATFORD BRAKETTES FUTURE ATTRACTIONS
Friday, July 6, 7:30 p.m. doubleheader
vs. Adirondack Ice
Saturday, July 7, 7 p.m. doubleheader
vs. Topton VIP
Sunday, July 8, 1 p.m. doubleheader
vs. Topton VIP
Wednesday, July 11, 7 p.m. doubleheader
vs. Connecticut Classics
Friday, July 13, 7 p.m. doubleheader
vs. Phoenix Storm
Saturday, July 14, 7 p.m. doubleheader
vs. Phoenix Storm
Don't Miss Out on Updated Brakettes' History Book
For the first time since the mid-1980's, the Brakettes History and Record Book has been updated. There are highlights for all 54 years in team history, expanded records, All-Americans and more. For the first time ever, this book features rosters of every Brakettes team from 1947-2000. This 102-page book is on sale for $12. There is a limited supply, so be sure to buy your copy early. The 2001 Program Book is also available. Booster Club members are asked to stop by the souvenir stand to receive their complimentary copy.
Visit our Souvenirs page for more information.
BRAKETTES SOFTBALL CLINICS
The Brakettes will conduct six softball clinics from June 25-July 17 at DeLuca Field. John Stratton is the Clinic Director while members of the team and staff will be working at them. The clinics are for girls age 10 through high school seniors. There are two identical Beginning Pitching sessions (June 25-26) and (July 2-3); two identical Advanced Pitching Sessions (July 5-6) and (July 9-10); Offense/Hitting (July 12-13) and Defense/Fielding (July 16-17). All sessions are two days from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Call the Brakettes office (203) 378-7262 for information/brochures.
Robustelli World Travel: Our Agents
The Brakettes will be attending the National ASA Championships in Phoenix, AZ, August 13-20. For information on tickets and lodging, call Robustelli World Travel at (203) 352-0500 or write to them at: 30 Spring Street, Stamford, CT 06901. Ask for Rick Robustelli, #6 Emily's Dad!
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