#8
Position: P
Bats: R
Throws: R
College: Florida Atlantic
Resides: Corvallis, OR

It is easy to see how Candice Freel feels right at home playing for the Stratford Brakettes. The reason is John Stratton, the Brakettes’ highly-successful manager who was Candice’s assistant coach at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton for four years. At FAU, Freel also played for head coach Joan Joyce, the Brakettes National Hall of Fame pitcher. While her senior season at FAU was shortened because of injury, she compiled a sparkling 81-37 overall record with a 1.42 ERA. She struck out 664 batters. Her junior year was the best as Freel went 28-9 with a 0.67 ERA, the sixth best in NCAA Division I in 2004. She had 266 strikeouts in 260 innings and held opponents to a .160 batting mark. Named Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year in 2002, Candice compiled a 26-6 record with a 1.28 ERA. Upon graduation, Candice played in the Italian professional league where she played for Coronno and had an 8-8 record. Last year, Freel played for the Philadelphia Force of the National Pro Fastpitch league. She is a native of Corvallis, OR, where she gained all-league and all-state acclaim at Corvallis High School.