CONNECTICUT BRAKETTES ANNOUNCE 56-GAME SCHEDULE; TEAM OPENS PROFESSIONAL PLAY JUNE 1 AGAINST RIPTIDE

April 14, 2006 - The National Pro Fastpitch league’s Connecticut Brakettes open their inaugural season June 1 against the New England Riptide at 7:05 p.m. at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Fame Field in Stratford. The Connecticut Brakettes and New England Riptide, of Lowell, MA, will play a four-game series.

Manager John Stratton’s Brakettes will play a 52-game schedule against National Pro Fastpitch competition and three of the top national teams in the world. In addition, the Connecticut Brakettes have non-league doubleheaders on tap against their amateur club, the Stratford Brakettes (July 1), and the Dominican Republic (July 3).

“We’re really excited about our first venture into women’s professional fastpitch,” said David O. Carpenter of Westport, Chairman of the Brakettes Softball organization. “You couldn’t ask for a better home schedule, including a star-studded June to get things rolling.”

The Connecticut Brakettes will play 36 home games at DeLuca Field, the organization’s base of operations since 1988. With the exception of doubleheaders against the Stratford Brakettes, the Dominican Republic and a pair of twin-bills against Chinese Taipei, the Connecticut Brakettes will play seven-inning single games for 32 playing dates.

During the month of June the Connecticut Brakettes will host the New England Riptide, defending NPF champion Akron Racers (June 15-18) and 2005 regular-season champion Chicago Bandits (June 22-25), featuring U.S. Olympian Jennie Finch, who is expected to make two starts at DeLuca Field. Also on tap are series with Chinese Taipei (June 12-13) and China (June 27-30).

The Texas Thunder provide the NPF opposition in July (13-16), while the Philadelphia Force, the league’s other new team, visit DeLuca Field August 3-6. Canada’s national team caps the regular season August 15-18.

The NPF championship playoffs will take place August 26-27 at a site to be determined. Connecticut Brakettes single game starting times are 7:05 except Sundays when they begin at 5:05 p.m. Doubleheaders begin at 6:05 p.m.

Connecticut Brakettes ticket packages are now on sale. Additional information and order forms can be found on the Tickets page, or contact the team office at (203) 378-7262.

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