CONNECTICUT BRAKETTES DEFEAT FORCE, 3-1, IN 8 INNINGS TO RECORD FIRST NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH WIN

June 10, 2006 - ALLENTOWN, PA- The Connecticut Brakettes scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to record a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Force in their first official National Pro Fastpitch game Saturday night at Bicentennial Park.

Stephanie Best's sacrifice fly and Kellie Wilkerson's opposite field single produced the runs for the Brakettes, who needed extra innings to record their initial NPF win after seven consecutive postponed games because of rain and wet field conditions.

"This was a great win for our ballclub," said Manager John Stratton. "The kids have been waiting to get going for the last eight days. I’m glad we finally got to play. Everyone played super, especially winning pitcher Sarah Pauly."

Pauly scattered four hits and struck out five batters for the Brakettes, who return to action tonight at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field against the Chinese Taipei Olympic team, the fifth-rated national team in the world, in a 6 p.m. doubleheader.

Catcher Callie Piper led off the top of the eighth by working loser Jen Stewart for a walk. Ninth hitter Denise Denis tried unsuccessfully to bunt Piper into scoring position before she lined a 1-1 pitch to the gap in right center field. Only a nice defensive play by Chelsea Spencer prevented Piper from scoring.

With runners on second and third base, Stewart got leadoff hitter Kelly Kretschman to line to first base. Best swung at the first pitch and hit a towering fly to right center to drive in pinch-runner Stephanie Hill for a 2-1 Brakettes lead with Denis moving over to third base.

Wilkerson, a member of the USA National Team, just missed a single to right field on a 1-2 pitch before she drilled the next offering into left field for a 3-1 lead.

Pauly retired the Force in order in the eighth, getting Team USA shortstop Natashia Watley on a ground out to start the frame. She then struck out Carrie Leto and got Emily Friedman on a liner to Kretschman in center field.

The Force took a 1-0 lead in the third inning as Leto singled to left field to drive in Jaime Dacey. The Brakettes evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth as Jessica Merchant drilled a 250-foot home run to left field with two outs.

Stewart (0-2) had relieved starter Lauren Bay, who left after one inning with an injury. Bay had three strikeouts, and allowed a single by Best and a walk.

The Force dropped to 0-4.

BRAKETTES 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 - 3 -4 - 0
FORCE          0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 1- 4 - 0
Sarah Pauly (1-0) and Callie Piper; Lauren Bay, Jen Stewart (2) (0-2) and Ryan Realmuto.

E- none
HR- Jessica Merchant (1)
LOB- Brakettes (6), Force (6)

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