CONNECTICUT AND STRATFORD BRAKETTES WILL HOST DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER MONDAY NIGHT


July 2, 2006 - The Connecticut Brakettes and Stratford Brakettes will provide the opposition Monday night for the Dominican Republic National softball team in a split doubleheader at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field.

The Connecticut Brakettes of the National Pro Fastpitch League take on the Dominican Republic at 6:05 p.m. with the amateur Stratford Brakettes playing the nightcap, 15 minutes after the completion of the first game. On July 4, the ASA Stratford Brakettes will play the Dominican Republic in another doubleheader starting at 6:05 p.m.

Manager John Stratton’s Connecticut Brakettes are 10-5 in NPF standings (12-5 overall), percentage points behind the second place Akron Racers (13-6). The Chicago Bandits (10-3) lead the league. The Stratford Brakettes are 10-2 after losing a doubleheader to their professional rivals Saturday night at DeLuca Field by scores of 2-0 in nine innings and 1-0.

"They (Stratford Brakettes) have quite a team," admired John Stratton, who had served as their manager for the past 12 years before leading the Connecticut Brakettes into the professional ranks this year.

The NPF Brakettes won the first game on Stephanie Best’s two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth, while Kellie Wilkerson’s RBI double drove in Kelly Kretschman with the game’s only run in the third inning of the nightcap.

Nikki Myers (4-1, 1.65 ERA in NPF) will pitch Monday night’s game for the pros, while Dani Hofer (5-1) of Louisiana State, who had ten strikeouts in the first-game loss Saturday, starts for the Stratford Brakettes against the Dominican Republic.

Following Monday’s games, the Connecticut Brakettes will be on the road at the Texas Thunder (12-8) Wednesday through Sunday before they come back home on July 13 to open a four-game series with the Thunder. The starting time of the Saturday, July 15 game has been moved to a 5:05 p.m. start because the game is being taped by ESPN 2 for broadcast on July 20 at 8 p.m.

Centerfielder Kelly Kretschman (.355) currently ranks 10th in NPF hitting, while shortstop Jessica Merchant is second in home runs with five. Wilkerson ranks sixth in RBI with 13, having produced eight in two wins over China last week. The Brakettes lost the series opener before taking the final three games. Best and Merchant are next with eight RBI each. Sarah Pauly (6-2, 1.72 ERA) ranks second in wins and strikeouts in the league.

The Dominican Republic National team features several United States collegian players in pitcher Melissa Penna of Stanford, infielders Melissa Perez and Yaritza Rodriguez of Nova University and infielders Alodia Aquino, Josefina Mercedes and outfielder Karina de los Santos of Miami Dade College.

Gates to DeLuca Field will open at 4 p.m.
Monday Night is Nokona Bat Night.
First 200 fans to attend receive a free small bat.

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