CONNECTICUT BRAKETTES OPEN SERIES WITH TEXAS THUNDER; SATURDAY'S GAME TIME MOVED TO 5 P.M. FOR ESPN2 TELECAST

July 13, 2006 - The top two pitchers in National Pro Fastpitch statistical categories will square off tonight (Thursday, July 13) at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field as the Connecticut Brakettes entertain the Texas Thunder. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Connecticut Brakettes ace Sarah Pauly (6-3) will square off with NPF all-star Christa Williams (8-1) of the Thunder in the series opener. Both pitchers probably will be matched again in Saturday’s contest.

The second-place Brakettes (12-7) and third place Thunder (14-10) split a four-game series in Houston last week with Connecticut winning the opener and the finale. The teams also play Friday at 7:05 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 5:05 p.m. Saturday’s game will be televised by ESPN2 for tape delay showing on July 20 at 8 p.m.

Thursday night is also T-Shirt Night, co-sponsored by the Connecticut Brakettes and Hadfield’s Sports of Berlin. The first 200 fans will receive a free shirt. Friday is Connecticut Brakettes Pin Night, Saturday is Nokona Bat Night and Sunday is another T-Shirt Night with the first 200 fans at each game receiving the free souvenir items.

Williams was the loser in last week’s opener at Houston as Brakettes catcher Germaine Fairchild belted a fifth inning home run for the only run of the game. Williams leads in victories and strikeouts with 83, while her ERA is second at 1.43. Pauly, who has lost two one-run games this year, is third in wins and ERA (1.55) and she is second in strikeouts with 59.

Kaci Clark (2-2), who won both games on the recent trip, will work Friday night’s game with Nikki Myers (4-2, 1.90) the pitcher in Sunday’s finale.

Kelly Kretschman, the Brakettes centerfielder, is second in NPF hitting with a .381 average, while shortstop Jessica Merchant (.372) ranks third. Merchant is tied for second in home runs with five, while first baseman/outfielder Kellie Wilkerson is tied for fourth with three. Wilkerson is the Brakettes RBI leader with 11 and Merchant is next with nine.

Leading the Thunder offense is Rocky Spencer (.339) and Kristen Zaleski (.338), while Serena Settlemier is their home run leader with four. Settlemier also leads Texas with 15 RBI.

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