Kaci Clark Retires As Brakettes Sweep, Fans Weep

August 6, 2006 - Kaci Clark bid a tearful farewell to her softball career Sunday afternoon, striking out the last two batters she faced, and leading the Brakettes to a 6-1 victory over the Philadelphia Force at DeLuca HOF Field in Stratford, CT. Pitching for the team she once dreamed about being a part of, Clark proved one more time her name deserves mentioning among the all-time Brakette greats. She struck out eleven, including five in the last two innings, and allowed just one run on eight hits. After the game, Clark embraced manager John Stratton, long-time battery-mate Germaine Fairchild, and acknowledged the 792 fans who gave her a well-deserved standing ovation. She was presented with three dozen Brakettes red and white roses, and left her cleats on the mound, addressing the pitching rubber as she had for so many Brakettes’ victories over the years.

The Brakettes started the scoring in the bottom of the second, as Aimee Minor scored from second base on an error by shortstop Chelsea Spencer. Spencer, who impressed all weekend with her strong defensive play, committed her only gaffe of the series on a hard-hit ball in the hole by Stephanie Best. The 1-0 lead stood until the top of the fifth, when Jenna Hall’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly scored Sarah Fekete. It was the second time that Hall had the chance to produce with the bases loaded and just one out, the first coming in the third inning. Clark, who froze Hall in that inning with a gutsy 2-1 changeup, then lured the slugging Philadelphia lefty to swing and miss at a drop in the dirt on the next pitch. She then retired Ryan Realmuto to end the rally.

The Brakettes broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth, on Aimee Minor’s RBI infield single. Kellie Wilkerson came home from third, and Fairchild scored on the same play, after an overthrow by right fielder Stacie Pestrak. The 3-1 lead seemed to give Clark the breathing room she needed, but Wilkerson wasn’t finished. With two outs in the sixth, she smashed a three-run homer to right field. It was her fourth long ball of the year, and gave Clark and the Brakettes some more insurance and a 6-1 advantage.

Clark came out to the mound for one last time and did not disappoint. With two outs and no one on base, she struck out Carrie Leto swinging to the put the storybook ending on an illustrious career. It was only then that the crowd was told about her retirement, which will be complete after she finishes her obligations with her Japanese pro team next month. "I still have a few games left in Japan, but this is where my heart is, this is my softball home. It was the only way that I could imagine walking away from the game," said Clark. "This place has meant so much to me, and I thank the Brakettes and our sponsors Dave and Dotty Carpenter, for giving me the chance to be a part of Brakette history. I still remember watching my first Brakettes game as an eighteen-year old. Seeing Dot Richardson, Sheila Cornell, Lisa Fernandez, and Barbara Reinalda on the same field made me wonder if they made Brakette uniforms small enough for me. Finally, after the last pro league folded, I got my chance to be a Brakette".

Clark has left her mark on the team and the game itself. She was undefeated in 1995 for UCLA, as they won the NCAA College World Series championship. She played in the Women’s Professional Softball League from 1998-2001, earning the pitcher of the year award in 1998 and 1999. She also won the 1999 WPSL Most Valuable Player award. While playing for the WPSL all-star team in 2001, she pitched her team past the US National Team. The WPSL folded in the off-season, leaving Clark to find a team. After talking with manager John Stratton, Clark was overjoyed to have an invite to play with the Brakettes. She impressed from the start, going 29-0 for the season, with a 0.12 ERA. She threw 11 no-hitters, had two perfect games, and recorded 22 shutouts. Most importantly, Clark was on the mound as the Brakettes won their first ASA National Championship in ten years, ending their longest title drought in history. She threw a complete game two-hitter with 13 strikeouts, in a 1-0 win over the Southern California Hurricanes. "Kaci came in and added that charisma, that presence which put us over the top. I love this kid," remarked John Stratton. "She was super today. I’m not sure she should retire so early". She also led the team to another championship in 2003, beating the Team Smith All-Stars, and garnering the Bertha Tickey award for the top pitcher of the ASA championships.

With the creation of the NPF in 2004, Clark took another shot at the pros, joining the NY/NJ Juggernaut. She pitched the first no-hitter in the history of the league, and her team took the first-ever NPF Championship. When the Brakettes announced that they were going pro, Clark turned down numerous offers from other NPF teams in 2005 to return to the Brakettes. "She helped us make the transition from ASA ball to the NPF easier. She is a consummate pro, and we’ll miss her", added Stratton in a post-game interview. Clark retires with an overall record with the Brakettes of 64-12, with a career 0.59 ERA. She recorded 819 strikeouts to just 79 walks in four years with the Brakettes.

We may never see Kaci Clark on the mound again, but Sunday we saw her at her best once more, going out on top. And if you stop by Frank DeLuca HOF Field, you just might find her cleats, still toeing the pitching rubber, wondering what to do now.

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