Brakettes Beaten By Bandits 3-1

August 12, 2006 - The Connecticut Brakettes lost their second consecutive game to the Chicago Bandits Friday night in Lisle, IL. The Bandits managed a 3-1 win with timely hitting and baserunning, as the Brakettes stayed in third place in NPF standings. Despite the disappointing loss, the Brakettes backed their way into a playoff berth by virtue of a loss by the Arizona Heat at the hands of the Philadelphia Force. The Brakettes will join the Bandits, New England Riptide, and one more team in the NPF playoffs on August 26th and 27th in Stratford, CT. The Akron Racers currently have the track on the fourth spot for the championship series, but have yet to clinch the selection.

The Bandits started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, as Jamie Clark led off the game with a single to right field. Trena Peel then reached on a throwing error by third baseman Stephanie Hill, which sent the runners to second and third. Nicole Trimboli then launched a sac fly to center field to score Clark on the tag from third.

Chicago added to their lead in the third inning, as Clark again led off with a single. Peel again reached on a throwing error by the Brakettes, as second baseman Stephanie Best dove to make a phenomenal stop to her right side, only to throw wildly to first base, allowing Clark to score.

The 2-0 Bandits lead would stand until the Brakettes fifth, when Kellie Wilkerson plated Heather Wright from third base, on a single up the middle. Wright was the pinch-runner for Callie Piper, who had worked a walk. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kelly Kretschman, then moved to third on a passed ball to set up the Wilkerson RBI. The Brakettes had pulled to within 2-1, only to drop behind two runs again in the home sixth.

Chicago scored an insurance run in the sixth on a Laura Harms RBI infield single, scoring Nicole Trimboli from third base. Trimboli had started the rally with a single, and help afford the Bandits and relief pitcher Amy Harre a more comfortable lead.

The Brakettes couldn't even the score in the top of the seventh, and dropped their second straight decision to the top team in the NPF. Connecticut dropped to 24-14, percentage points behind the New England Riptide for third place in league standings. Chicago improved to 27-8, standing alone in first place. The teams will play the last of the four-game set on Saturday in Lisle, IL, at Benedictine University at 3:05 Central, 4:05 Eastern time. Sarah Pauly's record sank to 13-5, as she walked one and struck out two. Missy Beseres, a last-minute starter for Chicago, moved up to 2-0 with the win.

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