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2004 PLAYER PROFILES |
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Meet the Brakettes |
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C/IF Jen Pawol |
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A first-year member of the Brakettes, Jen Pawol will see action at several different positions. In addition to catching, Pawol has played second base, third base, shortstop and outfield in a softball career that has featured stops with the North Jersey Shilohs, Clifton Charmers, New Jersey Chips, Montclair Majestics, Waterbury Diamonds and most recently Topton VIPs. The West Milford, NJ, High School standout was chosen to both the All-Century Softball and Soccer teams by the New Jersey Star Ledger newspaper. She also had a banner three-year softball career at Hofstra where she had a .332 career batting average. Named to the All-America East team in 1997 and 1998, she also was a two-time All-Mid Atlantic Region honoree. Ranked among the single-season and career leaders in numerous categories at Hofstra, Jen is presently earning a Masters of Fine Arts in Painting at Hunter College. Her career goal is to become a professional artist and exhibit regularly in New York City. |
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UTIL Amanda Jensen |
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Olivet Nazarene University probably never will see another player like Amanda Jensen. During her four years at ONU, Jensen was the only player to start and play every inning of every game. She played an incredible 1,861 innings over 256 games, both school records. The team’s shortstop, Jensen rewrote the school record book, finishing with 21 covering a myriad of offensive and defensive categories. The Tigers’ leadoff hitter had a .368 career average and struck out only 34 times in 985 at bats. To say she is a great baserunner is an understatement. She was successful on 78 of 81 attempts in her career, including 63 in a row. In leading her team to a third-place finish at the NAIA World Series in 2003, and a 61-13 record, Jensen led the nation in several categories. She hit .401 with 99 hits in 247 at bats. She also scored 87 runs and drove in 45 with 24 extra base hits. The First-Team All-America was the 12th overall pick in the 32-player elite draft of National Pro Fastpitch last year by the Arizona Heat, who subsequently traded her rights to the Houston Thunder. Jensen was one of the final players cut by the pro team. She will see action in the infield for the Brakettes. |
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C Keri (McCallum) Stratton |
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Now entering her seventh year with the Brakettes, Keri (McCallum) Stratton will see limited action as she will be attending school throughout the summer. When she is available, Keri will provide the team with potent offense and steady defense. She has been simply superb in her Brakettes career. One of the nation’s top catchers, the left-handed hitting and throwing Stratton hit .336 last year and scored 34 runs. Her finest year came in 2002 when she hit .409 and scored 50 runs. The Port Orchard, WA, native won the batting title her rookie year in 1998 with a .391 average. She was a First-Team All-America in Phoenix in 2001 when she led the club with a .385 average and team-high 10 hits in the national event. Her .364 career batting average is the highest among active players. A former member of Team USA, Stratton graduated from Mississippi State in style in 2000, batting .405 (90-222) with 4 home runs, 10 triples, 9 doubles, 22 RBI, 59 runs scored and 27 stolen bases. She is an adept bunter with the ability to beat out many infield hits. |
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RF Donna McLean |
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Donna McLean enters her 12th year with the Brakettes and she doesn’t show any signs of slowing down at all. Donna is the veteran of the team. The resident of Bridgeport, CT, boasts a .296 career batting average and she still ranks as one of the best right-fielders in the game. A former standout at Westfield State, Donna had a team-high 12 outfield assists last year, giving her 27 during the team's two ASA championships. McLean won the batting championship in 1996 with a .414 batting average and she earned Second-Team All-America status in the 2000 National Tournament. During her first tour of duty with the Brakettes (1987-89), McLean set the team record with 10 RBI in a game when she also hit for the cycle on June 28, 1987. Donna enters the season among career leaders in games played, career hits, runs scored, doubles and triples. This spring she was an assistant softball coach at Stratford High School and is presently a supervisor for the Advertising Research Department at Nielsen Media Research in Shelton, CT, a partner with Sunshine Landscape Designs of Stratford. |
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SS/3B Stephanie Best |
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Stephanie Best comes to the Stratford Brakettes from the University of Central Florida where she recently completed another outstanding season for the Golden Knights. The junior shortstop captured her second straight Atlantic Sun Player of the Year award and was named to the NFCA All-Southest Region Second Team. Best was ranked among the country’s best offensive players as she was in the top five nationally in batting average (.442), slugging percentage (.840) and .562 on base percentage. She led the A-Sun in most offensive categories, pacing UCF to a 42-21 record and 16-4 conference mark as they finished runner-up to John Stratton’s Florida Atlantic squad. As a sophomore at UCF, Best set records with her .403 average, 57 runs, 83 hits, 4 triples, 18 home runs and 66 RBI. She was named to the All-Freshmen Team and Second-Team All-Conference in 2002. Prior to her collegiate play, Best was a six-year letterwinner on the Fort Mill High school varsity and a three-time team MVP, 4A Athlete of the Year, two-time Class 3A Regional Player of the Year, five-time all-region and three-time all-state pick. |
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SS/3B Jessica Merchant |
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Fresh from an appearance in the Women’s College World Series in Omaha, Jessica Merchant will begin her first season with the Stratford Brakettes. The former Wayland, MI, High School standout has been nothing short of sensational for the Michigan softball team. Recently named to the NFCA Second-Team All-America, the 5-foot-9 Merchant had a banner 2004 season where she hit .352 and flexed her power with a school record 15 home runs and 48 RBI. The Wolverines finished with a 54-13 record and lost a pair of one-run games to Stanford and LSU in the CWS. The junior shortstop finished the year with a .728 slugging percentage. Named All-Big Ten the past two years, Merchant has started all but one game in her collegiate career. In her scholastic career, Merchant was Student Council president and the Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year in 2001. She earned four varsity letters in basketball and three in volleyball, but it was softball where she was a two-time All-State pick. Merchant will play both shortstop and third base this summer for the Brakettes. |
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INF Ellen “Frankie” Spruce |
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Ellen ‘Frankie" Spruce begins her eighth season with the Brakettes. The Binghamton, NY resident turned in a solid performance in 2003, finishing with a .287 batting average. Boasting a career .293 average, Frankie displayed good power last year with 12 extra base hits. She delivered many timely base hits and drove in 32 runs. She came through with five home runs, a career high. One of her most important hits in her career was a two-run suicide bunt single to give the Brakettes a 2-1 win over Bloomington, IL, in the opening game of the 2001 National tourney. Frankie will see action at first base, third base and shortstop this year. Second among active players in run production with 178 RBI, Spruce spent three seasons with the North Tonowanda, NY, Shamrocks, where she was a three-time ASA All-America pick before joining the Brakettes. The graduate of Adelphi University also was on the NCAA All-Northeast Region three times and participated in a pair of College World Series. |
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OF Ellen Sarosy |
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Ellen Sarosy makes her debut with the Stratford Brakettes. The 2003 Fairfield University graduate is an outstanding outfielder with great speed and instinct. During her illustrious Fairfield career she started all 228 games and never missed an inning in the field. Sarosy’s versatility and durability are two qualities that should aid the Brakettes this season. Selected as the Metro Atlantic Conference Player of the Year in both 2002 and 2003, Ellen is the all-time single-season and career record holder for the Lady Stags in four categories: hits (86, 252), stolen bases (35, 112), runs scored (38, 128) and total bases (99, 276). Her outstanding speed gives Manager John Stratton an added offensive weapon. She was successful on 112 of 130 career stolen base attempts. Sarosy is fourth in all-time career batting average with a .339 mark. Her .408 batting average in 2002 and 26 stolen bases in 2003 were among the national Division I leaders. Selected to the NFCA All-Northeast Region and ECAC teams as a junior and senior, Sarosy was Fairfield University’s Female Athlete of the Year in 2003. |
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OF Teri Rooney |
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Teri Rooney is another key addition to the Stratford Brakettes roster. The 5-foot-4 outfielder is equally adept in the field and with the bat. Possessing outstanding speed, she will cover a lot of real estate in center field. Manager John Stratton is also counting upon her to provide plenty of offense near the top of the batting order. A native of Visalia, CA, where she had a superb scholastic career at Redwood High School, Rooney enjoyed an abundance of success on the University of Massachusetts softball team as a four-year starter. She finished her career in 2002 with a .335 batting average with 235 hits in 701 at bats. She scored 145 runs and drove in 128 with 58 extra base hits. Teri also stole 29-of-36 bases for her career. Named to the Atlantic-10 All Conference team in 1999, 2001 and 2002, Rooney was the A-10 Tournament Most Valuable Player as a sophomore and the A-10 Player of the Year as a senior. She was a two-time NCAA All Regional pick in 1999 and 2002 for Elaine Sortino’s UMass powerhouse. Rooney garnered All-New England acclaim all four years. Her classroom work was even more impressive as she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science, boasting a 3.9 GPA in Business Management. Rooney was a first team Verizon Academic All America in 2002. |
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OF Kristine Botto |
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Kristine Botto is no stranger to the DeLuca Field fans. For several years she patrolled the outfield for the Connecticut Classics, who were sponsored by the Stratford Brakettes from 2001-03. A native of Lowell, MA, the left-handed hitting Botto is currently an assistant coach at UMass Lowell, her alma mater. As a collegiate player, Botto was a two-time All-America as a catcher, and she set several offensive records for the Riverhawks. A great slap hitter and bunter, Botto used her blazing speed to beat out many hits. She set the record for career stolen bases with 77 and the single-season mark of 33 in 2000. During the 2001 season with the Classics, Botto was one of the key players in their run to the 23 & Under ASA National Championship. She led the Classics with a .583 tournament average with 7 hits in 12 at bats in the nationals. Botto, who will play outfield this summer, was a final cut of the New England Riptide entry in the pro league. |
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P/1B Stephanie VanBrakle |
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The Stratford Brakettes found a real gem in Alabama sophomore pitcher Stephanie VanBrakle. In addition to her pitching talents, VanBrakle is a top offensive threat and her bat will prove instrumental in the team’s drive for another title. In two years at ‘Bama, she has connected for 23 home runs. This year she hit .291 with 44 hits and 43 RBI. On the mound, the former Chambersburg Area High School, PA, star compiled a 17-10 record and 1.92 ERA. She struck out 230 batters in 189 innings for the Crimson Tide, who reached NCAA Regional finals. As a freshman, she was the NCAA Region 8 Most Valuable Player in leading the Crimson Tide to the World Series. In 2002, she was named to the USA Junior National Team. During her scholastic career, Stephanie was the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year in 2002. She pitched her team to ASA 18-and-under National championship in 2001. |
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P Megan Biddle |
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The Stratford Brakettes helped themselves on the mound and at the plate with the addition of Megan Biddle. A four-year starting pitcher at the University of Connecticut, Megan was a member of the 2001 Big East Championship and NCAA Regional qualifier that posted a 36-23 record. She earned All-Conference honors as a sophomore in 1999 and again as senior. During her UConn career, Biddle won 35 games for the Huskies and pitched 392 innings with 304 strikeouts. She also finished with a .303 career average and was tied for fifth all time in home runs with 12. Her career strikeouts also rank in the top ten for UConn. A member of the Connecticut Classics, who were part of the Brakettes organization from 2001-03, Biddle won two games in the 23 & Under ASA National Championship event, which was staged at DeLuca Field, to earn First-Team All-America laurels. In 11 innings, she allowed only four hits and three walks and she struck out 26 batters in an overpowering performance as the Classics captured the title. Megan was a member of the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut developmental team in the pro league. |
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INF/UT Erica Sobel |
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Erica Sobel is one of the biggest success stories in Stratford Brakettes’ history. Now entering her fourth year with the club, the 2003 season was a huge one for the Worcester, MA, native. Sobel had hit only four home runs in her first two years with the club. Last year she led the Brakettes with 11 and she added 46 RBI, tying for second place in that category. While hitting .317, the University of Maine infielder also made a valuable contribution on defense where she played second base and third base primarily. In the Brakettes’ Northeast League tournament championship, she shared the Co-MVP award with Kelly Kretschman. Originally invited to "help" out during a weekend in 2001, she impressed Manager John Stratton so much that he asked her to play all season. Sobel, who played against the Brakettes with the Polar Crush of Worcester as a teenager, had an outstanding career at Maine, where she set the season and career record for bases on balls. Defensively, she is a slick-fielder who has extremely soft hands and gets a good jump on the ball. |
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P Amanda Morin |
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Amanda Morin recently concluded her sophomore season at Florida Atlantic University. She will transfer in the fall, but she has not yet made up her mind as to which school she will attend. The 6-foot-2 right-handed pitcher enjoyed two solid years at FAU, where she had a 43-19 record. This past season Amanda finished with a 20-8 mark and a 1.42 ERA. She struck out 150 batters in 187 innings and held opponents to a .201 average. In her freshmen year she went 23-11 with a 1.83 ERA and was named Atlantic-Sun Freshman of the Year and Second-Team All-Conference. Morin finished the year strong by winning 15 consecutive games. Her wins and 36 starts were both conference highs and she led the club with seven shutouts. Highly recruited out of high school, Morin led South Glens Falls Senior High to the state title as she garnered the 2002 New York State Class B Player of the Year honors. She set school and New York State records with four perfect games in a career, including three in a row, and set school and state records with a 0.03 ERA and 284 strikeouts. Her career ERA was 0.06 and she had 19 shutouts and seven no-hitters as a senior. |
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P/1B Michelle Green |
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Michelle Green completed a superb junior season at the University of Georgia, where she led the Lady Bulldogs to an NCAA tournament berth and almost took them to the College World Series. Despite missing 12 games with a knee injury, Green finished the year with an 18-4 record and 1.48 ERA. She struck out 236 batters in 146 innings and opponents only hit .144 against her. At the plate, Green hit a solid .281 with 30 RBI. As a sophomore, Green was a Second Team All-America. She was ranked in the top 20 in every NCAA pitching statistic except saves. She had a 1.10 ERA and was third nationally with 39 victories. At Duluth High School, Green was a four-year standout and led the team to the 1999 Class AAAA State Championship. She was a perfect 17-0 as a junior and her team won 44 straight her last two years in high school, where she was a three-time All-State pick. Green also will see action at first base when she is not on the mound this summer. |
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C Killian Roessner |
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Manager John Stratton was extremely pleased to secure the services of high school standout Killian Roessner, who will attend Louisiana State University on a softball scholarship. A catcher, Roessner recently graduated from Wall High School, NJ, after enjoying a spectacular three-year career at The Lawrenceville School in Princeton, NJ. Beginning her career as a pitcher/catcher, Killian moved behind the plate in 2002 after going 8-1 during a state semifinalist season in 2001. She also drove in 23 runs that year. First-Team All-State for three years, she was the Prep Player of the Year in 2003 when Lawrenceville won its second straight title, beating Peddie 1-0 in the semifinals and Blair 1-0 in the championship. Roessner led the club with a .446 average, five doubles, two triples, 18 RBI and 15 runs scored during a 14-4 season. During last year’s travel season, she led the Virginia Shamrocks to a runner-finish in the ASA Gold Nationals. |
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C Callie Piper |
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Catching has always been a trademark of the Stratford Brakettes. The addition of Florida Atlantic graduate Callie Piper simply fortifies that statement. The 5-foot-11 native of Wichita, KS, brings some pretty impressive credentials to the Brakettes. Defensively, she ranks with the best of them in the NCAA and her offensive production has been more than timely during her four-year career with the FAU Owls. One of the last players released by the professional league’s New York/New Jersey Juggernaut, Piper helped FAU to a 56-18 record and another Atlantic-Sun Conference championship and NCAA bid. She hit .254 and was a solid RBI person. However, it was on defense where she cut down the majority of runners attempting to steal base. She was a softball and basketball standout at Wichita Northwest High School. |
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P Meghan Doonan |
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One year ago Meghan Doonan was pitching her Lyman Hall High School team of Wallingford, CT to the CIAC Class L state championship at DeLuca Field with a victory over Seymour. This summer she is a member of the Stratford Brakettes pitching staff. Doonan compiled an 18-2 record last year and earned First-Team All-State acclaim in 2003. This past spring Doonan pitched at the University of Vermont, where she struck out a team-high 88 batters in 113 innings. In 29 plate appearances, Doonan hit .310 with five RBI. She will transfer to Florida Atlantic University in the fall. |
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