Be sure to check the ASA Nationals  Brackets and Results  link for final results, individual awards, and All-American honors. (Their in-page links aren't working; just scroll down to bottom of page.)

BRAKETTES BEAT LADY HEARTS IN OPENING ROUND OF ASA TOURNEY

PHOENIX August 15- Frankie Spruce's one-out suicide squeeze bunt produced two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Stratford Brakettes scored a dramatic 2-1 win over the Bloomington, IL, Lady Hearts Wednesday morning in the opening round of the ASA Women's Major Fastpitch Tournament at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex.

Leslie Malerich pitched a no-hitter for the Brakettes, 63-7, who return to action tonight (Wednesday) in an 11 p.m. (EDT) second-round game against the Huricanes of Southern California. The Brakettes have defeated the Hurricanes twice in the past three ASA tournaments. Cat Osterman (1-0) will pitch tonight's game for the Brakettes, who will move into the winner's bracket quarterfinals on Thursday with a win.

Trailing 1-0 entering the home seventh inning, cleanup hitter Germaine Fairchild worked losing pitcher Nicole Kurth, a second-team All-America at Illinois State University, for a walk. Sara Jewett entered as a pinch-runner. Lea Mishlan's sacrifice bunt was mishandled, the throw going into right field, which enabled Jewett to scoot into third base.

With Martha Covington at the plate, Mishlan broke for second. There was no throw and the Brakettes had the winning run in scoring position. Kurth retired Covington on strikes, bringing Spruce to the plate. Manager John Stratton relayed the suicide squeeze sign to third base coach Patty Fernandes. Spruce squared on Kurth's first pitch and pushed the ball to the pitcher's left. Jewett scored easily and once the ball slid past Kurth, there was no one to field it as the Hearts' second baseman broke for first base on the bunt attempt as Mishlan scored the game-winning run.

"It was nerve-wracking, but we'll take it," said Stratton after the victory. "Leslie pitched a great game, although she did go a bit deep in the count on several hitters." Malerich, now 23-4, struck out 12 Lady Hearts and walked three as she finished with her seventh no-hitter of the season.

The Lady Hearts scored in the top of the sixth as two errors produced an unearned run. Malerich's throwing error on leadoff hitter Karen Roberts' bunt was the first, while first baseman Jen Fisher failed to handle a slow roller off the bat of Linn Bagnall with two outs, allowing Roberts to score from second base.

The Brakettes broke up Kurth's no-hitter in the sixth as Emily Robustelli lined a one-out single to left. Keri McCallum then beat out a bunt. Kurth got Alicia Smith on a bunt attempt before Jen Smith flied out to right field.

In other first round games, the Montclair Majestics edged the Strikers of Modesto, CA, 2-1, in nine innings; Cigs Twisters of Decatur, IL, nipped the Allentown, PA, Pates, 2-1; and ABCO Marketing of Seattle, WA, outlasted Celina, OH, Suns, 6-5, in 13 innings.


            NOTES- Game-time temperature was 96. . .Brakettes outfielder Kellie Wilkerson will not play in the tournament. The USA National Team outfielder, and the team batting champ in 2000, is scheduled to see an orthopedic doctor in Atlanta next Monday for a disc problem. . .Team Texas, coached by former Redding Rebels manager Roger Dawes, loaded up for the tourney. They feature several USA Team members, including ex-Brakettes third baseman Michelle Gates. Team Texas is in the Brakettes bracket and a winner's bracket semifinal matchup Friday looms, especially if the Brakettes get past the Hurricanes. . . Defending champ Phoenix Storm has some tough competition in the upper bracket with the Worth Smoke and Worth Firecrackers of California. Both teams feature several UCLA stars.



BRAKETTES CAPTURE SEABOARD LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP; OSTERMAN MAKES DEBUT SUNDAY AGAINST CLASSICS

STRATFORD Aug 7- The Stratford Brakettes made it three championships in as many weeks as they defeated the Adirondack Ice 2-0 Sunday to win the Northeast Seaboard Women's Fastpitch League title at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field.

Following a 2-1 upset loss to the Ice on Saturday during the round-robin portion of the event, the Brakettes reeled off five straight shutout wins to capture their fourth league championship in a row. It also was the team's third tourney title in as many weekends as they had earlier won the Bob Caravan Invitational in Allentown, PA (July 22) and the Central Canada Skins Game in Ontario (July 29).

The Brakettes also swept a regular-season doubleheader from the Hamden Eclipse last Wednesday before splitting a twin-bill with the league all-stars on Friday night. They will carry a 60-7 overall record into Sunday's (August 12) regular-season finale against the Connecticut Classics, the ASA 23-and-Under National Champions. The doubleheader begins at 4 p.m. at DeLuca Field and it is Lordship Father's Club Day with the Brakettes. High school pitching standout Catherine 'Cat' Osterman of Houston, TX, will make her debut with the Brakettes. Osterman recently led her Katy, TX, Cruisers to a second straight ASA 18-and-Under Gold championship and she was selected as the tournament's MVP. (For more on 'Cat', see the July 6th announcement on this page).

Osterman and the Brakettes will leave August 13 for Phoenix, AZ, and the 2001 ASA Women's Major Championships. Play will begin August 15 at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex. The Brakettes have finished third the last two national tournaments.

In the championship win over the Ice, Leslie Malerich scattered three hits and struck out five to improve her record to 21-4. Lea Mishlan's RBI single to left field with one out drove in Emily Robustelli with the gamer. Frankie Spruce's fielder's choice RBI made it a 2-0 lead.

In the semifinals, the Brakettes beat the Classics 2-0 as Jen Smith (13-1) pitched a one-hitter. She struck out seven and walked only one. It was her second shutout win over the Classics in as many days. The Brakettes broke through against Sue Chymbor in the third inning as Erica Sobel singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Alicia Smith. Jen Smith's RBI single plated Sobel. In the fourth inning, Spruce drove in Martha Covington with a single. Lea Mishlan had two hits to lead an eight-hit assault.

Theresa Hornick (15-1) hurled a perfect game in Sunday morning's first game, an 8-0 win over the Hamden Eclipse in the final game of round-robin play. She struck out 10 batters. The Brakettes had 12 hits, led by Spruce with three and Sobel and Jen Smith with two each. Germaine Fairchild and Spruce both drove in two runs.

After beginning the tourney with a 2-1 loss to the Ice, in which Hornick lost her first game, the Brakettes came back to sweep a twin-bill in the event with a 5-0 win over the Allentown Pates and a 3-0 triumph over the Classics. Malerich stopped the Pates on two hits, while Smith equalled that feat against the Connecticut Classics.

In the all-star doubleheader, the Brakettes and Smith lost the opener 1-0 before posting a 4-0 win. Last Wednesday, the Brakettes swept the Eclipse by scores of 10-0 and 4-0.



SURGING STRATFORD BRAKETTES CAPTURE CANADIAN TITLE; PREPARE TO OPEN DEFENSE OF NORTHEAST SEABOARD LEAGUE

STRATFORD July 31- The Stratford Brakettes don't mind playing on the road. As a matter of fact, they have a better record away from home than at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The Brakettes have lost only once on the road this year and that game went 14 innings.

For the second consecutive weekend, the Brakettes have captured a tournament championship and won a bundle of ballgames. Last weekend, the Brakettes completed a successful 9-0 trip to Ontario, Canada, by winning the Central Canada Skins Game tournament. Earlier the team had won the annual Bob Caravan Invitational tourney in Allentown, PA.

Riding a 23-game win streak (all since July 18), the Stratford Brakettes return home for a 7 o'clock Wednesday night doubleheader with the Hamden Eclipse. It is the final Northeast Seaboard Women's Fastpitch League regular-season action for the defending three-time champion Brakettes, who host the league tournament this weekend.

The 52-5 Brakettes, who are unbeaten at 14-0 in league play, will entertain the league's all-stars in a twin-bill Friday night at DeLuca Field beginning at 7. The round-robin portion of the league tournament begins Saturday at 8 a.m. and continues through Sunday night. A total of 14 games will be played over the two days with the finals listed for 5 p.m.

Since the Brakettes lost three of four games to the 2000 ASA champion Phoenix Storm (July 13-14), they haven't lost. During that span, the team has posted 18 shutouts and outscored the opposition 118-7.

After going unbeaten in pool play, the Brakettes recorded three victories in the single-elimination format Sunday at Manotick, Ontario. The Brakettes defeated the Yardley, PA, Royal Ladies 6-0 in the finals as Leslie Malerich (18-4) hurled a two-hitter and struck out nine. Jen Smith went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Donna McLean had two hits and drove in a pair of runs.

In the semifinals, the Brakettes rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the top of the second to notch a 9-2 win over the A's of Pottstown, PA. Malerich picked up the win in relief of Jen Smith. Alicia Smith was 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Germaine Fairchild had two hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs. Martha Covington also had three hits and two RBI.

Theresa Hornick upped her record to 12-0 with a one-hit, 10-0 win over the Orleans Rebels in the quarterfinals. Fairchild was 3-for-4 with a three-run home run that cleared the 260-foot fence. Jen Smith also had three hits and four RBI.

Fairchild had an outstanding series in Canada with 11 hits in 25 at bats, including four doubles, three triples, a home run and 13 RBI.

In pool play, the Brakettes beat the Port Perry Angels 4-0 and Aurora Drillers 5-2 on Saturday as Alicia Smith (6-1) and Jen Smith (11-0) were the winning pitchers. Alicia hurled a two-hitter and fanned eight, while Frankie Spruce had two hits in the opener. Fairchild had two hits in the nightcap.

Malerich struck out 12 as the Brakettes beat the A's 9-1 in Friday's tourney action. Jen Smith had four hits with a home run, three runs scored and two RBI, while Lea Mishlan went 2-for-3. Hornick hurled a one-hitter in the 11-0 win over the Kars Aces 19-and-Under team. Fairchild had two hits as did McLean and Mishlan.

The Brakettes began the Canadian tour with an 11-1 win over the Kars Aces Seniors and a 5-0 win over the Rebels.

Prior to leaving for Canada, the Brakettes swept a league doubleheader from the Connecticut Classics by scores of 5-0 and 4-0 last Wednesday. Hornick hurled a perfect game with 10 K's and Malerich tossed a one-hitter with nine strikeouts in the nightcap. The Classics would move on to capture the ASA 23-and-Under National title four days later at DeLuca Field.

Following the league tourney, the Brakettes make their final home appearance of the 2001 season Sunday, August 12 in a 4 p.m. doubleheader with the Connecticut Classics. In that twin-bill, which is Lordship Father's Club Day with the Brakettes, Manager John Stratton will unveil high school pitching phenom Catherine "Cat" Osterman of Houston, TX, the National High School Player of the Year who has joined the team. She will leave with the Brakettes August 13 for the National tournament in Phoenix, AZ.



BRAKETTES CAPTURE CARAVAN TOURNAMENT CROWN TO CONCLUDE PERFECT 12-0 PENNSYLVANIA ROAD TRIP

STRATFORD July 23- The Stratford Brakettes completed a successful road trip through Pennsylvania by capturing the 21st annual Bob Caravan Tournament at Allentown's Pates Park on Sunday. The Brakettes defeated the A's of Pottstown, PA, 3-0 in the championship tilt to cap a 6-0 tournament run.

While outscoring the opposition 28-0 in the Caravan meet, the Brakettes also enjoyed similar success in the non-tournament portion of their five-day road swing. Prior to the Caravan tournament, which attracted 20 ballclubs, the Brakettes swept doubleheaders from the Topton VIPs, Allentown Pates and Royal Ladies of Yardley, PA.

In winning 12 games in five days, Manager John Stratton's club outscored their rivals 50-1. The Brakettes now return home for a Wednesday, July 25 Northeast Seaboard Women's Fastpitch League doubleheader with the Connecticut Classics at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The twin-bill starts at 7 p.m.

Boasting a 41-5 overall record, the Brakettes will be back on the road again Thursday, July 26 through Sunday, July 29 as they travel to Ontario, Canada, to play in the Kars Aces tournament. Following the Canada trip, the Brakettes conclude their regular-season league play with a doubleheader against the Hamden Eclipse on Wednesday, August 1 at DeLuca Field before the league tournament gets underway August 3-5, also at home.

"It was a test of endurance," said Stratton following the Caravan tournament. "The heat was unbelievable for all the teams. When you had to play two and three games with little rest, it can take a toll. Fortunately, we came out of it okay." The Brakettes used a combination of strong pitching, solid fielding and heavy hitting throughout their annual Pennsylvania trip to post a 12-0 record.

In the Caravan finals, Jen Smith (9-0) tossed a two-hitter and struck out eight. It was the second straight year Smith has pitched the championship win in the Caravan at Pates Park. The Brakettes scored a run in the first inning as Lea Mishlan drilled a single to center to plate Emily Robustelli.

Martha Covington's infield grounder plated Robustelli with the second run in the third inning while Mishlan's sacrifice fly delivered Germaine Fairchild in the fifth. Fairchild led off the frame with a lined shot to right center for a triple. Fairchild led the attack with three hits, while Robustelli added a pair.

In the semifinals, the Brakettes beat the Vipers of Allentown 6-0 behind the three-hit, 11-strikeout pitching of Leslie Malerich (14-4). After taking a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning as Robustelli scored on a passed ball, the Brakettes broke it open with five runs in the sixth inning. Robustelli singled in a run before Fairchild cleared the bases with a triple to left center. Mishlan drove in Fairchild with a hit. Robustelli had three hits, while Jen Smith, Fairchild and Mishlan all added a pair.

In Sunday's first game, the Brakettes sent Pip's of Garfield, NJ, packing with another 6-0 win in the quarterfinals. Theresa Hornick (9-0) picked up the win as she struck out six and allowed three hits. Jen Smith was the offensive star with a 4-for-5 outing, while Mishlan added three hits, and Alicia Smith and Donna McLean had two each.

The Brakettes finished pool play on Saturday with a 3-0 record. Playing in the toughest bracket, the Brakettes beat the Long Island Angels (8-0), Monclair, NJ, Majestics (4-0) in eight innings and the New York Raiders (1-0) in nine innings. Those games went to the international tie-breaker in the eighth inning.

Covington's bloop single plated Fairchild with the game's only run in the ninth inning as the Brakettes avenged an earlier loss to the Raiders, who had defeated them 1-0 in 14-innings in the Topton July 4th Invitational. Malerich picked up the win as she allowed three hits, two of them in the first inning, and fanned six. The Brakettes picked off the Raiders' first runner in the eighth inning and they also got the Suffern, NY, team's base-runner in the ninth inning.

After letting numerous scoring chances go unanswered in regulation, the Brakettes scored four runs in the top of the eighth against the Majestics, who finished runner-up to the Raiders in Topton. Jen Smith's two-run triple broke the ice before Fairchild and Robyn King followed with RBI hits. Jen Smith allowed only two hits to gain the win.

Alicia Smith also hurled a two-hitter as the Brakettes opened the tourney with an 8-0 win over the Angels. A seven-run second-inning highlighted the win over Long Island. Alicia Smith had two hits and Robustelli drove in two runs.

The road swing began Wednesday, July 18 with a 4-0 and 2-0 sweep of the Topton VIPs at Lyons Fire Company complex. Hornick stopped the VIPs on two hits in the opener and McLean had three hits, while Malerich fanned 15 and allowed only one hit for the fifth time this year in the nightcap. Keri McCallum and Mishlan both had two hits.

On Thursday, July 19, King stopped the Pates on three hits in a 5-0 first-game win. McCallum had three hits and Erica Sobel two. Alicia Smith won the nightcap 2-0 as Fairchild went 3-for-3 and McCallum added two hits. Kellie Wilkerson also drove in a run. The victories boosted the team's league record to 12-0.

With McCallum and Wilkerson departing for the USA National Team, Jen Smith returned from a family vacation in Florida in time to help the Brakettes to a 3-1 and 6-0 sweep over the Yardley Royal Ladies on Friday, July 20. Hornick was the winner in the opener and Jen Smith pitched the nightcap.



PHOENIX STORM WINS SERIES AGAINST STRATFORD BRAKETTES

STRATFORD July 17- The fans were treated to softball at its very best this past weekend as the defending National ASA Champion Phoenix Storm came to Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field for a 4-game series with the Stratford Brakettes.

Three 1-0 games and 45 innings later, the Storm left town with a 3-1 series edge.

Despite coming out on the short end, Brakettes Manager John Stratton saw many positive things. "We play to win every game, but we learned some things in defeat that will make us better as we prepare for the National tournament," said Stratton.

The Brakettes will be out to win their 24th National Championship in Phoenix, AZ, August 15-19 at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex.

"We knew the Storm was an outstanding team coming in. We also knew that we couldn't make mistakes and expect to win. After a few costly mental miscues, our kids know just what I was talking about," added Stratton as the Brakettes saw their overall record fall to 29-5.

DeLuca Field played host to two of its biggest crowds since the 1999 National Championships were staged here. On Friday, July 13, over 1,300 fans attended the doubleheader, which lasted six and one-half hours and spanned 28 innings as the teams traded 1-0 wins. Saturday, July 14, saw 1,285 fans attend as the Storm won the opener 1-0 in regulation, thanks to an unearned second-inning tally. Phoenix also won the nightcap 3-1, which was decided by the international tie-breaker in the 10th inning. The tie-breaker was not used Friday as the Brakettes won the opener in 12 innings and the Storm captured the nightcap in 16 innings, the teams leaving the field six and one-half hours after the festivities began at 7 p.m. Friday night.

The Brakettes played without leading hitter Kellie Wilkerson, a member of the US National Team who is still nursing a back injury. Kellie expects to be ready for the ASA championship meet. Another key addition for that tournament will be 6-foot-1 Catherine "Cat" Osterman, the touted left-handed high school pitching standout who will join the Brakettes rotation in early August.

Jen Smith (6-0) pitched a masterful game in the series opener. She allowed only one base-runner over the first 11 innings and had a no-hitter into the 12th, when she surrendered an infield hit and a walk. In the home 12th, the Brakettes scored as Germaine Fairchild opened with a single and she was replaced by pinch-runner Sara Jewett, who was sacrificed to second by Alicia Smith. Lea Mishlan then singled to right field to drive in Jewett with the winning run.

In the nightcap, the Brakettes thought they had scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth. However, it was nullified by an out call. Keri McCallum opened the frame with a triple to right center. With one out, Jen Smith drilled a shot to left center. The outfielder fired home after the catch and the umpire called McCallum, who had touched the plate with her hand, out. Stratton argued the call, but to no avail. The Storm broke through in the 16th against hard-luck loser Leslie Malerich, who pitched every inning and fanned 12. Missy Mixon's RBI single scored Shelly Musser from second with the run.

On Saturday, the Storm scored a second-inning run in the first game on a two-out double to right field by Christi Musser, who jumped on a 2-2 changeup to drive in Jennie Finch from second. Finch reached on a walk before Erica Beach hit a comebacker to Alicia Smith (2-1) for what appeared to be an inning-ending double play. Smith misfired to shortstop Mishlan covering the bag and both runners were safe. Keira Goerl allowed only two hits and picked up the win for the Storm.

In the series finale, the Brakettes took a 1-0 lead, thanks to a Goerl throwing error in the first inning. With Malerich on the mound, the Storm had trouble mounting an attack until another close call enabled Finch to reach base via an infield hit. She eventually scored on a hit and the score remained deadlock at 1-1 until the international tie-breaker was used in the 10th. In the tie-breaker, the player who made the final out of the ninth inning is placed on second base with no outs to begin the 10th.

A mental mistake and two Malerich wild pitches enabled the Storm to score two runs. The Brakettes failed to score in their half of the frame.

Malerich (11-4) suffered the loss. The Brakettes have lost four extra inning games this year and Malerich has been the victim in each of those. The games have gone 11, 14, 16 and 10 innings.



BRAKETTES TO FACE DEFENDING CHAMP PHOENIX STORM IN 4-GAME SERIES AT DELUCA FIELD FRIDAY & SATURDAY

STRATFORD July 8- Softball fans are in for a treat this weekend as the Stratford Brakettes play host to the defending National ASA Women's Major Champion Phoenix Storm Friday and Saturday night (July 13-14) at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The teams will play 7 p.m. doubleheaders both nights.

"It should be a great series," said Brakettes Manager John Stratton. "I know our kids have been pointing toward this weekend for a long time. Phoenix has an outstanding team and they are the defending champions. What more could you ask for?"

The gates to DeLuca Field will open at 5:30 p.m. both nights and there are plenty of tickets available. Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for children and senior citizens.

"If we don't pack the place, there's something wrong," added Stratton. "Between the two teams, there are at least 10 players who figure to be in the player selection pool for the next Olympics. Stratford fans have always come out to support the National Tournament when it is held here. We had a great turnout for our games with Topton last Saturday and I see no reason why we won't get a big turnout for Phoenix."

Before the Brakettes meet the Storm, which has eliminated them from the last two national events, they will entertain the Connecticut Classics at 7 p.m. Wednesday (July 11) in a Northeast Seaboard Women's Softball League doubleheader at DeLuca Field.

The Storm beat the Brakettes 3-1 in the loser's bracket finals last year in Clearwater, FL, as they rallied to win five straight to capture the title. They finished with an 8-1 record. The Brakettes were third at 4-2. In the 1999 tourney in Stratford, the Brakettes beat the Storm 2-0 in an 11-inning thriller in the winner's bracket semifinals before the Storm bounced back in the loser's bracket final to post an identical 2-0 win.

Storm Manager Rick Beach, a former Connecticut resident, has four outstanding pitchers to work the series. Jennie Finch, who led Arizona to the NCAA championship at 32-0, is recovering from an injury, but she is expected to see action. Keira Goerl, a member of the USA National Red Team, is a freshman at UCLA and she already owns two wins over the Brakettes. Also expected to see action are Erica Beach, a southpaw standout at Arizona State, and Amanda Scott, a player/coach for the Storm.

The Brakettes stand 26-2 overall and 8-0 in league play after twin-bill sweeps over the Adirondack Ice (July 6) and Topton, PA, VIP, (July 7).

Theresa Hornick and Alicia Smith picked up the wins in the 6-0 and 3-0 sweep over the Ice. Hornick allowed two hits and struck out eight to raise her record to 5-0. She has allowed only five hits in those outings.

Germaine Fairchild's double to right center scored Alicia Smith for a 1-0 lead in the first. It stayed that way until the Brakettes put five runs on the board in the fifth. Frankie Spruce had a two-run single and designated hitter Martha Covington, who had three hits, also drove in a run in the frame.

In the nightcap, Smith upped her mark to 2-0 with a four-hitter. Fairchild and Robyn King both had two hits with King collecting a pair of doubles. Covington had a walk and two hits for a 5-for-5 outing in the sweep.

Jen Smith (5-0) hurled her third no-hitter of the year in a 4-0 win over the VIPs in Saturday's first game. Leslie Malerich (11-2) picked up the win in the nightcap with her fourth one-hit effort of the campaign.

Smith struck out seven and walked only one. She induced Topton into 14 ground ball outs. Smith also had two hits and scored two runs, while King belted her second home run of the season to left field.

Malerich had 11 strikeouts in the nightcap, while Covington continued her torrid hitting with two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Jen Smith also had a double and drove in a run for the Brakettes.

The scheduled July 8 doubleheader with Topton was postponed by rain. Lordship Fathers' Club Day with the Brakettes, scheduled for that time, will be rescheduled later in the season.


 
National High School Player of the Year

STRATFORD BRAKETTES RECEIVE COMMITMENT FROM 6-FOOT-1 PITCHER CATHERINE "CAT" OSTERMAN

STRATFORD July 6- The most heralded high school softball pitcher in the country will play for the Stratford Brakettes, it was announced today by Manager John Stratton. Six-foot-one Catherine "Cat" Osterman, a hard-throwing left-handed strikeout artist from Houston, TX, officially signed the team's National ASA roster and returned it to Stratton Thursday.

Osterman is a May graduate of Houston's Cypress Springs High School, which has had varsity softball for only three years. She capped a banner senior season with her selection as the 2001 Gatorade National High School Player of the Year. In addition, the National High School Coaches Association named her its 2001 Athlete of the Year.

Cat is a member of the USA National Red Team, which is currently competing in the Canada Cup in Vancouver, B.C. She has already competed in the USA Team Shootout and the 2001 U.S. Cup in Hawaii, where she was named the tournament's most valuable player.

Osterman will join the Brakettes August 9 following the ASA 18-and-Under Gold National Championships and a visit to the University of Texas, where she signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball next season. Osterman's Katy, TX, Cruisers are the defending national champions.

In order for the local fans to see Osterman pitch, the Brakettes have moved their August 8 doubleheader with the Connecticut Classics to Sunday, August 12 at 4 p.m. at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The Brakettes depart the next day for the National ASA Women's Major in Phoenix, AZ. The National tourney is August 15-19.

In leading Cypress Springs to its first District 16-5A title this spring, Osterman compiled a 20-4 overall record. She didn't allow an earned run and only three runs in regulation play (excluding tie-breaker situations). In 184 innings, Cat allowed only 18 hits and nine walks, while she struck out 451 batters, almost 2.5 batters per inning. She posted 20 shutouts and 13 no-hitters this season. Cat allowed only 7 earned runs and 22 walks in her high school career as she struck out 1157 batters in 507 innings.

"We're excited and thrilled," said Stratton. "Cat already is an outstanding pitcher and a very talented young lady. She is only 18-years old, but she has already made a statement in softball circles, both nationally and internationally. We're also getting a wonderful young lady who has super leadership skills and someone who is truly a scholar-athlete."

A member of the National Honor Society since 1999, Osterman was a member of the Superintendent's Student Leadership Council for two years and she graduated cum laude with a 6.071 GPA out of a possible 6.000.

"We have really strengthened our ballclub this year," said Brakettes General Manager Bob Baird. "This team is a lot stronger than the one which finished third in Clearwater, FL, last year. Cat will play a key role in our quest for a 24th national championship. I'm sure she will thrill the home fans for several years."

Osterman, a NFCA First Team All-America pick this year, participated in last year's women's major championship as a pickup player with the host Lady Bombers. In her tourney debut, the then 17-year-old phenom, struck out 23 batters in a nine-inning, 2-1 win over the Phoenix Firebirds. That came days after she led the Cruisers to the Gold Championship in St. Louis where she pitched 53 innings, struck out 106 batters, gave up only 11 hits and fashioned two no-hitters and a perfect game.

Earlier in this high school season, Osterman struck out 33 batters in a 14-inning, 1-0 win over Cy-Fair High School. As a junior, Cat pitched a perfect game against Langham Creek High School by striking out all 21 batters. She is a two-time All-State softball selection and a two-time All District Basketball pick, averaging 16.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 5.4 blocked shots.

In the recent USA Shootout, in which the Red and Blue teams split eight games, Osterman was 1-0 in four appearances. She worked 23.2 innings, allowed 10 hits, five walks and struck out 39 batters. She allowed only one run and held opponents to a .125 batting average.

On June 17, Osterman held the 2000 Gold Medal U.S. Olympic team to one run as the Red Team scored a 2-1 win in 13 innings at UCLA. Osterman worked 9.2 innings, allowed four hits and struck out 13 batters in the nationally-televised ESPN contest.

"She was unbelievable in that game," added Stratton. "Her rise ball was lethal and her change-up kept the likes of Crystal Bustos and Sheila Cornell Douty off balance. She also has a deadly curve ball and drop pitch."

Immediately after that game the Red Team left for Hawaii where it posted a 4-0 record to win the gold medal in the 2001 U.S. Cup. Osterman beat China on June 24 by a 4-0 score as she allowed just one hit and struck out nine. Earlier in the tournament, she beat Japan with a three-hit, 13-strikeout effort.

Named a first team NFCA All-America this spring after leading Cypress Springs to its first District Title, she was chosen the District 16 5A Most Valuable Player. A three-time All-State selection, Osterman led the Cruisers to the ASA Gold National title last year, beating Red Team pitcher Keira Goerl of UCLA, who was the ace of the Orange County Batbusters, for the JO championship.

In 2000, she held the Olympic team scoreless in a five-inning stint in Fort Worth, TX, as she struck out 11 and allowed one hit.



STRATFORD BRAKETTES FINISH WITH 4-1 RECORD IN RAIN-SHORTENED TOPTON TOURNEY

STRATFORD July 4- When it rains, it pours, especially if you are in Topton, PA!

The Stratford Brakettes experienced just that June 29th - July 1st as they participated in the 33rd annual Topton VIP July 4th Tournament at the Lyons Fire Company Complex.

After three straight shutout victories to open the tourney, the Brakettes fell into the loser's bracket with a 1-0, 14-inning setback to the New York Raiders, the only run scoring on a wild pitch on strike three with two outs.

Needing five straight victories to annex the crown, the Brakettes captured one win before a violent thunder and lightning storm, complete with monsoon-like rain, rendered the complex unplayable and cancelled the remainder of the tournament.

"It's too bad the weather had to play a factor," said Manager John Stratton. "The Topton ballclub and community put a lot of effort into the tournament and they deserved better. However, the weather is one thing you can't control."

Finishing tourney play with a 4-1 overall record, the Brakettes were presented the third place trophy as they shared the same spot in the bracket as the New Jersey Divas. The Raiders, who were 5-0, were given the championship trophy and the Montclair Majestics, who lost 3-0 to the Raiders in the winner's bracket final, captured second place. The Majestics were 3-1.

In their tourney opener June 29, the Brakettes blanked the Milton, PA, Stars 7-0 as Leslie Malerich (9-1) and Alicia Smith combined on a three-hitter with 15 strikeouts. Malerich worked the first four innings and allowed two hits and fanned eight. Germaine Fairchild led the 12-hit assault with a 3-for-4 effort. Alicia Smith (two triples), Jen Smith and Frankie Spruce all had two hits with Jen driving in three runs.

A six-run outburst in the top of the first inning paced the Brakettes to a 10-0, five-inning win over the Xplosion of Paramus, NJ, in their morning contest Saturday. Robyn King (2-0) pitched a perfect game and struck out 13. Jen Smith, Martha Covington, Sara Jewett, Spruce and Donna McLean (two) all drove in runs in the first inning. Fairchild and Jewett had two hits apiece.

In their Saturday afternoon game, the Brakettes were pressed by the Ice. Scoreless entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Brakettes broke through when Fairchild singled home Lea Mishlan with the only run of the game. Fairchild had both of the Brakettes' hits.

Theresa Hornick (4-0) pitched her second consecutive no-hitter and she struck out eight. She has allowed only three hits in her four wins.

Expecting to play again at 8 p.m. in the winner's bracket semifinals, the game was delayed until a midnight start. Upon returning to the field, a quick-moving storm forced its postponement until Sunday morning. The Brakettes and Raiders took the field at 9:30 a.m. and they didn't leave until 1 p.m. when the Raiders scored the winning run. Jen Smith pitched the first seven innings before she was relieved by Malerich in the eighth. Both pitchers allowed one hit, while the Brakettes had five. In the decisive rally, a walk and three wild pitches accounted for the Raiders' run.

"The Raiders are a very good team," added Stratton. "They had a great tournament."

In their first loser's bracket game, the Brakettes scored a 5-0 win over the Long Island Angels as King notched her third win. She struck out six, allowed three hits and walked one. The Brakettes scored four times in the second inning with Erica Sobel and McLean driving in a run before Alicia Smith drove in a pair with a hit. Spruce and Sobel both had two hits. Malerich (10-2) captured the win.

Before heading to the Topton tournament, the Brakettes handed the Stratford Breakers a pair of defeats on June 25 at DeLuca Field. Malerich and Hornick both tossed no-hitters against the Breakers, who didn't show up for the Topton Tournament. The Brakettes won by scores of 13-0 and 9-0 in 5-inning, mercy rule games. Malerich struck out 11 and the Brakettes had 13 hits, while Hornick had 10 strikeouts in her game.



BRAKETTES SUFFER FIRST LOSS, BUT BOUNCE BACK TO START NEW 7-GAME WINNING STREAK

STRATFORD June 26- While one winning streak came to an end, it didn't take the Stratford Brakettes long to begin another.

After suffering their first loss of the season, a 1-0, 11-inning thriller to the Long Island Angels on Friday, June 22 at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field, the Brakettes proceeded to reel off seven straight wins to improve their overall record to 16-1.

The Brakettes rebounded in the second game against the Angels to post a 6-1 win. They followed it with doubleheader sweeps over the Royal Ladies of Yardley, PA, on Saturday at DeLuca Field, and the Adirondack Ice on Sunday. Manager John Stratton's team finished the busy slate with a doubleheader sweep over the Hamden Eclipse on Monday night.

Victories over the Ice and Eclipse gave the Brakettes a 6-0 record in the Northeast Seaboard Women's Softball League and a three-game lead over their nearest rival.

The Brakettes return to action on Wednesday, July 27 against the Stratford Breakers in a 7 o'clock twin-bill at DeLuca Field before they travel to Topton, PA, for the 33rd annual July Fourth Invitational tourney.

The Angels scored with one out in the top of the 11th as catcher Megan Scharf walked. She was sacrified to second and leadoff hitter Sara Damon then hit a soft liner to left center. Scharf was given the green light for home. While the throw to catcher Keri McCallum appeared to have her beat, Scharf barrelled into the Brakettes catcher and knocked the ball loose.

The Brakettes outhit the Angels 8-6, but they left 14 runners on base. They left the bases loaded in both the home seventh and eighth innings. Leslie Malerich (5-1) suffered the loss, despite not allowing an earned run. She had nine K's.

Theresa Hornick (1-0) made her season debut in the second game and she allowed only two hits and struck out eight in a 6-1 win. The Angels' run in the fourth inning was unearned. The Brakettes had 10 hits with McCallum, Sara Jewett and Erica Sobel all getting two hits.

Against the Royal Ladies, who entered with a 10-3-1 record, the Brakettes won the doubleheader by scores of 5-0 and 2-0.

Robyn King (2-0) won the opener as she spaced four hits and struck out eight. McCallum gave the Brakettes a 1-0 first-inning lead as she scored on an error. The Brakettes broke it open with a three-run second inning as Emily Robustelli singled in a run and Alicia Smith added a two-run hit. Frankie Spruce's RBI single in the third capped the scoring.

In the nightcap, Malerich (6-1) allowed three hits and struck out four in a 2-0, five-inning victory. Rain washed out the final two frames. Wilkerson had both of the Brakettes' hits, a double in the first and a home run in the fifth. Robustelli, who drew a leadoff walk in the second, scored the first run on a wild pitch.

In Sunday's road trip to Clifton Commons, NY, the Brakettes took care of the Adirondack Ice in a Northeast Seaboard Women's Fastpitch League doubleheader by scores of 15-0 and 16-0. Both games were called after five innings because of the league's mercy rule.

Jen Smith (4-0) who pitched the first game win, hurled a one-hitter with four strikeouts. The Brakettes scored three runs in the first inning, two in the second and eight in the third. McCallum had two hits, a double and triple, and she drove in a run. Alicia Smith, Sara Jewett and Martha Covington all drove in two runs with Covington also hitting safely twice.

Hornick (2-0) hurled a one-hitter in the nightcap with six strikeouts. Spruce went 2-for-2 with an RBI, while McCallum had a triple and three RBI. Spruce and King both had two hits.

Against the Eclipse, the Brakettes won by scores of 10-1 and 8-0 in a two abbreviated games. Malerich (7-1) received a 15-hit attack in the opener. However, the run by the Eclipse was the first earned run surrendered by the Brakettes this season. The Brakettes scored six runs to open the first inning of the first game.

In the second game, the Brakettes had a pair of three-run rallies. Alicia Smith (1-0) made her first mound appearance since last year's league tournament.



BRAKETTES' BATS BOOMING IN SWEEP OVER ALLENTOWN PATES

STRATFORD, CT June 18- The Stratford Brakettes were prepared for two hard-fought softball games with the Allentown, PA, Pates. It didn't turn out that way, however, as the Brakettes combined strong pitching with solid hitting to post a pair of 8-0, abbreviated victories in their Northeast Seaboard Women's Softball League opener last Saturday night (June 16) at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame field.

With an announced crowd of 528 on hand, the Brakettes relied upon the one-two pitching punch of Leslie Malerich (5-0) and Jen Smith (3-0) to run their overall mark to 9-0. Sunday's scheduled doubleheader with the B.A.T.S. of Hopewell Junction, NY, was cancelled because of rain.

The Brakettes face a busy slate beginning Friday night, June 22 as the Long Island Angels visit Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field for a 7:30 p.m. twin-bill. On Saturday, June 23, the Royal Ladies of Yardley, PA, come to town for a 7 p.m. doubleheader. The Brakettes then resume league play on Sunday in Albany, NY, against the Adirondack Ice before they entertain the Hamden Eclipse on Monday, June 25 at 7 at DeLuca Field. The Eclipse game was pushed back from June 20.

"I was really surprised," said Brakettes' manager John Stratton. "The Pates are a very good team. We just were fortunate to see the ball well and get some breaks. I was especially pleased with our hitting."

Providing a big lift with the bat again was Smith, the left fielder-pitcher who leads the team with her .480 batting average, and Robyn King, another pitcher who was playing first base. King belted a three-run home run in the fourth inning of the first game to break things wide open.

Allentown, 7-3 overall and 1-3 in league play, had finished runnerup to the Brakettes in two of the last three years. With veteran Dawn Becker, 4-2, on the hill, local fans had settled in for a lengthy duel. That notion ended in the third inning as Jen Smith drilled a two-run single up the middle to begin the scoring. King then made it 5-0 in the fourth with her home run. The Brakettes ended the game by scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth for an 8-0 lead, which invoked the league's mercy rule.

Malerich allowed the first two Pates to reach base to begin the game. She settled down to retire the final 13 in a row. The Florida State junior has allowed only six hits in posting five wins.

Emily Robustelli had two hits, while Alicia Smith had a two-run double to aid the first game effort.

Jen Smith scattered two hits in the nightcap for her third straight win.

The Brakettes took a 2-0 lead in the second inning as Erica Sobel's sac fly plated Sarah Jewett. Alicia Smith then delivered an RBI single.

A six-run outburst in the fourth inning resulted in another mercy-rule game. With one out, Sobel singled to left and moved up on a passed ball. Robustelli drew a walk and Alicia Smith singled to load the bases. Jen Smith drove in Sobel with a single before Germaine Fairchild's sac fly was booted in right, allowing two runs to score. Jewett capped the scoring with a three-run home run to left center.

In addition to Jen Smith, Lea Mishlan is hitting .444 and Robustelli .407.



BRAKETTES BRIEFS- Both catcher Keri McCallum and outfielder Kellie Wilkerson, members of the USA National Team, will be in action this weekend. They both participated in Sunday's doubleheader at UCLA. . .It will be Franklin School Night Friday against the Angels and Orange Little League Night against the Royal Ladies. The doubleheader with the Eclipse has been designated as Stratford B.O.E. Night with all teachers, staff and board employees and their families the guests of the Brakettes. . .The Brakettes will compete in their first tournament of the season when they depart for the Topton July 4th Invitational next Thursday. . .The July 13-14 weekend series with the Phoenix Storm could be a preview of this year's National Championship. The Storm, which captured the ASA crown in Clearwater, FL, last August feature several members of the recently-crowned NCAA champion Arizona team, including 31-0 pitcher Jenny Finch. . .Brakette pitchers have not allowed an earned run thus far.



BRAKETTES FINALLY ALLOW A RUN, BUT REMAIN UNDEFEATED

STRATFORD, CT., June 10th -- It had to happen sooner or later and it did Sunday afternoon at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The Stratford Brakettes finally surrendered a run. But it didn't matter as the Brakettes extended their unbeaten string with a doubleheader sweep of the Northeast Magic of Albany, NY. The Brakettes now stand 7-0.

After beginning the year with six straight shutouts, including Sunday's 4-0 opening game triumph over the Magic, the Brakettes saw their unscored upon status end with two outs in the top of the fourth inning of the second game. A throwing error by winning pitcher Jen Smith (2-0) enabled the Magic to score a run.

Smith, who had two hits, had crushed a double to put the Brakettes on the board to begin the second game. Germaine Fairchild also drove in a run. The Brakettes prevailed 4-1.

Through seven games, the Brakettes have outscored their opponents 56-1. While the bats have been extremely productive, the pitching has been even better. In Smith's victory Sunday, she allowed only an infield single.

Florida State standout Leslie Malerich (4-0) picked up the win in Sunday's opener as she allowed only one hit and struck out 12. Malerich didn't allow a ball to leave the infield in the game. She has followed her season-opening no-hitter with three successive one-hit efforts.

The Brakettes scored all their runs in the home second. Sara Jewett delivered the first run with a single to center scoring Fairchild. Robyn King then followed with a two-run double and Alicia Smith drove in the final run with a single. King, Martha Covington and Fairchild also had two hits.

On Saturday afternoon in West Islip, NY, the Brakettes blanked the Long Island Angels by scores of 8-0 and 13-0.

In Saturday's opener, Malerich struck out eight and allowed one hit in the six-inning (mercy rule) game. The Brakettes scored seven runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth.

Jen Smith's two-run double and an RBI double by Germaine Fairchild highlighted the uprising, which also saw the Brakettes receive four straight bases on balls. Lea Mishlan, of Pearland, TX, led the 10-hit offensive with a 3-for-4 outing. Fairchild went 2-for-3 with a double and RBI.

Robyn King, the America East Conference Pitcher of the Year, made her season debut in Saturday's second game with a four-hit, three strikeout performance. It was King's first mound appearance as a Brakette since 1999. She didn't pitch at all last year for the Brakettes because of arm problems.

A six-run first inning put the game away early. Donna McLean, who had three hits, crushed a three-run home run in the first inning. She also drove in a run in the second inning with a single. Mishlan had another 3-for-4 outing with a pair of doubles and four RBI. Jen Smith added three hits, while Frankie Spruce, Emily Robustelli and Sara Jewett all had two hits.



STRATFORD BRAKETTES SWEEP SEAHAWKS TO OPEN SEASON

STRATFORD, CT June 5- The wet, rainy weather pattern that has plagued the start of the Stratford Brakettes softball season finally broke enough for the team to get into action last weekend. Manager John Stratton's Brakettes were anxious to get started and they didn't waste any time in showing the fans at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field that this team is very talented.

Scoring seven runs in their first at bat, the Brakettes rolled to an abbreviated 9-0 win over the Stratford Seahawks Saturday night, June 2nd, in their belated season opener. The Brakettes swept Sunday's twin-bill over the Seahawks by scores of 8-0 and 11-0.

The 3-0 Stratford Brakettes return to action this weekend when they host the Northeast Magic of Albany at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 10th, at DeLuca Field. The Brakettes will be in West Islip, LI, Saturday, June 9th, for a 1 p.m. doubleheader with the Long Island Angels.

Newcomer Leslie Malerich, the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, made a superb debut for the Brakettes by picking up a pair of victories. Malerich recorded a no-hitter and struck out 10 Seahawks in the Saturday opener. She also pitched the series finale Sunday, allowing only one hit and striking out 16 batters.

Jen Smith, who led last year's pitching staff with a 14-4 record, made her debut in Sunday's opener and she responded with a no-hitter and five strikeout effort.

"Considering we had only one workout and the weather has been so bad, I was really pleased with our effort," said Stratton. "The pitching was outstanding. Leslie and Jen had control of their pitches and overpowered the batters. This year the pitching distance has been moved back to 43 feet and our pitchers still managed to dominate."

The Brakettes were on top of their game at the plate as well. For the series, the Brakettes hit .370 (30-for-81) with five doubles and two home runs. Leading the attack was Jen Smith (.667, 4-for-6), shortstop Lea Mishlan (.571, 4-for-7) and Germaine Fairchild (.500, 5-for-10). Emily Robustelli (.444), Martha Covington (.400) and Frankie Spruce (.300) also swung impressive bats.

In the season opener, Covington's fielder's choice delivered Robustelli with the first run. Mishlan's two-run single to left made it 3-0 and Spruce followed with a three-run homer over the left field fence. Fairchild had a RBI single in the second and Alicia Smith drove in a run in the third.

In Sunday's first game, the Brakettes gave Malerich a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Jen Smith and Mishlan delivered RBI base hits. Jen Smith, who had three hits and drove in five runs in the game, had two-run doubles in the fifth and sixth frames. Robustelli singled in the other run.

Mishlan went 3-for-3 and Robustelli added two hits, while Smith saw her bid for a perfect game end on an error with one out in the seventh inning.

Fairchild was 4-for-4 with six RBI and three runs scored in the nightcap. Robustelli and Covington both added a pair of hits to support Malerich's pitching. The Florida State pitcher walked four in the game and struck out at least two Seahawks in every inning.