Aug 20 Connecticut Post article #1 Connecticut Post article #2 New Haven Register article articles at spysoftball.com Aug 19 Connecticut Post article New Haven Register article Aug 18 Connecticut Post article Saturday's Connecticut Post article Aug 17 New Haven Register article Aug 16 Brackets have been posted on tournament site   (best viewed with Internet Explorer) New Haven Register article Aug 15 New Haven Register article Aug 14 Connecticut Post article Aug 7 Connecticut Post article Aug 6 Connecticut Post article

Click image to access the tournament website. Brakettes' tournament linescores posted below.

The players who didn't see action were pitcher Kaci Clark 11 (27-0), 341 Ks, 0.13 ERA), leading hitter and first baseman Kellie Wilkerson (.561, 37-for-66), and shortstop Lea Mishlan (.352, 37 RBI).

Mishlan suffered a neck injury in the team's 2-0 and 1-0 sweep over Teamsmith Nationals, a touring professional squad, on Aug. 7 at DeLuca Field.

She returned to action in the win over the Seahawks and had two of the team's four hits and also an RBI.

Stratton will have a deep and rested pitching staff set for action in the national meet.

In addition to Clark, Olympian Danielle Henderson (21-1, 0.31, 220 Ks), Nikki Myers (15-0, 0.08 ERA, 164 K's) and newcomer Cat Osterman (4-0, 53 K's in 24 innings) give the Brakettes one of the finest staffs in their 56-year history.

Osterman was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher in the Northeast Seaboard Women's Fastpitch League Tournament as she went 2-0 and struck out 28 batters in 12 innings.

Possessing a .381 team batting average, the Brakettes' top hitters include Myers (.431, 53-123, 31 RBI), Keri McCallum (.425, 51-120, 46 runs scored), Germaine Fairchild (.404, 76-188, 58 RBI) and Robyn King (.402 49-122).

Fairchild was named the league's MVP after hitting more than .600 and belting a pair of game-winning homers, including a 240-foot blast in the title game triumph over the Ice.

The Brakettes enter tourney play with 137 doubles (team record), 46 triples and 40 home runs, which is one off the 1993 record.

In the individual homer derby, Michelle Gates (.391 and 48 RB) leads with seven while Fairchild, Sara Jewett (.364 and 47 RBI) and Jen Smith (.344 and 46 RBI) all have six.

Second baseman Erica Sobel (.331) moved up in the chase as she belted four homers in the last nine games.

The Brakettes crushed nine home runs in the league tournament.

Results from last week were:

Brakettes 8, Ice 0

Osterman followed up on a perfect game (vs. Eclipse) and no-hitter (vs. Teamsmith) with a one-hit, 13-strikeout effort in a five-inning opening round win over the Ice.

Alicia Smith and Sobel hit homers, while Gates and Sobel (3 RBl) had two hits each.

Brakettes 8, Patriots 3

Myers gave up three hits and three unearned runs, and the Brakettes rallied for a win over the Patriots.

Fairchild's three-run home run in the home fourth inning turned a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead.

Karrie Rider also homered.

Fairchild went four-for-four and drove in four runs.

Brakettes 8, Classics 0

Henderson pitched a no-hitter and fanned five as the Brakettes stopped the Classics in a six-inning duel as they scored five times in the sixth, capped by Myers three-run homer.

Myers had three hits and drove in four runs, while King had three hits and McCallum and Jewett two each.

Brakettes 9, Eclipse 0

Myers tossed a five-inning no-hitter and fanned nine.

Jen Smith, Gates and Sobel hit home runs.

Jen Smith had a three-for-three outing with three RBI.
The Brakettes broke open the contest with a four-run first inning. They added four more in the sixth.

Frankie Spruce had two hits and drove in four runs.

Brakettes 9, Patriots 1

Henderson scattered three hits and fanned eight in the semifinals.

Alicia Smith, King and Sobel all had two hits.

Brakettes 2, Ice 1

In the finals, Myers drove in McCallum with a double for a 1-0 lead in the first.

Randi Isaacs homered off Osterman, who had 15 K's, in the second to tie the game.

It was the first earned run allowed by the talented southpaw pitcher in two years with the Brakettes.

Fairchild put the Brakettes ahead with a two-out home run in the top of the sixth.

The victory enabled the Brakettes to go through the regular season and tournament unbeaten at 22-0 against league foes.

Brakettes 3, Seahawks 0

Myers struck out 12 and allowed three hits in posting her 15th win.

In addition to Mishlan, Gates and Jewett also had hits for the Brakettes, who finished the season with a 20-game winning streak.


BRAKETTES BOUNCE BACK FROM SEASON'S FIRST LOSS

STRATFORD Aug 8- After a successful mid-west road swing, the Stratford Brakettes returned to Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field to open a prolonged home stand. While the Brakettes dropped their first game of the season on the trip, manager John Stratton was pleased with his team's performance against talented opponents.

The Brakettes finished the road trip with a 7-1 record. One doubleheader was cancelled because of rain.

Last Sunday night the Brakettes swept a double-header from the Holland, Pa., Blazing Angels to improve their record to 62-1 on the season.

Scheduled for doubleheaders against the Hamden Eclipse on Tuesday night and the Teamsmith Nationals touring pro team on Wednesday night, the Brakettes will open defense of their Northeast Seaboard Women's Major Fastpitch League title this weekend at DeLuca Field.

The five league teams will play a round robin schedule before the tourney moves into single-elimination action Sunday.

The Brakettes are scheduled for games on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. vs. the Adirondack Ice, 5:45 p.m. vs. the Allentown Pates and 7:30 p.m. vs. the Connecticut Classsics.

They complete the round robin Sunday morning against the Eclipse. Elimination round play begins later Sunday with the finals set for 5 p.m.

After thunderstorms washed away last Monday's scheduled twin-bill with the Bloomington Lady Hearts, the Brakettes traveled to Peoria, Ill., to face the Lady Rage on Tuesday, July 30.

The 30-7 Rage, who finished runner-up for the state title, scored two unearned runs in the third inning to post a 2-1 win, snapping the Brakettes' 53-game unbeaten string.

The Brakettes scored a 2-0 win in the nightcap.

On Wednesday, July 31, the Brakettes returned to Bloomington to sweep the Lady Hearts 5-0 and 4-2 at Illinois Wesleyan University field.

The Brakettes then took two games from Avanti's of East Peoria by scores of 11-1 and 2-0 Thursday, Aug. 1, before they finished the trip with a pair of 7-0 wins over the Celina, Ohio, Suns Friday night, Aug. 2.

"We had a successful trip. After the first game, our hitters came alive and we did pretty much what we wanted to do," said Stratton.

"The teams we played were high caliber and the competition should really help us for the upcoming league and national tournaments."

Brakettes 1-2, Lady Rage 2-0

Three errors in the third inning helped the Lady Rage end the Brakettes win streak. Pitcher Lisa Birocci (9-1) overcame several threats to post the win.

The Brakettes left nine runners on base, including a leadoff triple in the fourth inning. Leah Mishlan drove in the Brakettes' run in the fifth inning.

Danielle Henderson suffered her first loss of the year.

Kaci Clark pitched a two-hitter in the nightcap with both singles coming in the seventh inning.

The game went to the international tie-breaker in the eighth and Kellie Wilkerson and Germaine Fairchild delivered RBI sac flies to produce the win.

Clark fanned 12 Lady Rage hitters. The Peoria team fell to 30-8.

Brakettes 5-4, Hearts 0-2

Myers scattered six hits and struck out eight as the Brakettes won the opener. Myers and Jen Smith both went three-for-four with an RBI and Fairchild had two hits and drove in a run.

Two Brakettes errors resulted in a pair of unearned runs in the first inning as the Lady Hearts jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

Fairchild's two-run home run in the third inning highlighted a three-run outburst as the Brakettes had 14 hits in the win.

Kellie Wilkerson was two-for-three with a double and run scored and Frankie Spruce had three hits.

The Hearts dropped to 24-16.

Brakettes 11-2, Avanti's 1-0

Henderson pitched a one-hitter in the opener and the Brakettes unleashed a 14-hit attack. Donna McLean went two-for-three with a double.

Clark tossed a perfect game with 17 strikeouts in the nightcap.

Alicia Smith had four hits in the doubleheader, while McLean had an assist from right field to preserve Clark's gem.

McLean has thrown out 12 runners at first base on potential hits to right field.

Brakettes 7-7, Celina Suns 0-0

Myers stopped the Suns on no hits and the Brakettes broke through in the top of the seventh inning for eight hits and seven runs.

Pinch-hitter Wilkerson drove in the gamer before Alicia Smith had a bases-clearing triple.

Sara Jewett and Robyn King had RBI singles in the inning.

Clark came within a leadoff walk in the fifth of her second straight perfect game as she struck out 16 batters for the 60-1 Brakettes.

Michelle Gates had a three-run home run and Myers went two-for-two in the win.

The Suns fell to 20-16.


STRATFORD BRAKETTES (38-0) BEGIN BIG ROAD TRIP;
TEAM SPORTS ROBUST .391 BATTING AVERAGE AND 18 HOME RUNS

STRATFORD July 17- The Stratford Brakettes face the toughest part of the 2002 season during the next two weeks. During that span they will play 23 of 27 games on the road before returning home to Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field to prepare for the National Tournament.

Following eight more wins last week, the Brakettes extended their unbeaten record to 38-0 as they head to Pennsylvania for 13 games in the next five days. Manager John Stratton’s ballclub will play doubleheaders against the Topton VIPs (Wednesday), Allentown Patriots (Thursday) and Lehigh Valley Lady Gators (Friday) before they begin their two-time title defense in the Bob Caravan Memorial Tournament in Allentown over the weekend.

The Brakettes will return home for twin-bills against the Connecticut Classics (July 24) and the VIPs (July 27) before they start a 7-day, 10-game midwest road trip against five teams who will be competing in the National ASA tournament August 16-20 at DeLuca Field.

“I really like the way we’re playing,” said Stratton after the Brakettes beat the XPlosion in Paramus, NJ, Sunday night by scores of 9-0 and 11-0. Earlier in the week they swept twin-bills from the Connecticut Classics, Adirondack Ice and Lady Gators.

The Brakettes also boast a 10-0 record in the Northeast Seaboard Women’s Fastpitch League, owning a four-game edge over second-place Allentown (6-4). The Brakettes take a .391 team batting average into the road trip. They have outscored the opposition 299-11 on the season. They have stroked 81 doubles, 20 triples and 18 home runs to date. Germaine Fairchild continues to lead in RBI with 33 while Jen Smith has 27 and Sara Jewett 25. Kellie Wilkerson (.600) is the team’s hitting leader.

In the victory over the XPlosion, Jen Smith (3-0) pitched a two-hitter and struck out eight in the 9-0 win. Lea Mishlan was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored and Robyn King had two hits and two RBI.

Nikki Myers recorded her seventh victory with a no-hitter and nine strikeouts in the nightcap. Myers has allowed only nine hits and struck out 84 batters in 43 innings of work. Michelle Gates led the attack with a 3-for-3 performance and two RBI, while catcher Keri McCallum had four hits and scored two runs. Myers also ranks second in hitting with a .562 average.

Brakettes 4-7, Classics 1-0

Myers pitched a three-hitter and struck out 13 Classics in the 4-1 win. Mishlan and Alicia Smith both had two hits.

Henderson struck out 11 and hurled a no-hitter in the nightcap as the Brakettes crushed 10 hits against two Classics pitchers. Myers went 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Fairchild had two hits.

Brakettes 3-5, Ice 1-0

After spotting the Adirondack Ice a 1-0 lead via two walks and a wild pitch in the second inning, Danielle Henderson stopped the Albany, NY squad the rest of the way as she struck out 10 hitters. Mishlan hit a two-run homer in the second inning, while Alicia Smith had an RBI single in the fourth in the first-game win.

Kaci Clark scattered two hits and struck out 11 Ice hitters in the 5-0 win. The Brakettes scored in the first inning as Mishlan tripled and scored on a throwing error. They scored four runs in the second inning as Frankie Spruce had an RBI single, Jen Smith doubled home a run and Mishlan had an RBI single. Mishlan had two of the team’s nine hits.

Brakettes 8-5, Lady Gators 0-0

Myers allowed only two hits and struck out 10 Lady Gators in the opener as the Brakettes did all their scoring in the first three innings. Jen Smith, Myers and Gates all drove in runs in the first inning, while Jen Smith doubled in two runs in the second. Sara Jewett hit her fourth home run of the season, a two-run clout in the third inning.

Clark (15-0) pitched her eighth one-hitter in the nightcap and fanned 15 Lady Gators. She upped her total to 194 in 93 innings. King and Alicia Smith had two hits while Smith belted a home run and drove in three runs.

BRAKETTES BRIEFS- Each time a Brakettes player hits a home run at DeLuca Field, she receives a complimentary pizza from Lordship Pizza. Last week’s bevy of home runs prompted owner Bo Ernst to say he would be coming down to the field to give the Brakettes bunting lessons before they put him out of business. . .Wilkerson was 2-for-6 with two RBI and pitcher Cat Osterman earned both wins as the USA Elite Team opened with a pair of wins in the Canada Cup. Both players will join the team after the tournament ends in Surrey, BC, July 22. . . The Brakettes team family lost a close friend when Bill Feth, manager of the Celina Suns, passed away last Thursday. Feth brought his team to Stratford nine times over the past 15 years and the Suns participated in the last three nationals here. The Brakettes will meet the Suns in Celina on their trip August 1. . . When the Teamsmith Nationals visit DeLuca Field August 7 for a doubleheader they will feature former Olympians Julie Smith and Kim Maher and eight players from the women’s professional league.


BRAKETTES CAPTURE TOPTON TOURNAMENT CROWN;
RETURN HOME FOR GAMES FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS

STRATFORD July 9- The Stratford Brakettes turned in one of the most dominating performances in the 34-year history of the Topton, PA, July 4th Invitational tournament last weekend as they captured the championship. Winning five consecutive games via the shutout route, the Brakettes won the title with a 6-0 win over the Allentown, PA, Spirit.

By virtue of the title, the Brakettes extended their unbeaten string to 30-0 entering Wednesday night’s Northeast Seaboard League doubleheader at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field with the Connecticut Classics. Manager John Stratton’s club returns to home action Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the Adirondack Ice and Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Lehigh Valley Lady Gators before they travel to Parsippany, NJ, for a 6:30 p.m. Sunday twin-bill against the XPlosion.

"It was a very good test for us," said Stratton. "We had outstanding pitching, strong hitting and we committed only one error in the tournament. This ballclub continues to improve with each game."

Leading the Brakettes in the tourney were pitchers Kaci Clark (13-0) and Danielle Henderson (8-0) and hitters Kellie Wilkerson (9-for-15) and Nikki Myers (7-for-13). All four were named to the all-tournament team with Clark also receiving the Most Outstanding Pitcher Award. She pitched a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts in the 6-0 winner’s bracket semi-final victory against the Long Island Angels and followed it with a 1-hit, 11-strikeout performance against the Divas of New Jersey in the winner’s bracket final.

The Spirit, 6-2 in the tourney, staged two comebacks to reach the finals. They stormed back from a 4-1 deficit to the Angels to win 6-4 before surprising the Divas 5-4 in the loser’s bracket final. Trailing 4-0 entering the home sixth, the Spirit scored two in the sixth and left the Divas on the field with a three-run seventh inning.

Stratford wasted little time in scoring against the Spirit as Wilkerson drove in Keri McCallum, who walked and was sacrficed to second by Sara Jewett, for a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Germaine Fairchild followed with an RBI triple and Myers’ infield out also produced a run for a 3-0 lead. In the Brakettes’ sixth, Frankie Spruce and Jewett had RBI hits as the Brakettes collected four base hits. Spruce had three hits to lead the attack, while Henderson allowed five singles and struck out 10 batters.

Clark allowed only a third-inning single to left in the win over the Divas. Once again it was Wilkerson getting the Brakettes on the scoreboard first as she doubled and scored on Myers’ RBI single to left in the first inning. The Brakettes added two runs in the fourth thanks to a pair of wild pitches. Wilkerson and Fairchild drove in runs in the sixth inning. Wilkerson led with a 3-for-4 outing, while Myers, McCallum, Alicia Smith and Eric Sobel had two hits each.

Against the Angels, Clark came within a walk of a perfect game. The Brakettes had seven hits against the Angels' Erin Wright, an All-SEC pick from Alabama. Myers doubled and scored on an error in the second inning before Fairchild tripled in Jewett in the third. Fairchild and Myers drove in runs in the three-run fifth.

In the quarterfinals, Henderson stopped the Allentown Pates 12-0 in a 5-run mercy game. She allowed three hits and fanned four. Jewett led the 11-hit attack with three safeties, while Robyn King added a pair of hits.

Myers struck out 15 and hurled a two-hitter in the opener against the Lady Gators, a 6-0 win. Jen Smith, Fairchild and Myers all had two hits for the Brakettes.

Following this weekend’s action, the Brakettes will be on the road for 13 games before returning home to play the Classics on July 24.


BRAKETTES CONTINUE TORRID HITTING IN 6-GAME SWEEP;
TRAVEL TO TOPTON TOURNAMENT FOR WEEKEND ACTION

STRATFORD July 1- Great pitching and plenty of hitting have been the ingredients thus far as the Stratford Brakettes raised to a 23-0 record with six wins last weekend and Manager John Stratton is hoping that combination will continue this weekend in Topton, PA.

The Brakettes, who play host to the Connecticut Tradition tonight (Wednesday, July 3) in a 6 o’clock doubleheader at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field, will begin play in the 34th annual Topton July 4th Invitational tournament Friday at 9:30 p.m. against the Lehigh Valley Lady Gators at Lyons Park. Sixteen teams are entered in the double-elimination tournament that continues through Sunday. The Brakettes, with a win over the Gators, will play again at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Also in the Brakettes’ bracket are the New York Raiders and Allentown Pates. The Topton VIPs, unbeaten in 18 games, are in the upper bracket with the Connecticut Classics, Adirondack Ice and New Jersey Divas.

There is no admission charge for the twin-bill against the Tradition. The Brakettes also will conduct their annual home run derby between games and fans will then be treated to the annual Town’s fireworks display from Short Beach.

Last weekend the Brakettes won six more games, three of them via the no-hit route and two others were 1-hitters. Kaci Clark continued her outstanding mound work by tossing a 1-hitter in Friday’s split doubleheader win over the Danbury Debs and Stratford Seahawks. She also no-hit the Seahawks again Saturday night and the Hamden Eclipse Sunday.

Newcomer Nikki Myers made an exciting debut for the Brakettes as she 1-hit the Danbury Debs in Friday’s 4-0 opener and no-hit the Seahawks 11-0 Saturday. Robyn King, who hadn’t pitched since June 2, had a three-hitter in an 11-1 win over the Eclipse in Sunday’s finale.

The Brakettes are hitting an unbelievable .415 as a team with 61 doubles, 12 triples and 13 home runs in less than one-third of the season. Germaine Fairchild, Sara Jewett and Jen Smith are the leaders with three apiece.

Brakettes 4, Danbury Debs 1; Brakettes 9, Stratford Seahawks 0

Myers, who had just arrived from Florida at 4 a.m. Friday morning, made her debut a spectacular one with a 12-strikeout effort against the Debs. Alicia Smith (two), Michelle Gates, Erica Sobel and Robyn King all doubled for the Brakettes.

Against the Seahawks, Clark tossed her third straight 1-hitter with 16 strikeouts in the six-inning game. Jen Smith crushed a two-run homer to right field to end the game in the home sixth. Karrie Rider, Sobel and Donna McLean also added two hits.

Brakettes 11-8, Stratford Seahawks 0-0

Myers (2-0) pitched a no-hitter and fanned nine in a five-inning mercy game while Kellie Wilkerson and Jen Smith both had three hits. Fairchild hit a three-run homer in the first inning. Jewett and Frankie Spruce added two RBI each.

Clark struck out 13 in the nightcap as she authored her fifth no-hitter of the season. Gates led with three hits, while Wilkerson and Gates drove in two runs each.

Brakettes 15-11, Hamden Eclipse 0-1

Fairchild belted a three-run homer in the first and Clark (11-0) made it six no-hitters in her last nine games as she fanned nine in the five-inning tussle. The Brakettes had 16 hits with Keri McCallum, Rider, Wilkerson, Jen Smith, Alicia Smith and Sobel getting two apiece.

King allowed three hits and the only run was unearned in the nightcap. The Brakettes are now 6-0 in the Northeast Seaboard Women’s Fastpitch League. Myers and Jewett crushed home runs over the 225-foot fence.


BRAKETTES REGISTER SIX WINS TO RAISE RECORD TO 17-0

STRATFORD June 24- The Stratford Brakettes registered six more victories last weekend to extend their unbeaten string to 17 as they prepare to begin a 10-game home stand at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The latest wins came in Albany, NY, on Sunday as the Brakettes swept the Adirondack Ice by scores of 3-0 and 4-0 in a Northeast Seaboard Women’s Fastpitch League doubleheader.

The Brakettes defeated the Long Island Angels 9-1 and 9-0 Friday night before they stopped the Xplosion of Paramus, NJ, 8-0 and 15-0 on Saturday.

Manager John Stratton’s team will be home through July 3 as they play five doubleheaders. Following the Wednesday, June 26 twin-bill with the Stratford Breakers, the Brakettes take on the Danbury Debs/Stratford Seahawks in a split doubleheader on Friday (June 28) at 6:30 p.m., which is Lordship Father’s Club Night. The Seahawks visit town on Saturday for a 7 p.m. pair in Stratford PAL Girls’ Softball League night before the Hamden Eclipse are in action Sunday at 6 p.m.

The finale of the home stand is against the Connecticut Tradition on Wednesday, July 3 in a 6 p.m. doubleheader. The Brakettes management has announced there will be no admission charge that evening. All fans are welcome to watch the doubleheader and remain in the stands for the town’s annual fireworks display, which is conducted at Short Beach.

Brakettes 3-4, Ice 0-0
Danielle Henderson pitched a two-hitter and struck out 13 hitters as the Brakettes took the opener from the Ice (3-2, 0-2). Alicia Smith had two hits and drove in a run. Henderson raised her record to 5-0.

In the nightcap, Kaci Clark (8-0) pitched a 1-hitter and struck out 10 for the Brakettes, who are 4-0 in league standings. Keri McCallum went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Michelle Gates had two hits, including a triple.

Brakettes 8-15, Xplosion 0-0
Jen Smith (2-0) allowed a pair of infield hits and struck out nine as the Brakettes copped the opener of a mercy-rule doubleheader.

Clark saw her string of four straight no-hitters come to an end as she one-hit the Paramus team in the nightcap. Lea Mishlan and Jen Smith had three RBI, while McCallum, Karrie Rider and Erica Sobel had two hits each.

Brakettes 9-9, Angels 1-0
The Angels surprised the crowd by taking a 1-0 first inning lead off late starter Jen Smith. A traffic jam prevented Henderson and Clark from arriving on time for the opener. Henderson relieved in the second inning and limited the Angels to one hit to pick up the triumph. McCallum and Frankie Spruce had a pair of hits and Jen Smith drove in three runs and Mishlan added two.

Clark struck out 11 in the abbreviated nightcap and allowed only one baserunner via a walk. Donna McLean drove in three runs and Germaine Fairchild added a pair with her two-run homer in the first inning.


EVERYTHING COMES UP ACES FOR BRAKETTES AS THEY ROLL PAST CANADIAN TEAM, 16-0 AND 17-0

STRATFORD June 17- It was supposed to be a good test, but the expected battle never materialized as the Stratford Brakettes rolled to a pair of one-sided victories over the visiting Kars Aces of Ontario, Canada, last Saturday night at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The scheduled Sunday doubleheader was postponed because of wet grounds.

The Brakettes won the opener 16-0 in a five-inning game, while they also copped the nightcap, 17-0, in a game that went six innings. Danielle Henderson (3-0) and Kaci Clark (5-0) both hurled no-hitters for the Brakettes.

Possessing an 11-0 overall record, the Brakettes return to action Friday night (June 21) when they host the Long Island Angels in a 7:30 p.m. doubleheader at DeLuca Field. The Xplosion of Paramus, NJ, visits town Saturday (June 22) for a 7 p.m. twin-bill before the Brakettes travel to Albany, NY, for a 1 p.m. Sunday doubleheader with the Adirondack Ice.

Henderson authored a perfect game and she struck out 10 batters in the opener. It was her second consecutive no-hitter and she has allowed just an infield base hit in her three wins while she has struck out 28 batters.

After failing to score in the first frame, the Brakettes jumped on loser Jen Woodcock for five runs in the second inning. Lea Mishlan walked, and after two were out, walks to Frankie Spruce and Keri McCallum loaded the bases. Sara Jewett quickly cleared them with a grand slam home run to center field for a 4-0 lead. On the first pitch to Kellie Wilkerson, the power-hitting left-handed slugger deposited the ball over the outfield fence in right field for a 5-0 lead.

The Brakettes used a 10-run fourth inning to turn the game into a rout. They had eight hits and used two Aces’ errors to tally their runs. Wilkerson, who was 5-for-7 in the twin-bill, had two hits in the inning. She was 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in the opener.

Mishlan and Karrie Rider, who drove in three runs, both had two hits.

In the nightcap, Clark allowed only a two-out walk to Mitch Ste Marie in the fifth inning. She struck out 14 batters and displayed excellent control. It was her third straight no-hit performance and the team’s fifth in a row. Clark leads with 72 strikeouts in 32 innings.

The Brakettes scored four runs in the second inning and five in the third before an 8-run uprising in the fifth resulted in another mercy game. Michelle Gates, Erica Sobel and Donna McLean all had three hits in the game with Jen Smith, McLean and Alicia Smith driving in three runs each.

BRAKETTES BRIEFS- Saturday is Seymour Girls Softball League night at DeLuca Field. . . The combined ERA of the pitching staff is 0.22, while opposing hitters are a paltry 8-for-233. . .Robyn King has taken over the batting lead at .562 (9-for-16), while Germaine Fairchild slipped to .545 (18-for-33). . .The Brakettes have accounted 39 extra base hits, highlighted by 28 doubles, in their first 11 games and they have outscored the opposition 116-6. . .Nikki Myers will make her debut for the Brakettes on June 28, while Manager John Stratton expects to have the entire team available for the Topton July 4th tournament.


KACI CLARK, DANIELLE HENDERSON ALMOST UNTOUCHABLE AS STRATFORD BRAKETTES WIN 4 GAMES, RAISE RECORD TO 9-0

STRATFORD June 11- It was Kaci Clark and Danielle Henderson on Saturday and Danielle Henderson and Kaci Clark on Sunday. Either way, the pitching tandem was almost untouchable last weekend as the Stratford Brakettes swept doubleheaders against the Long Island Angels and Stratford Seahawks.

The combined pitching talents accounted for three no-hitters, four shutouts, 60 strikeouts and only one base hit as the Brakettes ran their record to 9-0. Manager John Stratton’s club returns to action this weekend against the KARS Aces of Ontario, Canada at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The teams play a doubleheader at 7 p.m. Saturday and another twin-bill Sunday at noon. The noon starting time is a change from the original 4 p.m. start to accommodate the Aces’ 10-hour return trip.

While the pitching continues to be outstanding, the Brakettes hitters are clicking at a .402 clip as they are averaging over nine runs per game. Germaine Fairchild had another big weekend and continues to lead the club with a .586 average (17-for-29) with 14 RBI and 12 runs scored. Jen Smith and Sara Jewett both homered over the weekend, while Henderson made her first appearance in the batter’s box in a Brakettes uniform and she responded with a bases-loaded single.

Kellie Wilkerson, the three-time All-America from Mississippi State, will be in uniform this weekend for the Brakettes. Wilkerson and pitcher Cat Osterman both made the USA Elite Team that will train with the USA World Championship team this summer. Their commitment is not too extensive and they will be able to travel to Topton, PA, for the July 4th tournament. Both players will return to the Brakettes on July 22 through the end of the season. Pitcher/outfielder Nikki Myers of Florida Atlantic, who along with Osterman was a finalist for Player of the Year, will join the Brakettes June 27.

Brakettes 10-6, Angels 0-0
In West Islip, NY, Clark pitched a no-hitter and struck out 19 as the Brakettes won the opener 10-0. Karrie Rider led the 15-hit attack with three safeties, while Jewett, Lea Mishlan, Alicia Smith and Robyn King all had two hits. The Brakettes broke open the game with a 10-run seventh-inning rally.

Clark, who walked three batters, didn’t allow a ball to leave the infield after the second inning as she dominated the Angels. In the big seventh inning surge, the Brakettes sent 11 batters to the plate and rapped out five hits. Michelle Gates, Mishlan, Alicia Smith, Frankie Spruce and Jewett had RBI.

Henderson made her first start for the Brakettes since the 1999 National tournament and allowed only an infield hit while striking out 11. She did walk seven batters.

The Brakettes scored two runs in the third, fourth and fifth frames. Spruce doubled and Jen Smith belted a long home run to right field for a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Erica Sobel and Spruce drove in runs in the fourth, while an error and Fairchild’s RBI did the damage in the fifth.

Brakettes 17-1, Seahawks 0-0
On Sunday at DeLuca Field, the Brakettes closed out the Seahawks in a mercy-run rule opener. They collected 16 hits with Fairchild and Jewett both going 3-for-3. Fairchild drove in three runs and King plated four. Rider, King and Sobel all had two hits. Henderson pitched a no-hitter with seven strikeouts and only one walk.

Clark upped her record to 4-0 with her second straight no-hit outing. The 5-foot-5 righty allowed only one walk and struck out 13 Seahawks. Despite collecting eight hits, the Brakettes were unable to break through against the Seahawks and pitcher Kathy Byrne until the last of the seventh inning. Tom D’Amico’s Seahawks played steady defense and made several key plays.

In the seventh inning, Jewett led with a single to center. Gates put down a sacrifice bunt, which third baseman Kelly Rowan fielded. Jewett never stopped running and beat the throw to third base. With the winning run on third, the Seahawks elected to pitch to Fairchild. It was the wrong move as Fairchild ended the game with a soft single to right field.


STRATFORD BRAKETTES SWEEP 5 GAMES TO OPEN SEASON

STRATFORD June 3- The Stratford Brakettes opened their 2002 season in impressive style last weekend by winning all five games played at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field.

After opening last Friday night with an abbreviated 14-2 win over the New England Collegiate All-Stars, the Brakettes swept a pair of Northeast Seaboard Women’s Fastpitch League doubleheaders from the Allentown, PA, Pates (6-3 and 9-0) and Danbury Debs (9-0 and 11-1), Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Manager John Stratton’s ballclub returns to action this weekend. They travel to West Islip, NY, to face the Long Island Angels in a 2 p.m. Saturday doubleheader before taking on the Stratford Seahawks Sunday at 6 p.m. in a DeLuca Field doubleheader.

"Considering we practiced for the first time last Thursday night and only one of the 14 players on hand had played in college this year, we did very well," said Stratton. "It will take a few more games for them to get back in shape. Once they do, this could be a special season."

Newcomer Kaci Clark pitched two of the victories, while Jen Smith, Alicia Smith and Robyn King all earned a win. Clark, who played four years in women’s pro league, worked 12 innings and struck out 26 batters. "I was a little rusty because I hadn’t pitched since last August. I’ll be better the next time out," added Clark.

While the pitchers were doing their part, the Brakettes hitters finished the five-game home stand with a .411 batting average. Leading the way was 2001 batting champion Germaine Fairchild who had 11 hits in 16 at bats (.688). Fairchild had four doubles, a triple and she drove in nine runs. Michelle Gates, who rejoined the team after a four-year hiatus, drove in six runs and she hit the team’s first home run of the season.

Brakettes 14, All-Stars 2
Jen Smith pitched a five-inning 2-hitter as the Brakettes lashed out 12 hits against the New England Collegiate All-Stars. Friday night’s thunderstorm cancelled the scheduled second game of the doubleheader.

Despite only a few hours of practice the night before, the Brakettes’ first inning saw 12 batters come to the plate as they scored eight runs on five hits. They were aided by three errors.

Erica Sobel, who played collegiately at Maine this spring, had three hits and scored two runs. Alicia Smith had two hits and scored three times, while Sara Jewett, Gates, King and Frankie Spruce all drove in two runs.

Brakettes 6-9, Pates 3-0
After Clark retired the side in the visitor’s first inning, the Brakettes scored three runs off veteran Dawn Becker in their turn, aided by two Allentown errors. King’s RBI single scored Lea Mishlan in the third inning for a 4-0 lead. The Pates cut the deficit to 4-3 in the sixth, but the Brakettes came right back with two markers. Fairchild’s two-run double plated Keri McCallum and Karrie Rider.

Clark allowed only three hits and struck out 15 batters.

The second game ended in the home fifth (league’s 8-run mercy rule), as the Brakettes scored three times in the first and second innings. Fairchild went 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Jewett, Rider, Jen Smith and Spruce all had two hits.

King made her first appearance since she suffered a season-ending broken ankle last July. She allowed only one baserunner and struck out three in pitching the first no-hitter of the season.

Brakettes 9-11, Debs 0-1
Alicia Smith allowed only one hit, a one-out double by Jill Cimminello in the fourth inning, and she struck out three in a five-inning victory. The Brakettes scored twice in the first inning and they added seven runs in the second.

Gates’ 2-run homer highlighted the second-inning outburst, which featured eight hits. She and Fairchild were 2-for-3. Jewett drove in two runs.


STRATFORD BRAKETTES BEGIN 56TH SEASON FRIDAY AGAINST NEW ENGLAND COLLEGIATE ALL-STARS

Team Plays Six-Game Weekend Home Stand

STRATFORD May 28- The anticipation ends Friday night as the Stratford Brakettes begin their 56th consecutive season of women's fastpitch softball action. Providing the opposition will be the New England Collegiate All-Stars in a 6:30 p.m. doubleheader at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field.

The season-opening games mark the start of a six-game weekend home stand for Manager John Stratton's club. The Brakettes host the Allentown, PA, Pates at 7 p.m. Saturday and the Danbury Debs at 6 p.m. Sunday in a pair of Northeast Seaboard Women's Fastpitch League outings.

Sixteen members of last year's team, which finished 68-9, are back for the Brakettes. The Brakettes finished in third place in last year's ASA National Tournament in Phoenix. It marked the third straight year Stratton's club had finished third.

"We think we're going to have an exciting ballclub this year," said Stratton, who recently returned to Stratford after an eight-month stay in Florida. Stratton serves as the assistant coach at Florida Atlantic University. "By the time the Nationals roll around in August, we hope to be playing at a championship level. We could have an outstanding season if everything comes together."

This year's National Championship will be played at DeLuca Field, August 16-20.

Pitching will be one of the Brakettes' strengths with no less than ten members of the 20-member squad capable of taking the mound. Realistically, Stratton will rely upon Olympian Danielle Henderson (48-7, 806 K's from 1997-99 as a Brakette), Texas freshman standout Catherine Osterman, the Big 12 Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, who had a 4-1 record with the Brakettes last year, and former professional all-star Kaci Clark come tournament time. During the regular season, Jen Smith (14-2, 56-10), Robyn King (5-0, 21-4), Alicia Smith (6-1, 14-1) and newcomer Nikki Myers of Florida Atlantic will all see action. Myers capped her collegiate career with a 108-38 record and she moved into second place for career strikeouts in NCAA history.

Leslie Malerich, the ace of the staff at 24-4 last year, will be available only briefly at the start of the season. The 6-foot-1 righty, who led Florida State to the College World Series last week, recently received an invitation to play for the Italian National team in the 2002 Canada Cup and World Championships and she must play in Italy during the summer to solidify her position. She will return to the Brakettes in 2003.

Last year the Brakettes hit .305 as a team, led by third-year catcher/infielder Germaine Fairchild, who captured the batting title with a .361 average. Fairchild, the Quinnipiac College head coach, led the team with 49 runs scored, 86 hits, 18 doubles, 8 triples and five home runs. She also drove in 54 runs.

Kellie Wilkerson, the .2000 batting champ, saw limited action last year and hit .375 in 12 games. The Team USA member saw her season end in July with an injury. She is back at full strength following a .416 senior season at Mississippi State where she drove in 31 runs with 29 extra base hits and captured first team All-America for the third straight year. Another Team USA member and former Brakettes batting champ, catcher Keri McCallum, hit .382 last year, but she didn't have enough at bats to qualify for the title.

Shortstop Lea Mishlan (.323, 40 RBI), outfielder Alicia Smith (.316, 73 hits), outfielder Jen Smith (.308, 52 RBI) and catcher/first baseman Jen Fisher (.313) are other top hitters back from last year. Also back from last year's club, which won its fourth straight league title, are second baseman Emily Robustelli (.294), outfielder Donna McLean (.281), third baseman Ellen "Frankie" Spruce (.250, 40 RBI), and utility players Sara Jewett (.284, 19 RBI) and Erica Sobel (.231).

In addition to Clark, who is the all-time WPSL leader in wins (53), strikeouts and shutouts, and Myers, the three-time A-Sun Player of the Year, Stratton has two other newcomers on the squad. Infielders Michelle Gates of Chowchilla, CA, and Karrie Rider of Vancouver, WA, give the Brakettes defensive strength and offensive firepower. They are former Team USA and professional players who played collegiately at Mississippi State for ex-Brakettes pitcher and National Hall of Famer Kathy Arendsen. Gates hit .367 in her rookie year with the Brakettes in 1998, while Rider, who can play any infield spot, was the starting shortstop for the Ohio Pride in the WPSL in 2000.


BRAKETTES PITCHERS MYERS, OSTERMAN ARE FINALISTS FOR 2002 USA SOFTBALL COLLEGIATE PLAYER OF YEAR AWARD

STRATFORD- Nikki Myers and Catherine “Cat” Osterman, two members of the 2002 Stratford Brakettes softball team, are finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. The winner will be announced June 7.

Myers, a three-time A-Sun Conference Player of the Year from St. Petersburg, FL, completed her collegiate career in the NCAA Regionals at Tallahassee, FL. She compiled a 36-8 record this year and she finished with a 108-38 record. Myers moved into second place on the all-time NCAA strikeout list.

Osterman, the 2001 National High School Player of the Year, finished her outstanding freshman season at Texas with a 35-8 record and she set the NCAA freshman strikeout record with 541. The left-handed pitching ace from Houston also had 18 shutouts in winning Big-12 Pitcher and Freshmen of the Year laurels.

Other finalists are Jaime Clark of Washington, Stacey Nuveman, Keira Goerl and Natasha Watley of UCLA, Jennie Finch of Arizona, Phelan Wright of Arizona State, Britni Sneed of LSU, and Jamie Southern of Fresno State.


BRAKETTES SALUTE STRATFORD’S HEROES-
POLICEMEN, FIREMEN AND EMT IN 2002

The Stratford Brakettes women’s fastpitch softball team have dedicated their 2002 season to the town’s true heroes, the men and women of the Police Department, Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service.

“The Brakettes have extended an invitation to every Stratford policeman, fireman and emergency medical technician and their families to be our guests at every home game during the regular season,” said team sponsor David Carpenter.

The offer includes all home games by the Connecticut Classics, who are sponsored by the Brakettes organization. Upon presentation of an identification card, they will receive free admission.

“The Brakettes have called Stratford home since 1947 and they have won many championships and earned the nickname as ‘America’s Team.’ But those accomplishments pale in comparison to these fine men and women who put their lives on the line every day to make this a safer and better place to live. They perform their tasks professionally and without fanfare. In our small way, we wanted to thank them for everything,” said Brakettes General Manager Bob Baird.

The cover of the 2002 Stratford Brakettes official program features members of the town’s police, fire and emergency medical service along with four Brakettes in full color.


BRAKETTES BRIEFS- Pitcher Theresa Hornick (15-1, 0.07 ERA) last year will be performing her basic training this summer as part of her ROTC commitment. . .First baseman Martha Covington is completing her master's degree and will not return. . .The Brakettes will have a booth at Stratford Day on Saturday. They will be giving out free tickets for future games. . .Sunday's twin-bill against the Debs will be St. James School night at DeLuca Field. . .Gates to DeLuca Field will open at 5:30 p.m. Friday night. Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. The Brakettes continue to let youth leagues and teams in for free. Interested teams should contact the Brakettes office at (203) 378-7262. . .Joining Stratton on the coaching staff are General Manager Bob Baird, Patty Fernandes, Jay Stratton and Jeff Ellis.