Brakettes Eliminated by Breakers as Plourde Shines

Sunday, August 9, Game 16 - The Stratford Brakettes' quest for the 2009 Women's Major Softball Championship came to an abrupt halt Sunday morning, as the Stratford Breakers' Sara Plourde pitched a three-hitter in a 1-0 upset at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field in Stratford, CT.

The loss knocked the Brakettes out of the double-elimination tournament, after a 6-2 loss Saturday to the St. Louis Saints sent the Brakettes into the loser's bracket.

The Brakettes wasted an early opportunity in the top of the first, as Lindsey Kay Bright walked and reached second on a wild pitch. Denise Denis was hit by a pitch, giving the Brakettes runners at first and second. Bright and Denis executed a double steal, pushing two into scoring position with one out. Plourde retired the next two batters to get out of the jam.

The Breakers scored the game's only run in the bottom of the fourth, when Priscilla Alicea led off with a walk. Katie Dinahanian dropped down a bunt in front of Brakette starter Kasey Barrett, but first baseman Molly Johnson charged in and touched the ball in front of the mound. Johnson was unable to field the bunt, and Dinahanian reached safely on the error. Alicea moved to second, prompting Brakette manager John Stratton to make a pitching change.

With two on and no outs, Jen Russell came on in relief. She retired the next batter on a popup, but Plourde followed with an RBI single down the line in left, sending Alicea home with the tie-breaker.

The Brakettes threatened again in the fifth, when Bailey Sanders singled with two outs. Jill Cimminello came in to pinch-run, and was pushed into scoring position on a base hit by Carly Normandin. Plourde responded to the rally, and induced a grounder by Bright to retire the side.

After the Brakettes went down in order in the sixth inning, they gave it one last shot in the top of the seventh. Jess Mouse worked a two-out walk, bringing Sanders to the plate. Sanders battled at the plate against her UMASS teammate Plourde, but eventually lined out to left field to end the contest.

Plourde, who will be a sophomore in the fall, struck out four Brakettes in her first impressive performance of the day. She followed the upset win of the Brakettes with an equally-strong outing against the St. Louis Saints, giving up four hits and a lone run against the perennial contenders from Missouri.

The Breakers went on to lose in ten innings to the NYC Havoc in the championship game, finishing as runners-up. Plourde was named the MVP of the tournament, winning the Micki Stratton award, despite falling short of the title.

Barrett took the loss and dropped to 10-2 for the season. She was named to the All-Tournament team as one of three pitchers, along with Plourde and Havoc starter Alyson Chiaramonte. Denis and Normandin were also named to the All-Tournament team as outfielders, as was Johnson at third base.

Denis finished the season with 15 home runs, tying her with Pat Dufficy and Germaine Fairchild for the most homers in a single season by a Brakette. Denis and Johnson each hit two long balls in the tournament, tying them with Steph Denlinger of the Topton VIP’s and Jaci Rahey of the New York Raiders for the Pat Dufficy Award, given to the home run queen of the tourney.

The Brakettes ended the season 49-7, and finished fourth place in the tournament.