Brakettes Sweep Tradition as Fico, Allen Cruise to Victories

June 21, 2009 - The Stratford Brakettes posted a pair of shutouts over the CT U-23 Tradition Sunday night, riding strong outings from Rachele Fico and Kirsten Allen, as they improved to 10-0 on the season. Fico struck out 10 in the early game, her first start of the season, and Allen fanned eight batters in the nightcap.

Kathleen Brennaman kept the Brakettes off balance for the first two innings of the first matchup, stranding base runners in both frames. The Brakettes finally got to Brennaman in the third.

Ashley Waters walked with one out in the bottom of the third, and moved to second on a groundout by Denise Denis. Jess Serio ripped a single to score Waters, putting Stratford on the board. Jess Mouse followed suit with a single of her own, moving Serio around to third. Mandie Fishback contributed the Brakettes’ third consecutive single, bringing Serio home for a two-run lead.

The Brakettes added to the lead in the fourth, as Bailey Sanders, Stacy Lajoie, and Carly Normandin all singled to load the bases. Waters launched her second home run of the year, a towering grand slam to left, to push the lead to 6-0.

Denis added her team-leading third homer of the year to center in the sixth, closing out the scoring at 7-0.

Fico allowed four hits, none bigger than a leadoff double by Nicole Downs in the second inning. Downs sent a shot to the base of the fence in left, but was quickly erased by Fico’s fine glove work. Breanne Gleason tried to bunt Downs to third, but popped up to Fico, who caught the bunt and doubled up Downs at second.

Gleason and Meg Carta reached on consecutive singles in the fifth, but Fico struck out the next three batters to get out of trouble.

Allen scattered three hits in the late game, as she improved to 4-0 on the season. The Brakettes provided her with all the help she needed in the first inning.

Normandin led off the home first with a walk, and moved up on a single by Waters. Normandin advanced to third on the play on a throwing error, giving the Brakettes runners at the corners. Serio was then hit by a pitch, loading them up for Mouse.

Mouse drove a fly ball deep to center, scoring Normandin, who tagged from third. She crossed home just before Waters was nabbed at third, trying to tag from second. The unorthodox double play ended the inning, limiting the damage by Stratford.

Jenna Lopez doubled with one out in the second, and moved to third on a bunt single by Lindsey Kay Bright. A heads-up base running decision by Bright saw her advance to second, as no one was guarding the bag. Normandin singled up the middle to score both runners, increasing the lead to 3-0.

Lopez reached again in the fourth on a throwing error, moving to second on the play. Bright singled over the head of the third baseman, driving in Lopez. Normandin then reached on a single, scoring Bright from second, and giving the Brakettes a 5-0 cushion. Normandin contributed three RBI in the second contest.

Breanne Gleason was the starter for the Tradition in the second game, and was relieved by Audrey Boutin in the fifth.

Allen allowed a leadoff single to Lisa Dean in the sixth inning, but relied on the defense behind her to erase the lone runner. Casey Sullivan flew out to Normandin in shallow center on what looked like a sure bloop single. Normandin made a shoe-string catch and fired to first to get Dean, ending the inning on the double play.

Allen retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the victory.

The Brakettes return to action this Thursday night at DeLuca Field at 7:00, with a double-header against the Connecticut Panthers. Follow along with live video streaming and commentary, right here at brakettes.com.