Brakettes Come From Behind to Beat VIP's in First; Take Second Game in Five Innings

June 27, 2009 - The Stratford Brakettes rallied from a 2-0 hole at DeLuca Field Saturday night, erasing their first deficit of the year, to defeat the Topton VIP's 3-2. The Brakettes took the second game 10-2 in five innings, improving to 14-0 for the season.

Toni DeFilippo led off the game with a single off Brakettes’ starter Jen Russell, and moved to second on a sac bunt by Patti Garafolo. Steph Denlinger launched a two-run homer to right, putting Topton up 2-0.

Denise Denis crushed her sixth homer of the year, a two-run shot, to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. Ashley Waters, who also scored on the long ball, led off the inning with a single.

After the Brakettes drew even with Topton, Rachele Fico came on in relief of Russell at the start of the fifth frame and retired nine of the ten batters she faced.

The Brakettes broke the tie in the fifth, when Carly Normandin was hit by a pitch with one out. Waters singled and moved Normandin up a base. Denis came through again, lacing on opposite field single to left, scoring Normandin for the go-ahead run.

Fico allowed a one-out single to VIP’s catcher Candace Clark in the sixth. Jen Pawol blooped one over the head of third baseman Jess Mouse with Clark at first, and two outs. Fishback was the only Brakette with a chance at it, and came through with a spectacular, diving catch to her right to end the inning. Fico worked a 1-2-3 seventh to earn the win in relief.

Bailey Sanders was perfect through three innings of the late game, striking out seven of the first nine batters she faced.

The Brakettes jumped up early in the nightcap, scoring four in the first. Normandin singled and moved up on a sac bunt by Waters. After a wild pitch which pushed Normandin to third, Denis reached on an error, allowing Normandin to score.

Jess Serio was at bat when Denis moved to third on a passed ball. Serio walked, giving the Brakettes runners at the corners. Mouse singled home Denis, pushing Serio over, and giving the Brakettes a 2-0 lead. Amber Radomski and Jenna Lopez followed with RBI singles, scoring Serio and Mouse, respectively.

Denis scored another run in the second, after reaching on a one-out single. Serio drove Denis in with a double for a 5-0 advantage.

Lopez led off the third with a single, and moved to second on a passed ball. Normandin ripped a double to score Lopez, providing a 6-0 cushion.

The VIP’s finally got to Sanders in the fourth, as DeFilippo broke up the perfect game with a single. DeFilippo went from first to third on a hard-hit single to right-center by Denlinger. Brakettes’ right fielder Stacy Lajoie grabbed the ball at the fence and gunned down Denlinger at second, as the Topton lefty tried to stretch it into a double.

Clark singled to left-center to score DeFilippo, but was also tagged out at second on an outfield assist from Normandin.

Denis reached again on an error in the fourth inning, and moved to third on a double by Serio. Denis went home on a fielder’s choice by Radomski, pushing the lead to 7-1.

Topton scored their second run in the fifth, when Lynn Spiezio singled home Jen Pawol from second base. Pawol had reached on an error, and moved into scoring position on a single by Stacey Denlinger.

Jess Arremony started the home fifth with a single to right, and went to third on Normandin’s second double of the game. Arremony put the Brakettes up 8-2 after scoring on a wild pitch, which also moved Normandin to third. Serio walked to give the Brakettes runners at the corners, bringing Mouse to the plate. Mouse lined a double to score both runners, bringing the game to a 10-2 conclusion via the run-rule.

Sanders finished with nine strikeouts in the contest, walking none, and giving up five hits. She improved to 7-0 with the win.

The Brakettes and VIP’s will meet up again at 11:30 Sunday morning, for another double-header at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field in Stratford. Follow all the action live right here at brakettes.com.