UNBEATEN BRAKETTES PLAY NPF PHILADELPHIA FORCE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

July 1, 2009 - The undefeated Stratford Brakettes (16-0) begin a four-day road trip Thursday, July 2, when they face the Philadelphia Force of the National Pro Fastpitch league in a 7:30 game at Bicentennial Stadium in Allentown, PA. The Brakettes and Force meet again Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Manager John Stratton’s Brakettes then compete in the 41st annual Topton July 4th tournament Saturday and Sunday at Lyons, PA. They will play at 12 noon Saturday against the winner of an earlier game between the New Jersey Elite and Lehigh Valley Lady Gators. A Brakettes win sends them into the winner’s bracket semifinals at 5 p.m.Saturday against either the New York Freedom or Lyons Spirit.

Philadelphia Force finished runner-up to the Chicago Bandits last year in the NPF regular-season. The Force, which leads the NPF in attendance, recently concluded a 2-3 series in Akron against the Racers. This is the only non-NPF opponent in 2009 for the Force. Emily Friedman is the team’s offensive leader with a .289 average which includes 11 hits and five RBI.

Playing in the Topton tournament for the eighth time, the Brakettes have won the title in 1991, 1998, 2002, 2004, and 2007. The also finished second place once and in third in the rain-shortened 2001 event.

Making her debut for the Brakettes will be right-handed pitcher Jackie Lawrence of the University of Tulsa. Lawrence compiled a 21-6 record for the C-USA champion Golden Eagles and held opponents to a .190 batting average. She is filling the spot vacated by Oklahoma’s Kirsten Allen (4-0) who had school commitments.

Bailey Sanders (8-0) leads the Brakettes with 70 K’s, while Jen Russell (2-0) and Rachele Fico (2-0) complete the mound staff. Denise Denis continues to put up big numbers with a .478 batting average and a team-leading 21 runs scored, seven home runs and 25 RBI. Jessica Mouse (.405) is next with 15 RBI, while UMass All-America Carly Normandin has 14 RBI and leads the team in hitting at .559. UConn shortstop Jessica Arremony made a strong debut last week with a .400 average and three RBI.

When the Brakettes return home July 9 they will face the Xtreme Chaos of Fairfield County in a 7 p.m. doubleheader. Bunnell High’s Rachel Babineau and ex-Stratford High star Carrie Potter are two of the standouts for the Chaos, which is a replacement on the schedule for the Tradition U-23. Another change on the schedule is the addition of the Rhode Island Thunder Gold on August 2 for a 5 p.m. doubleheader at DeLuca Field.