Brakettes Shocked by VIP's in Winner's Bracket Final

July 5, 2009 - The Topton VIP's blanked the Stratford Brakettes 2-0 in the winner's bracket final of the 41st Annual Fourth of July Tournament, Sunday afternoon at Lyons Field in Lyons, PA. Izzy Trottier pitched a complete-game, three-hitter to pick up the victory.

With the loss, the Brakettes must win three games in a row to capture the title. The first is a 1:45 matchup against the winner of the loser’s bracket semi-final, pitting the New York Raiders and the Patriot Blaze of Allentown, PA.

Jackie Lawrence started for the Brakettes, going four-plus innings, while striking out three and scattering four singles. Lawrence walked the leadoff batter in the fifth frame, Lynn Spiezio, before being relieved by Bailey Sanders.

Sanders allowed a bloop single to right to Lindsay Trottier, pushing Spiezio to second with no outs. Sanders then got Tony DeFilippo to pop up on a sac bunt attempt, bringing up the VIP’s most dangerous hitter. Steph Denlinger, who homered in her last trip to Stratford, struck out swinging to bring Candace Clark to the plate.

The clean-up hitter hit a squibber to the right side, which kicked away from first baseman Amber Radomski, and in the direction of Ashley Waters. With Clark running to first, Waters was unable to come up with the grounder, giving Spiezio a chance to go home. Waters fired to Jess Serio, who seemed to have the plate blocked, but Spiezio was safe at home on a wrap-around slide. The VIP’s led 1-0, and would pick up another run in the seventh.

Lynn Spiezio again walked to lead off the top of the seventh, but was tagged out by Waters when Trottier grounded to second. Trottier moved up to second on a wild pitch by Sanders, giving Topton a runner in scoring position with one out. DeFilippo then singled to center, sending Trottier to third. Jenna Lopez fielded and fired wide of the cutoff, sending Trottier home with the insurance run.

The Brakettes threatened in the bottom of the seventh, starting with an infield single by Waters. Denise Denis ripped a liner to the right side, but Denlinger snared the shot and doubled Waters off at first. Serio struck out looking to end the game, dropping the Brakettes to 18-3.

Both Topton runs were unearned, as the VIP's ended a 51-game losing streak at the hands of the Brakettes.

The 1:45 loser’s bracket final featuring the Brakettes will be broadcast right here at brakettes.com.