Brakettes Return to Winning Ways, Blank Chaos Twice

July 9, 2009 - The Stratford Brakettes bounced back from a disappointing Pennsylvania road trip to take two from the Xtreme Chaos, 4-0 and 5-0, on Thursday night in Stratford. Rachele Fico and Jen Russell picked up the wins for the Brakettes, as Ashley Waters and Jess Mouse added homers.

Fico struck out 12 in the first game, allowing just one hit and no walks. She faced the minimum 21 batters in the contest, improving her mark to 3-0 on the season. Christine Della Vecchia singled with one out in the fourth inning, but was picked off trying to take third base.

Stratford High product Carrie Potter pitched well for the Chaos, striking out seven, and walking one. Potter just completed her freshman year at Florida Atlantic University, where Brakettes’ manager John Stratton is the pitching coach. She allowed seven hits in the loss, and held the Brakettes scoreless until the fourth. Two of the four runs allowed were unearned.

Denise Denis led off the bottom of the fourth and reached on an error. She stole second base, and moved to third on a single by Jess Mouse. Denis moved to third on the play, and Mouse took second base on the throw.

Mandie Fishback lofted a sac fly to left field, sending a tagging Denis home from third with the Brakettes’ first run. Amber Radomski then reached on an infield single, bringing Mouse home for a 2-0 lead.

Jenna Lopez led off the fifth with a single, and scored when Waters hooked her sixth home run of the season around the foul pole in left. The shot closed out the scoring, with the Brakettes enjoying a 4-0 lead.

Russell struck out 10 in the late game, while scattering four hits. She was perfect through four innings, and moved to 5-1 on the season. Katie Alfiere went the distance for the Chaos in the second contest, picking up the loss.

Mouse started the Brakettes off on the right foot in the second game, blasting a two-run homer to center in the first inning. The homer was Mouse’s third of the season, and gave Stratford a 2-0 lead. That score would stand until the fifth, when Stratford added to the tally.

Mouse picked up her third and fourth RBI’s of the game in the fifth frame, when she tripled with Denis and Waters on base. Waters scored from second, and Denis came home from first, putting the Brakettes up 4-0. Fishback followed with a double to right-center, sending Mouse home, and closing out the scoring at 5-0.

The Xtreme Chaos dropped to 12-3 with the decision, while the Brakettes improved to 21-4 for the year.

The Brakettes will be back in action Friday night at 7:30 at DeLuca Field, against the Connecticut Mirage. Follow all the action live right here at brakettes.com.