Balanced Attack Leads Brakettes Past Spirit

July 12, 2009 - The Stratford Brakettes defeated the Lyons Spirit twice Sunday afternoon at DeLuca Field, by 8-0 and 6-1 tallies. Stratford used small ball in the first game to take an abbreviated run-rule decision, and Jess Serio smashed a grand slam in the late contest to pace the Brakettes' attack.

Rachele Fico pitched the first game for the Brakettes, and recorded 14 of the 15 outs by strikeout. She gave up just a pair of singles, a first inning safety by Elaine Bedell, and a base hit by Jodie Swavely-Brown in the fourth frame. Fico improved to 5-0 with the victory.

Spirit starter Caitlin Roach worked a 1-2-3 first inning against the Brakettes, but got into trouble in the second. Serio reached on a leadoff single, and moved to third on a double by Jess Mouse. Mandie Fishback lofted a sacrifice fly, allowing Serio to tag and score the first run.

Jenna Lopez reached on a two-out throwing error, which allowed Mouse to come home. Bailey Sanders followed with a line drive single to score Lopez from second, and the Brakettes were up 3-0.

Roach then kept the Brakettes off the board until to the fifth, when she was relieved by Missy Szabo.

After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Ashley Waters went to second on a bunt single by Lindsey Kay Bright. Denise Denis knocked a single to score Waters for a 4-0 lead. Bright went to third on the play, and Denis advanced to second on the throw. With runners at the corners, Serio made her way to the plate.

Serio smacked a single to score both Bright and Denis, opening up a 6-0 margin. Mouse came up after Serio and earned a walk, putting runners at first and second. Serio would score on a single by Amber Radomski, and Mouse came home on a hit by Jenna Lopez, ending the game in run-rule fashion.

Jen Russell improved to 7-1 with the win in the late game, giving up one run on four hits. Megan Griess started the game for Lyons, and was relieved by Swavely-Brown in the fourth.

Nifer Shaw-Metz earned the only walk off Russell, and eventually scored the lone Spirit run in the top of the third. Karen Bauer singled to plate Shaw-Metz, and the run gave Lyons a 1-0 lead.

The Spirit lead would be short-lived, as the Brakettes put up four runs in the bottom of the third. Waters walked, and moved to third on an error which allowed Bright to reach first. After Bright stole second base, Denis worked a walk to load the bases. Serio came up and delivered her second homer of the year, a grand slam to left field, which put the Brakettes up 4-1.

Stratford added some insurance in the sixth, as Jenna Lopez led off with a triple to the right field corner. Jill Cimminello singled to score Lopez, stretching the lead to 5-1. Waters singled again, giving the Brakettes two on with no outs. Bright grounded to short, and Bauer threw to third to get the lead runner.

Denis also grounded into a fielder’s choice, with the lead runner being forced at third. Serio delivered once more, placing a single in right field to score Bright from second for a 6-1 margin.

Russell allowed a two-out, seventh inning hit to Kathy Henderson, but closed out the game by getting Cindy Rabideau to fly out to center. Bauer led the Spirit with two hits, and April Riegel added one.

The Brakettes will return to action at 6:30 on Thursday night at DeLuca Field in Stratford, against the Polar Crush from Worcester, MA. Both games of the doubleheader will be broadcast live, right here at brakettes.com.