Brakettes March Past Saints in First Game, Win Classic Matchup in Nightcap

August 5, 2009 - The Stratford Brakettes took two from the St. Louis Saints Tuesday night at DeLuca Field, by 7-3 and 2-1 scores. Jess Mouse scored the winning run in the 10th inning of the late game on a bloop single by Jill Cimminello.

The Brakettes blasted a pair of two-run homers in the early contest to take a 7-0 lead after three innings. The Saints scored two in the sixth, and another run in the seventh, but fell short of a comeback. With the epic battle in the second game, the teams gave fans a glimpse of what could be in store at the upcoming Women's Major Softball Championships.

Kasey Barrett picked up the win, despite giving up the first runs of her Brakette career. She struck out 13 and allowed six hits. Erin DeStefano started for the Saints and took the loss. Amanda Clack came on in relief in the fourth inning.

Ashley Waters reached on a one-out single in the first, and moved to second on a base hit by Denise Denis. With Mandie Fishback at the plate, both runners moved up on a passed ball. Fishback lined a single up the middle to score two runs, putting Stratford up 2-0.

Stacey Lajoie singled to lead off the second frame, and was sacrificed over by Lindsey Kay Bright. Lajoie never slowed down on the play, and went all the way to third on the throw to first. With Lajoie at third, Carly Normandin smashed a 3-0 pitch over the fence in center to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Amber Radomski singled with one out in the third, bringing Bailey Sanders to the plate. Sanders launched her second homer of the season to right-center, giving Stratford a 6-0 advantage. Lajoie picked up another base hit after Sanders' long ball, and was bunted over to second by Bright. Normandin contributed another single to score Lajoie, and the Brakettes went up 7-0.

The Saints loaded the bases in the fifth with one out, bringing Ashley Barr to the plate. Barr ripped a liner to right field, sending Denis back in her tracks. Denis reached up and made a phenomenal grab over her head to keep the Saints scoreless, and got the relay throw in quickly to prevent a tag from third. Barrett retired Clack to get out of the jam.

Colleen Dailey came through for the Saints in the sixth, lining a double with one out. Mariclaire Rebman launched a double of her own to score Dailey, putting the Saints on the board. Rebman came home on an error to pull within 7-2.

The Saints scored another run in the seventh on three consecutive singles. Ashley Hall reached on a one-out base hit, and moved to second on a single by Barr. Clack then singled to center, scoring Hall with the Saints' third run.

The Brakettes and Saints delighted the crowd in the nightcap, going ten innings in a pitcher's duel. Jen Russell started for Stratford, and had the Saints down to their last strike in the seventh.

Russell and Saints' starter Amanda Zust kept both lineups off-balance until the sixth, when the Brakettes picked up the game's first run. Fishback led off the frame with a walk, and moved over when Mouse reached on an error. Radomski also reached base on an error, loading the bases with no outs.

Jess Serio came on to pinch-hit for Cimminello, and grounded to Jen Whyte at third. Whyte went home to force out Fishback, and Saints' catcher Dailey threw to first to try to get Serio. The throw hit Serio in the back as she crossed first base, allowing Mouse to race home for a 1-0 lead. Zust retired the next two batters to keep it close.

St. Louis got a big boost from Dailey in the seventh, as she led off with a double. DeStefano grounded out to second, moving Dailey to third. Rebman grounded out to short, and Fishback looked Dailey back to third as she fired across the diamond for the second out. Jen Stahlhut was the last chance for the Saints, and was down to her last strike when she provided some heroics for St. Louis. She lined a single to left, which Lajoie trapped in left field. The run tied the game up at 1-1, and gave the Saints new life.

Both teams had chances in the eighth and ninth, but stranded runners in scoring position. Barrett retired the Saints 1-2-3 in the top of the tenth, setting the stage for Cimminello's game-winning hit.

Jess Mouse led off the tenth with a push bunt up the first base line. She beat the throw, and went to second on a sac bunt by Radomski. Cimminello fought off a tough pitch from Zust, and looped a single into shallow right. Mouse raced around third and went home, maneuvering around Dailey with a wrap-around slide, and giving the Brakettes a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Barrett came on in relief in the ninth, and got the last six outs to pick up the win. By earning both wins on the night, she improved to 7-0 on the season. The Brakettes moved to 44-5 with the pair of victories.

The Brakettes and Saints will be in action on Thursday, as both teams will have two games in round-robin pool play at DeLuca Field. The Saints will take on the New York Freedom at 10:15 am, while the Brakettes will open against the NYC Havoc at 12 noon.

The Brakettes will close out their regular season Wednesday night at DeLuca Field against the CT Tradition 18-U North, with a single nine-inning game at 7:00. All Brakettes games are broadcast right here at brakettes.com.