Brakettes Win Last Tune Up for Nationals

August 5, 2009 - The Stratford Brakettes beat the Connecticut 18-U Tradition 3-1 on Wednesday night at DeLuca Field, in a nine-inning battle showcasing UMASS pitchers on both clubs. Ashley Waters and Molly Johnson hit solo shots, and Bailey Sanders struck out seven to earn the decision.

The Tradition went up early, as leadoff hitter Allee Beatty singled and scored in the first. Beatty was moved to second base on a sac bunt by Jen Duell, and advanced to third on a base hit by Priscilla Alicea. With runners at the corners and one out, Tradition starter Sara Plourde grounded to Johnson at third base. Johnson threw to first for the sure out, as Beatty went home to grab a 1-0 lead. Sanders retired the next batter to get out of the inning.

Ashley Waters smacked her 11th homer of the season in the bottom of the first, tying the score up at 1-1. That score would stand until the bottom of the fifth, when the Brakettes broke the stalemate.

Sanders and Plourde continued to battle as their coach at UMASS, Elaine Sortino, watched from behind home plate. Sanders retired 26 of the last 30 batters she faced, not allowing more than one base runner in any inning after the first frame.

Plourde kept the Brakettes off the board until the fifth inning, when they picked up an unearned run.

Lindsey Kay Bright reached on a throwing error with two outs in the fifth, and then stole second. Carly Normandin grounded up the middle, and the ball kicked off the glove of the second baseman. Bright scored from second to put the Brakettes up 2-1. The Brakettes put two runners on in the sixth and seventh innings, but failed to score, as Molly Rathbun came in to pitch for Plourde.

Johnson made a strong debut for the Brakettes, moving over from her natural shortstop position to play third. The All-American from University of Kentucky represented Team USA at the Japan Cup, and continued to impress in her first trip to Stratford. She showed off her speed in the sixth inning, beating out an infield single, and exhibited her power in the eighth. Johnson smashed her first Brakette homer over the left-field fence, giving Sanders and the Brakettes an insurance run.

With a 3-1 lead, Sanders needed just three outs to capture the victory. She allowed a one-out walk, but struck out the last two batters to put the win in the books. Sanders improved to 16-1, as the Brakettes closed out the regular season at 45-5.

The Brakettes will take on the NYC Havoc on Thursday at 12 noon, in a round-robin, pool play game at the Women's Major Softball Championship. Stratford will also take on the Outten (PA) Trailblazers Thursday night at 7:00. All games from the WMS Championship will be broadcast right here at brakettes.com.