Brakettes Bounce Back After Loss to Saints; Need To Win Four Sunday for Title

August 8, 2009 - The St. Louis Saints proved to be a major obstacle for the Brakettes on Saturday afternoon, beating Stratford 6-2 in a winner's bracket semi-final at DeLuca Field. The loss knocked the Brakettes into the loser's bracket of the Women’s Major Softball Championship, where they defeated the New York Freedom Saturday evening 3-0.

The Brakettes will need to win four games in a row on Sunday morning to capture the title, starting with the Stratford Breakers at 8:30. The winner of that game will play the St. Louis Saints at 10:15, after they were upset by the NYC Havoc in the winner’s bracket final. The victor of the 10:15 matchup will play the NYC Havoc at 12 noon, and would need to win twice, while the Havoc need just one win to claim the hardware.

The Brakettes put two runners on with one out in the first inning against the Saints, but could not score. They also wasted a golden opportunity in the second, when Jess Mouse smacked a double to the fence in left. Mouse was sacrificed to third by Bailey Sanders, but Stratford could not bring her home.

The Saints jumped on Brakette starter Kasey Barrett in the third, when she hit Mariclaire Rebman to lead off the frame. Erin Cejka bunted back to Barrett, who fielded and threw high to first, allowing the runners to advance to second and third. Courtney Kennedy followed with an infield single to load the bases.

Ashley Hall then delivered a single to right to score Rebman, putting the Saints up 1-0. Ashley Barr followed with an RBI single as well, scoring Cejka for a 2-0 advantage. With one out, Colleen Dailey grounded to third, and the only play was to first, allowing the third run to score. Jen Stahlhut smacked a single to right to score Hall and Barr, giving the Saints a 5-0 lead.

Jen Russell came on in relief in the fourth inning, going the rest of the way for the Brakettes.

The Brakettes scratched back with two runs in the fifth inning, starting with a homer by Carly Normandin with two outs. Trailing 5-1, Ashley Waters reached on an error, and moved to second when Denise Denis walked. Molly Johnson followed with a single to score Waters, bringing the Brakettes to within 5-2. Saints starter Amanda Clack then retired Mandie Fishback after a lengthy battle at the plate to end the inning.

Stratford could not keep up the momentum in the sixth, as they were retired in order.

The Saints picked up another run in the seventh, as Dailey doubled in Hall, who had reached on a single. The lead stood at 6-2, and the Brakettes could not come back. Stratford was sent down in order in the seventh, clinching the win for St. Louis.

The Saints were also hit by the upset bug, as the NYC Havoc defeated them 3-1 in the winner’s bracket final.

The Brakettes faced the New York Freedom late Saturday, and took the first of five contests they would need to capture the championship. Stratford went up 1-0 in the first, and cruised to a 3-0 win.

Lindsey Kay Bright reached on a one-out bunt single, and proceeded to steal both second and third. Denis walked to give Stratford runners at the corners, bringing Johnson to the plate. Johnson knocked a base hit to score Bright for a 1-0 lead. Freedom starter Sara Hoffman retired the next two batters to end the threat.

The Brakettes scored another two runs in the third, as Johnson again provided the offense. After a single by Denis, the All-American from Kentucky blasted a two-run homer to push the lead to 3-0. Hoffman got the next two Brakettes to close out the inning.

The Freedom put two on with two outs in the fourth, but Barrett escaped the jam. She retired the side in order in the last three innings, letting the Brakettes advance to play another day.

Barrett moved to 10-1 for the season after splitting decisions on Saturday. The Brakettes improved to 49-6, and hope to continue to survive and advance Sunday morning.

The Brakettes and Stratford Breakers will battle at 8:30 Sunday morning, and the game will be broadcast right here at brakettes.com.