Brakettes Steal Two from the Newtown Rock

June 6, 2010 - The Stratford Brakettes captured both games of a Sunday doubleheader with the Newtown Rock (PA) Gold at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The Brakettes took the first contest 3-1, and needed an Ashley Waters steal of home in the eighth inning of the late game to fuel an 8-7 come-from-behind win.

Rachele Fico (4-0) pitched seven strong innings in the early game, striking out seven and scattering five hits, while giving up one run. She did not allow a walk. Fico also came on in the eighth inning of game two, picking up the win, despite surrendering a run.

Stratford took the early lead in the first game in the second inning. Jess Serio and Lindsey Kay Bright singled with one out, and both moved up an extra base on Bright’s base hit due to an error. Bailey Sanders lined a single to right field to score Serio, putting the Brakettes up 1-0.

Mandie Fishback reached on an infield single in the third, and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Rock starter Sam Greiner. Serio doubled to drive in Fishback, and the Stratford lead stretched to 2-0.

Sanders singled again in the fourth frame, and moved to second on a sac bunt by Amber Radomski. Carly Normandin delivered a two-out single to score Sanders from second, and the Brakettes went up 3-0.

The lone score for the Rock occurred in the sixth. D’Anna Devine singled with one out, and was pushed to second on a groundout. Julie Wambold drilled a double to score Devine, closing out the scoring at 3-1.

The Brakettes struck first again in the second matchup, when Normandin doubled off the top of the fence in left-center. Normandin moved to third on an infield single by Waters, and Denise Denis followed with a three-run homer to centerfield.

The 3-0 lead was short-lived, however, as the Rock tied it up with a two-out rally in the fourth inning. Jess Spivey reached on an error, and Jackie DiPiazza walked. Tiarra Sanabria drove Spivey home from second to put the Rock on the board. Centerfielder Lauren Gaskill, who impressed with her bat and glove throughout the weekend series, drilled a triple to score both DiPiazza and Sanabria, and tie the game at 3-3. Gaskill then raced home on a passed ball, putting the Rock up 4-3.

Normandin tied it up for the Brakettes in the home fourth, as she led off with a walk and stole second base. Denis laced a single to right, driving in Normandin with Stratford’s fourth run.

Waters put the Brakettes up 5-4 in the sixth inning with a solo shot to left, her second home run of the weekend.

Brakette starter Sanders was in line to pick up the win, but the Rock would not go down without a fight. As was evidenced throughout the six-game series, Newtown proved to be well-disciplined and well-coached, and pushed the Brakettes in every contest.

Kylie McGoldrick led off the seventh inning with a single, and scored on a towering home run to left field by Julie Wambold, giving the Rock a 6-5 edge.

Sanders helped herself out in the bottom of the seventh, doubling into the right corner, and giving the Brakettes a runner in scoring position. Bright came on to pinch run for Sanders, and eventually scored on a two-out single to left by Christine DellaVecchia, tying the score at 6-6. The Brakettes were down their last strike when DellaVecchia gave them new hope, and sent the game to the eighth inning.

Sanders struck out seven batters in seven innings, before giving way to Fico for the eighth.

Gaskill, who was 4-for-4 in the game, singled and stole second base with two outs in the top of the eighth. Devine also contributed a base hit, and Kylie McGoldrick walked to load the bases. Wambold then put down a perfect squeeze bunt, allowing Gaskill to score with the go-ahead tally.

The Brakettes found themselves down 7-6 entering the bottom of the eighth. Waters led off with a walk, and moved to second on a one-out single by Fishback. A wild pitch let both runners advance, and the Brakettes occupied second and third base with one out.

After Serio grounded out, the Brakettes were again down to their last strike. Sanders battled Greiner, who had come in for Rock starter Mary Kociencki in the fourth, and fouled off numerous close pitches.

After Sanders had worked a 2-2 count, Waters perfectly timed the catcher’s throw back to the mound, and jetted home to tie the game at 7-7. Fishback rounded third on the play, and headed home when a desperation heave back to the catcher kicked away from home plate. Fishback’s run won the game for the Brakettes, leaving the stunned Rock on the field.

The Brakettes (5-1) will travel to Lyons, PA this upcoming Saturday and Sunday to play the Lyons Spirit.