Canion Delivers in Brakettes Debut

June 12, 2010 - Whitney Canion made an impressive debut for the Brakettes Saturday night, leading Stratford to a doubleheader sweep of the Lyons (PA) Spirit, in Lyons, PA. Canion (1-0) struck out 13 in the first game, and Carly Normandin hit an inside-the-park home run, as the Brakettes improved to 7-1 on the year.

Canion also drove in two runs in the early game, with a single and a sacrifice fly. She struck out the first six batters she faced, and eight of the first nine. Canion also had an RBI double in the nightcap.

Normandin led off the first contest with her opposite field blast, which sailed over the head of left fielder Liz Gall. Ashley Waters followed with a double, and moved to third on a grounder off the bat of Mandie Fishback. With Jess Serio at the plate, Waters came home to score on a wild pitch, putting the Brakettes up 2-0.

Serio was then hit by a pitch, and Jess Mouse earned a walk, putting two runners on with one out. Both runners moved up a bag on a wild pitch, bringing Lyndsay Mouse to the plate for her first time as a Brakette. Lyndsay Mouse delivered a sacrifice fly to score Serio, giving the Brakettes a 3-0 lead.

Lindsey Kay Bright added to the Stratford lead in the fourth inning, when she reached on an infield single. Bright stole second base, and then scored on a single up the middle by Canion.

The 4-0 lead held until the sixth inning, when Amber Radomski led off with a triple. Canion picked up her second RBI with a sac fly, scoring Radomski for a 5-0 advantage.

Radomski also contributed the Brakettes last run, driving in Lyndsay Mouse from second base with a single, and closing the scoring out at 6-0.

Danielle Kitchen started for the Spirit, and pitched five innings, before being relieved by Caitlin Roach.

The Lyons Spirit battled back in the late game, taking an early 1-0 lead with some old-fashioned small ball. Karen Bauer led off the home first with a walk, and was sacrificed to second by Noisy Sommer. Elaine Bedell singled up the middle to score Bauer, and the Spirit held the lead until the fourth.

Bauer delivered throughout the evening for the Spirit, collecting three hits for the doubleheader, including two safeties in the late matchup.

The Brakettes were held at bay by starter Erin Kirkpatrick until the fourth inning. Lyndsay Mouse singled to left field with one out, and stole second. Canion doubled to left, scoring Mouse with the trying run, and then scored on a single by Radomski.

The Brakettes went up 2-1, but were not finished. Radomski was thrown out at second, trying to stretch her hit into a double, bringing Bright to the plate with two outs and no one on. Bright delivered a single up the middle, and stole second base. Normandin also singled through the center, scoring Bright for a 3-1 lead.

Jess Mouse scored an insurance run in the seventh inning, after earning her third walk of the game. Radomski singled to drive in Jess Mouse, and the Brakettes pushed the lead to 4-1.

Erin Gallagher (2-1) retired the side in last two innings, growing stronger as the game went on. She struck out six, while scattering five hits.

The Brakettes and Spirit will meet up for another doubleheader Sunday at 12 noon in Lyons, PA. Both games will be broadcast at brakettes.com.