Brakettes Continue Streak with Pair of Sunday Shutouts

July 12, 2010 - The Brakettes extended their winning streak to 32 games on Sunday, with a pair of shutouts over the Lyons (PA) Spirit. Mandie Fishback drilled a grand slam in the first game, while Ashley Waters (2-0) and Rachele Fico (18-0) earned the victories in the circle.

Caitlin Roach started for Lyons, and kept the Brakettes’ powerful bats at bay until the third inning.

Lindsey Kay Bright led off the frame with a single and was sacrificed to second by Carly Normandin. Ashley Waters followed and picked up a base hit to advance Bright to third. Waters then stole second base to put two runners in scoring position for Denise Denis. A wild pitch on ball four allowed Denis to reach first, and sent the other runners in motion. While Waters pulled into third, Bright was called out at the plate, although her foot appeared to have crossed before the tag.

After the second out was recorded, Kristyn Sandberg earned a walk to load the bases. The stage was set for Fishback, who broke the game open with a grand slam to left field, her first home run of the year.

Waters had more than enough support with a 4-0 lead, as she allowed just two singles to Sarah Maulorico on the afternoon. She walked one and struck out one to earn her second victory as a Brakette.

Stratford scored four more runs in the fourth inning, as an error in centerfield allowed Bright to reach second with two outs. Normandin delivered a single to score Bright for a 5-0 lead, and advanced to second on the throw. She came home to score the sixth run from second base on a wild pitch, never slowing down as she rounded third.

Waters singled, and then went to third on a base knock by Denis. Waters scored on a wild pitch, which moved Denis to second. Sandberg lined a single to score Denis, and the Brakettes took an 8-0 lead.

Waters retired the side in the top of the fifth, and Stratford brought an early close to the first contest via the run rule.

Fico struck out four in the late game, and gave up just a single to Roach in the third inning.

Normandin started the home first with a single and was sacrificed over by Waters. She rounded second on the throw to first, and outraced numerous Spirit infielders to third base, picking up two bags on the sac bunt. She scored the Brakettes’ first run on a wild pitch. Denise Denis doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch, eventually scoring on yet another pitch in the dirt for a 2-0 advantage.

Jess Mouse and Sarah Calgreen walked with one out in the second inning, and moved up 60 feet when Bright reached on a bunt single. With the bases loaded, Normandin singled to score Mouse and give Stratford a 3-0 edge. Calgreen scored on a wild pitch to stretch the margin to 4-0, and the other runners also moved up a bag. Waters then popped to the right side, but reached when the ball dropped out of the glove of the second baseman. The Brakettes capitalized on the error, as Denis drilled her second double of the game to score two more runs. Waters also scored on a single by Kristen Sandberg, putting the Brakettes up 7-0.

Denis contributed her third double of the matchup in the fourth inning, and went to third on a base hit by Sandberg. Fishback picked up another hit to score Denis, giving Stratford an 8-0 lead. Lyndsay Mouse reached on a walk to load the bases, bringing her sister to the plate. Jess Mouse lined a single to score Sandberg and Fishback to extend Stratford’s advantage to 10-0. Lyndsay Mouse scored the final run of the contest on a sacrifice fly by Sarah Calgreen, closing out the scoring at 11-0.

Armed with an 11-0 lead after four innings, the Brakettes needed just three outs in the top of the fifth to close out the successful weekend. Fico struck out the side to extend the Brakettes’ record to 33-1. Stratford has not lost since the nightcap of the Opening Night doubleheader against the Newtown (PA) Rock, on June 4th. The Brakettes have won 13 games in July, while giving up just two runs in the process.

The Brakettes will return to action Thursday night at 7:00 in Stratford vs. the CT Mirage Gold.