BRAKETTES BEGIN HOMESTAND AND WELCOME NEW PITCHER

July 15, 2010 - Riding a 32-game winning streak, the Stratford Brakettes open another eight-game home stand Thursday, July 15 at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field against the Connecticut Mirage Gold at 7 o'clock. The two teams also meet Friday at 7 p.m. in a twin-bill.

Manager John Stratton’s Brakettes (33-1) play host to the TC Tremors Gold of Binghamton, NY Saturday at 7 p.m. and then play against the Tremors and Rhode Island Thunder in a split doubleheader Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.

While ex-Masuk standout Rachele Fico (18-0) of LSU has been carrying the pitching load the past 10 days, help is on the way. Louisiana-Lafayette right-handed pitcher Donna Bourgeois joins the club this weekend. Bourgeois, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, compiled a 23-10 record with a 2.01 ERA and 187 strikeouts in leading the Rajin’ Cajuns to the NCAA Super Regionals. Erin Gallagher (5-1), unavailable the past two weeks, will return to the club July 22 as the Brakettes begin the home stretch toward post-season play. Second baseman Ashley Waters (2-0, 0.00) did an admirable job in a fill-in role on the hill.

Center fielder Carly Normandin continues to set a torrid hitting pace as her average has climbed to .505 (46-for-91) with 8 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 27 RBI. She also leads the team with 34 runs scored. Outfielder Lindsey Kay Bright (.432) with all 38 hits singles. Denise Denis, who leads with 32 RBI and shares the home run lead at four with Ashley Waters (.365, 23 RBI), is also hitting at .461.

Fico picked up six wins last week to raise her record to 18-0. She also has 162 strikeouts to lead the club. Waters turned in two shutout performances last week.

The Mirage Gold enters with a 25-10 overall record. Top hitters include second baseman Shannon Maloney (.500) of Adelphi, infielder Maddy McManus (.444) of the University of Chicago, and third baseman Ashley Gall (.364) of St. Joseph’s College. Delaware pitcher Kathleen Conway (0.13 ERA) and Jojo Menuiers (0.36) of Somers High are the top Gold pitchers for Manager Ken Hyne.

BRAKETTES BRIEFS- Former Bunnell High standout Sarah Calgreen was added to the roster last weekend and will play the remainder of the season. The outfielder/first baseman was an All-Northeast 10 selection for American International this year as she hit .331 with seven doubles and 18 RBI. She led the team in hitting as a freshman at .317 in 2009. Calgreen played for the Stratford Breakers last year. . . Denis has moved into third all-time in career home runs with 37 behind Pat Dufficy (91) and Sheila Cornell (44). . . Bailey Sanders returns to the lineup tonight after being sideline with a broken wrist since June 11. Sanders has compiled a 29-1 pitching record the past three years and appeared in only one game this season. . . The second annual Women’s Major Softball National Championship, hosted by the Brakettes, will take place July 29-August 1. Information will be on the team’s website, www.brakettes.com, this weekend.