Normandin and Serio Blast Brakettes Past Mirage Gold

July 15, 2010 - The Stratford Brakettes fought off a great challenge by the CT Mirage Gold Thursday night at DeLuca Field, needing a sixth-inning home run from Carly Normandin to sneak out a 1-0 victory. Jess Serio smashed two homers in the late game to lead the Brakettes to a 7-1 win.

Rachele Fico struck out 12 batters in the early contest, which developed into an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel. She gave up just two singles and walked none. Fico also earned the victory in the second game, improving to 20-0 for the 2010 campaign.

Mirage Gold starter Kathleen Conway gave up just four hits in the contest, but the solo shot by Normandin was the difference maker, as the Brakettes improved to 35-1. Conway struck out two and walked none.

Ashley Gall and Mo Gauthier picked up singles for the Mirage Gold, but were the only base runners that Fico would allow.

The Brakettes also struggled offensively in the early matchup, as the sixth inning was the only frame where Stratford managed multiple runners on base. Normandin’s blast was her fourth of the season, and briefly tied her for the team lead in homers with Ashley Waters and Denise Denis.

The Mirage Gold called on Julie Marks to manage the pitching duties in the second game, and after a scoreless first inning, it appeared as if the teams would again be locked in a battle of pitchers.

The Brakettes had different plans, however, and were able to break out offensively in the second inning.

Lyndsay Mouse led off with a single, and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Amber Radomski. Jess Mouse launched a towering shot to left field, which fell just short of the fence. She cruised into second base with a standup double. The blast sent Lyndsay Mouse home from second, and put the Brakettes up 1-0. Jess Mouse eventually scored on a single by Normandin to give Stratford a 2-0 edge.

Serio soon joined Normandin, Waters and Denis at the top of the Brakettes’ home run chart, as she smacked a solo shot in the third inning. The homer was her fourth of the year, and put Stratford up 3-0.

Conway’s banner night for the Mirage Gold did not end with her pitching performance. She led off the top of the fourth with a bunt single, and was sacrificed to second by Maddie McManus. Conway moved to third on a comebacker by Gall, which Fico fielded and threw to first for the out. Gall’s metal alloy bat snapped in two on the grounder, and the barrel flew past Fico, who seemed unfazed by the projectile.

Conway stood at third with two outs, bringing Gauthier to the plate. Gauthier dribbled a grounder to the hole between short and third. She beat out the throw by shortstop Lyndsay Mouse for an infield single, driving in Conway in the process for the Mirage Gold’s only run of the night.

Normandin started the home fourth with a single, her third of the game. Waters followed with a single, putting two runners on base with no outs. With one out, it was again Serio’s turn in the order. She clobbered a shot to left field for a three-run blast to put the Brakettes up 6-1. Serio’s second home run of the game gave her the team lead in that category, with five on the season.

Denis walked to start the sixth inning, and advanced to second with one out on a single by Fishback. A wild pitch then allowed both runners to move up a base. Lyndsay Mouse drove in Denis with a sac fly to close out the scoring with the Brakettes up 7-1.

Fico retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the victory. She struck out eight in the second game.

Normandin went 5-for-7 in the doubleheader with a double and a homer. Serio had three hits on the evening, while Lyndsay Mouse and Fishback picked up two hits apiece.

The Brakettes and CT Mirage Gold will again meet in Stratford on Friday night, with two games starting at 7:00.

All Brakettes’ home games are video webcast at brakettes.com.