Brakettes End Weekend with Wins over Tremors and Thunder

July 19, 2010 - The Brakettes defeated the TC Tremors 10-2 Sunday afternoon, and rode Rachele Fico's perfect game to an early evening, 7-0 win over the Rhode Island Thunder. Stratford improved to 41-1 with the pair of victories and has won 40 games in a row.

The contests were part of a three-team round-robin at DeLuca Field. The Thunder beat the Tremors 5-0 in the middle game.

Carly Normandin went 3-for-3 against the Tremors with two doubles. She drove in three runs and scored twice. Lindsey Kay Bright collected two hits and scored two, while driving in a run. Jess Serio also had two hits and an RBI.

Donna Bourgeois (3-0) earned the win in the early game, striking out four and walking two. She gave up her first runs as a Brakette in the second inning, after throwing shutouts in her first two starts. After Taylor Chaffee was hit by a pitch, Tremors starting pitcher Amy Bright helped her own cause with a two-run homer to right. The shot gave the Tremors a surprising 2-0 lead.

The Brakettes went right to work after falling behind early. Kristyn Sandberg singled to start the bottom of the second inning, and moved up a bag when Mandie Fishback grounded out. With two outs, Jess Mouse walked to put two on for Lindsey Kay Bright. Mouse and Sandberg took off and stole their next base, giving Bright two runners in scoring position. Bright delivered a bloop single to left field to score Sandberg to pull within 2-1, while pushing Mouse to third.

Normandin added to the margin with a double, scoring Mouse and Bright for a 3-2 advantage.

Stratford scored again in the fourth inning, with Lyndsay Mouse getting it started with a base hit. She was sacrificed to second by Jess Mouse, and Bright reached when she was hit by a pitch. With two on and one out, Normandin delivered a single to score Lyndsay Mouse for a 4-2 lead. Bright moved to third on the play, and Normandin took second base on the throw.

Consecutive errors by the Tremors allowed Ashley Waters and Denise Denis to reach base, and also let Bright and Normandin score. The Brakettes took a 6-2 lead, but were not finished. With Waters at third, Denis took off from first base looking to draw a throw. When the Tremors threw to second base, Waters took off for home and scored the Brakettes seventh run.

Stratford closed out the victory with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, shortening the game due to run rule.

Jess Mouse walked to lead off the fifth, and advanced on a bunt single by Bright. Nomandin was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with no outs. Waters grounded to short, and the force play was made on Bright at third for the first out. Mouse crossed home to give the Brakettes an 8-2 edge, while Normandin moved to second. Normandin scored from second on a single by Denis, and Waters came home on a base hit by Serio, giving Stratford the 10-2 victory.

Fico was in dominant form in the late game, striking out 13 Thunder batters on her way to a perfect game. She improved to 23-0 on the season.

Normandin and Sandberg walked in the home first off of Thunder starter Kiki Saveriano. Fishback reached on an infield single, bringing Lyndsay Mouse up with the bases loaded. Mouse delivered a single to score two runs, putting Stratford up 2-0.

Normandin picked up another base hit with one out in the second. She scored from first on a double by Denis, giving the Brakettes a 3-0 edge.

Jess Mouse singled to start the sixth inning, and moved to third on an error that allowed Amber Radomski to reach base. Christine Della Vecchia pinch-ran for Radomski and stole second base. Sarah Calgreen lined a single to right to score Mouse and give Stratford a 4-0 lead.

Normandin then crushed a towering shot to right field, her fifth homer of the season. The shot gave the Brakettes a 7-0 lead, and tied Serio for most on the team.

The Brakettes will return to action Thursday against the Bay State (MA) Brats. The 7:00 doubleheader at DeLuca Field in Stratford will be the Second Annual Benefit Game for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation. All of Thursday’s gate proceeds will be donated to the fund.

Donations will be accepted at the gate.

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