BRAKETTES EXTEND WIN STREAK TO 40 AS THEY PREPARE TO HOST 2ND ANNUAL WOMEN'S MAJOR SOFTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 21, 2010 - The Stratford Brakettes will try to extend their 40-game winning streak as they play host to the Bay State Brats of Massachusetts in a 7 o'clock doubleheader Thursday night, July 22 at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field in Stratford. The 41-1 Brakettes also play host to the Lehigh Valley Gators Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 12 noon in a pair of twin-bills at DeLuca Field.

Thursday night’s games against the 13-5 Brats mark the second annual Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation Benefit. All proceeds from the game will benefit this worthy foundation.

While the team hasn’t lost since splitting an opening night doubleheader June 4, the current streak ranks only 10th on the all-time list. The 1971 team set the record for consecutive wins in a season with its perfect 57-0 ledger.

Recent UMass graduate Carly Normandin continues her push to capture the team’s Triple Crown as she raised her batting average 30 points last week to .537. She tops the Brakettes with 43 runs scored, 58 hits, five home runs and she shares the lead in doubles at 12 with Ashley Waters. Center fielder Normandin has 35 RBI, which is second to right fielder Denise Denis’ (.440, 10 doubles, four home runs, 36 RBI). Germaine Fairchild (2005) was the last Brakettes player to win the Triple Crown.

Seven Brakettes have driven in 20 or more runs this year, while catcher Kristyn Sandberg (.455) and third baseman Jess Mouse (.308) both have 19. Lyndsey Kay Bright (.441), Ashley Waters (.336), Jess Serio (.387) and Lindsay Mouse (.318) are other top hitters for Manager John Stratton’s club.

Rachele Fico (23-0) continues her outstanding pitching. Fico leads the club with a 23-0 record and 220 strikeouts in 143 innings. She pitched the team’s first perfect game since 2008 last Sunday in a 7-0 win over the Rhode Island Thunder as she struck out 13. Fico is 33-0 in her Brakettes career. Erin Gallagher (5-1) returns to action this week after a two-week hiatus, while newcomer Donna Bourgeois of Louisiana-Lafayette won three games and allowed only three hits last week.

The second annual Women’s Major Softball National Championship tournament will take place July 29-August 1 at West Haven’s Frank Biondi Field, with eight teams entered. The Brakettes are unable to host the tournament at DeLuca Field because their contract with the Town of Stratford prohibits any tournament from being played there which conflicts with the Stratford Softball Tournaments, Inc. (S.S.T.I.) -sponsored ASA Women’s Major, scheduled for August 5-8 at DeLuca. The Brakettes are also entered in the ASA tournament and have called DeLuca Field home since 1988.

Tournament Passes for the WMS tournament may be purchased at DeLuca Field during the team’s remaining home games or at Biondi Field when it begins. They may also be reserved by calling the Brakettes office at (203) 378-7262. There are seven sessions of play over four days. Reserved seating tournament passes are $35 while general admission tournament seating is $25. Individual session tickets are $7 for reserved seats and $5 for general admission. Brakettes season ticket holders will receive a discount.