BRAKETTES HOST GATORS AT DELUCA FIELD; FICO GOES FOR A RECORD

July 23, 2010 - This has been Rachele Fico's first full season with the Stratford Brakettes, but she has a chance to add her name to the team's record book Friday night when she takes the mound against the Lehigh Valley Gators in a 7 o'clock at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The teams also meet Sunday at 12 noon.

Fico has thrown consecutive perfect games against the Rhode Island Thunder and the Bay State Brats, her first as a Brakettes' pitcher. A third straight perfecto puts her in the record book with the likes of Kathy Arendsen (1980), Lisa Fernandez (1993), Michelle Collins (1995), and Leslie Malerich (2008) who authored three in a row. Sharing mound duties with Fico will be Erin Gallagher (5-1).

Manager John Stratton's Brakettes bring a 43-1 record into the series with the Gators, including 42 consecutive wins which ranks as the 10th best in the team's 64-year history.

Following this weekend's play the Brakettes have only one regular-season date remaining at DeLuca Field when they host the St. Louis Saints Tuesday at 7 p.m. The team's Wednesday night's doubleheader against the Polar Crush of Worcester, MA, will be played at the Frank Biondi Softball Field at West Haven High at 7 p.m.

The Brakettes host the second annual Women's Major Softball National Championship July 29-August 1 at Biondi Field. The tourney begins with pool play Thursday with eight games starting at 8 a.m. Bracket play starts Friday. Tournament passes will be on sale at DeLuca through the end of the regular season as well as at Biondi.

The pool play schedule Thursday is as follows:

Session 1

Game #1    8 a.m. NYC Havoc v. CT Mirage Gold
Game #2    9:30 a.m. St. Louis Saints v. New York Freedom
Game #3    11:15 a.m. Stratford Brakettes v. TC Tremors
Game #4    12:45 p.m. Loser Game #1 v. Loser Game #2
Game #5    2:30 p.m. Winner Game #1 v. Winner Game #2
Session 2

5 p.m.         Opening Ceremonies

Game #6    5:30 p.m. Lyons Spirit v. New York Raiders
Game #7    7:15 p.m. Winner Game #3 v. Winner Game #6
Game #8    9:00 p.mm. Loser Game #3 v. Loser Game #6