Brakettes Sweep through Pool Play with a Pair of 8-0 Triumphs

July 29, 2010 - The Stratford Brakettes defeated the TC Tremors (Binghampton, NY) and the Lyons Spirit (PA) by identical 8-0 scores on Thursday, in pool play action at the 2nd Annual Women's Major Softball National Championship at Frank Biondi Field in West Haven.

By posting two wins in Pool A, the Brakettes will be the top seed from their group and will play the #4 seed from Pool B, the CT Mirage Gold, at 2:15 on Friday.

Rachele Fico earned both wins for the Brakettes in improving to 30-0 on the season. She becomes the first Brakette to win 30 games in a season since all-time franchise wins leader Barbara Reinalda did so in 1988. Fico struck out eight batters in the first game and nine in the second, while giving up just one hit in each contest.

Carly Normandin started the morning matchup against the Tremors with a home run, making it three straight games that she led off with a long ball.

The Brakettes added to the 1-0 lead in the second inning, as Jess Mouse led off with a double. She wound up at third base thanks to an error, and scored on a single by Amber Radomski.

Denise Denis helped get the offense going again in the third with a leadoff single. She moved to second on a single by Jess Serio, and both runners moved up a base on a sac bunt by Mandie Fishback. Mouse grounded out to the right side, but drove home Denis from third for a 3-0 lead. Serio moved to third on the grounder and then scored on a wild pitch to put the Brakettes up 4-0.

Denis smacked her eighth home run of the year in the fifth inning for a 5-0 advantage, and the Brakettes were well on their way to another run-rule victory. With one out, Fishback contributed a base hit and moved to second on a single by Jess Mouse. Sarah Calgreen launched a fly ball to left that was misplayed, allowing her to reach second base. The error also let Fishback score, and put the Brakettes up 6-0.

Mouse advanced to third on the error and then scored on a single by Lindsey Kay Bright. Normandin followed with a double to plate Calgreen, ending the game early with an 8-0 score.

The late game against Lyons was the second straight game for the Spirit, who advanced by beating the New York Raiders 7-5.

The Brakettes scored three first-inning runs, all of which came with two outs. Denis delivered the first of four consecutive doubles for the club, scoring on a two-base hit by Serio. Fishback followed with a two-bagger to score Serio, and was then driven in by Jess Mouse’s double, giving the Brakettes a 3-0 edge.

Denis smashed her ninth homer while leading off the third inning to open up a 4-0 margin.

The ever-speedy Bright came up with her second single of the game in the fourth, and then stole second base. Normandin drove her in with a base hit for a 5-0 lead.

The Brakettes finished off the Spirit in the fifth inning, again causing trouble with two outs. Mouse lined her second double of the game, and Radomski walked to put two runners on base. Calgreen also earned a free pass, loading the bases with Bright coming to the plate.

A wild pitch allowed Mouse to race home for a 6-0 lead, and an errant throw back to the plate gave Radomski the chance to come home as well. A second error on the play sent Calgreen home, letting the Brakettes score their last three runs without putting the ball in play.

The Brakettes will play at 2:15 against the CT Mirage Gold in the winner’s bracket quarters on Friday, as they begin double-elimination play. The winner of that game will play again Friday night at 8:00.

All games from the 2nd Annual Women’s Major Softball Championship are broadcast at brakettes.com.