Brakettes Beat Defending Champion NYC Havoc

July 31, 2010 - The Stratford Brakettes outlasted the NYC Havoc Friday night in West Haven to advance to the winner's bracket final of the 2nd Annual WMS National Championship. The 6-0 victory sets up a contest with the St. Louis Saints on Saturday night at 7:45, with a chance to move on to Sunday's championship game.

Donna Bourgeois claimed the decision for the Brakettes, improving to 4-0 on the season. She struck out five batters and scattered three hits.

The Havoc’s best chance to score came in the first inning, when they loaded the bases with one out. Nicole Adisano knocked the first pitch of the game to left field for a single and was sacrificed to second by Shannon Skeggs. Liz Strein walked and Amanda Byrnes reached on a single to put runners at all bases. Kristin Kenavan grounded to third, and Jess Mouse fielded and threw home for the force.

Nicole Estrada then chopped a grounder in front of the plate, which was fielded by Bourgeois. The Brakettes’ starter picked up the ball and tossed it to Jess Serio at home for another force. The play was a controversial one, as the Havoc argued that Serio’s foot never touched the plate. Their appeal was denied and the play stood as called.

The Brakettes took advantage of the close call and got on the board in the first. Carly Normandin doubled in the leadoff spot, and was moved to third on a sac bunt by Ashley Waters. Denis Denis grounded to second base, and Adisano made the play and threw to the plate. Havoc catcher Byrnes received the throw and made a swipe tag to get Normandin for the out.

Denis reached on the fielder’s choice and then scored on a triple by Serio. Mandie Fishback followed with an RBI single to plate Serio, giving the Brakettes a 2-0 lead.

The Brakettes picked up another run in the third, as Lindsey Kay Bright reached on a leadoff infield single. Bright stole second base to move into scoring position. Normandin contributed her second hit to score Bright, putting the Brakettes up 3-0.

Havoc starter Alyson Chiaramonte retired the side in order in the third, but the Brakettes got on the board again in the fourth.

Bright led off the frame and bunted her way on for her second hit. With one out, Waters tripled to center to score Bright, moving the Brakettes ahead, 4-0. Shannon Skeggs crashed into the fence while attempting to make a catch on the shot by Waters, sacrificing her body. She stayed in the game, despite absorbing a considerable blow in the process.

Denis was the next batter up, and smashed her tenth home run of the year to extend the margin to 6-0. The blast to right field tied Denis with Normandin for the team lead.

Normandin picked up another double in the fifth inning, and went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Fishback contributed a double in the sixth, giving her two hits for the contest. Waters also had two hits, while scoring once and driving in a run.

Bourgeois allowed two batters to reach in the seventh, but induced a grounder to Mouse at third to close out the victory. Mouse snared the ground ball and stepped on third for the force, sending the Havoc to the loser’s bracket.

The Brakettes improved to 55-1 for the 2010 campaign, and have won 54 games in a row. They will play the only other unbeaten team left in the tournament, the St. Louis Saints, in the winner’s bracket final on Saturday night at 7:45 at Biondi Field in West Haven, CT.

Former long-time Brakette and West Haven H.S. graduate Edna Fraser threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game. Fraser and the current Brakettes huddled for a picture in the circle after the pitch. Fraser used the glove she wore while playing for the Brakettes for the occasion.

All games from the 2nd Annual Women’s Major Softball National Championship are being video webcast at brakettes.com.