Brakettes' Clinic, 2012 Scheduling and Local TV Deal Heat up Off-Season

February 9, 2012 - The Stratford Brakettes won't open the 2012 season until early June, but the buzz about the upcoming campaign is already starting to build. Let's take a look at this year's Brakettes Hot Stove Report…

The Brakettes will carry a 119-game winning streak into the season, as they look to defend their WMS National title. While fans wait for the fastpitch action to begin, the Brakettes’ staff has been busy this off-season, planning many exciting events for 2012.

There will be a Brakettes pitching clinic at Stratford High School on March 11th, featuring Manager John Stratton and several current Brakettes. The clinic is timed perfectly to help aspiring pitchers prepare for their upcoming spring seasons. Clinic registration info will soon follow here at brakettes.com.

A soon-to-be-announced TV partnership, which will feature Brakettes games on a local television network throughout the summer, is in the works. Details are currently being ironed out, and an official joint announcement will be made shortly! Stay tuned…

This summer, the Stratford Brakettes will play their toughest schedule in years, highlighted by road trips in July to play the Akron Racers of the NPF and to Las Vegas for the Fastpitch Championship Invitational (FCI).

The trip to Akron, OH will pit the Brakettes against their first NPF competition since a 2009 doubleheader with the now-defunct Philadelphia Force. The Brakettes and Racers will meet at Firestone Stadium in Akron on July 24th for a two-game set. The 2011 Akron Racers featured former Brakette shortstop, Courtney Bures. Akron should once again contend for the NPF crown in 2012.

The FCI started in 2009 and showcases a California-studded lineup of top women’s teams, including the Southern California Hurricanes. The Brakettes and Hurricanes have a long-standing rivalry dating back to their ASA days, but haven’t played head-to-head since pool play at the 2007 ASA National Tournament in South Bend, IN. The 2012 FCI will take place July 27th-29th. We are working with tournament officials to ensure that we can video webcast the games from Las Vegas on brakettes.com.

The Brakettes will again open their season against the Newtown Rock (PA). The Rock finished second to Team North Florida in last year’s 18-under ASA Gold National Tournament. Newtown was also the last team to defeat the Brakettes, with a 7-3 Opening Night win at DeLuca in 2010.

Also returning to Stratford in 2012 will be the St. Louis Saints, perennial contenders for the Women’s Major Softball title. The Saints will play two against the Brakettes on Tuesday night, August 7th.

The Saints also headline the list of teams looking to knock off the two-time defending champion Brakettes in the 2012 WMS Championship, August 9th-12th, in Stratford. After an 11-team WMS Championship in 2011, we hope to again expand the tournament field. All tournament games at DeLuca will be broadcast at brakettes.com.

The 2009 WMS champion NYC Havoc will again be in the field at this year’s Nationals, and will visit the Brakettes in July for a series of games at DeLuca Field.

Brakettes GM Bob Baird is putting the finishing touches on the 2012 schedule, which will be posted here in the coming weeks .The Lyons (PA) Spirit, Rhode Island Thunder, CT Mirage, Polar Crush (Worcester, MA), CT High School All-Stars and Stratford (CT) Seahawks will return to play the Brakettes, and other top women’s clubs from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania will fill out the remaining home dates.

Check back here at brakettes.com for more updates as the season approaches!