Brakettes Survive Scares in Games against Rock
June 2, 2012 - The Newtown Rock pushed the Stratford Brakettes to the limit twice on Saturday night at DeLuca Field, but the two-time reigning WMS champions used late-inning rallies to escape with a pair of one-run victories, 5-4 and 2-1.
It took a furious fifth-inning rally to erase a 4-0 deficit in the early game, as the Rock jumped ahead with a big third inning.
Rock centerfielder Kingsley Avery led off the third with a single to left and was pushed to second on a sac bunt by Amanda Germaldo. Nicole Cognini then grounded to the left side and reached on a fielder's choice, as Avery got caught in a rundown between second and third. Avery managed to slide into third safely after getting plunked in the back with the throw to the bag.
Dominique Pinto, who recently committed to play at UCONN in 2013, delivered a single to score Avery and Cognini, putting Newtown up 2-0.
Morgan Litchfield gave the Rock further breathing room with a two-run blast to center, stretching the margin to 4-0.
Brakette starter Stacy Birk responded with a 1-2-3 fourth inning, but was relieved by Brandice Balschmiter after allowing two singles with one out in the fifth. Balschmiter induced a grounder to Ashley Waters, who teamed up with Mandie Fishback and Sarah Calgreen on a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning (photo).
The Brakettes could not answer Newtown in the third and fourth innings, but finally broke through on Rock starter Kristy Von Pusch in the fifth.
Kate Bowen led off the frame with a single and scored on three wild pitches. Amber Radomski walked and moved to second on a passed ball. After an infield single by Calgreen, Radomski scored on a single by Alisa Heronema, pulling Stratford within 4-2.
Courtney Brandt was called on to relieve Von Pusch with the tying runs on base, inheriting two runners with no outs.
Waters dropped a sacrifice bunt to move Calgreen to third and Heronema to second, and then Denise Denis walked to load the bases. Mandie Fishback responded with a single to score Calgreen, but Heronema was gunned down at the plate on a strong throw from center.
Carden followed with a walk to again load the bases, bringing up Birk with Stratford still trailing 4-3. Birk helped herself out with an RBI single to score Denis, tying the game at 4-4 and erasing the deficit.
The Brakettes eaked out the win with a run in the seventh inning, started off by a double by Waters. Denis beat out a bunt single which sent Waters to third, and Waters raced home when the throw to first sailed into right field.
Balschmiter earned the win in relief to improve to 2-0 on the season, and later picked up her third win in the nightcap with a 2-1 victory.
The Rock again jumped ahead with a run in the third, as Courtney Brandt reached on a one-out walk. She went all the way to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Dominique Pinto for a 1-0 lead.
The Brakettes came right back and scored the tying run in the bottom of the third.
Becca Carden singled with two outs and came home with the go-ahead run on a hard-hit line drive by Bowen, which hit the right field fence on one bounce.
Although not as dominant as in Friday night's appearance, Balschmiter toiled for the win and notched five strikeouts along the way. She allowed four hits and walked one.
The Brakettes stretched their franchise-record winning streak to 122 games with the doubleheader sweep.
Stratford will take on the Rock one last time on Sunday at 1:00 and then play the Stratford Seahawks at 3:00. Both games will be broadcast at www.brakettes.com.
June 2, 2012 - The Newtown Rock pushed the Stratford Brakettes to the limit twice on Saturday night at DeLuca Field, but the two-time reigning WMS champions used late-inning rallies to escape with a pair of one-run victories, 5-4 and 2-1.It took a furious fifth-inning rally to erase a 4-0 deficit in the early game, as the Rock jumped ahead with a big third inning.
Rock centerfielder Kingsley Avery led off the third with a single to left and was pushed to second on a sac bunt by Amanda Germaldo. Nicole Cognini then grounded to the left side and reached on a fielder's choice, as Avery got caught in a rundown between second and third. Avery managed to slide into third safely after getting plunked in the back with the throw to the bag.
Dominique Pinto, who recently committed to play at UCONN in 2013, delivered a single to score Avery and Cognini, putting Newtown up 2-0.
Morgan Litchfield gave the Rock further breathing room with a two-run blast to center, stretching the margin to 4-0.
Brakette starter Stacy Birk responded with a 1-2-3 fourth inning, but was relieved by Brandice Balschmiter after allowing two singles with one out in the fifth. Balschmiter induced a grounder to Ashley Waters, who teamed up with Mandie Fishback and Sarah Calgreen on a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning (photo).
The Brakettes could not answer Newtown in the third and fourth innings, but finally broke through on Rock starter Kristy Von Pusch in the fifth.
Kate Bowen led off the frame with a single and scored on three wild pitches. Amber Radomski walked and moved to second on a passed ball. After an infield single by Calgreen, Radomski scored on a single by Alisa Heronema, pulling Stratford within 4-2.
Courtney Brandt was called on to relieve Von Pusch with the tying runs on base, inheriting two runners with no outs.
Waters dropped a sacrifice bunt to move Calgreen to third and Heronema to second, and then Denise Denis walked to load the bases. Mandie Fishback responded with a single to score Calgreen, but Heronema was gunned down at the plate on a strong throw from center.
Carden followed with a walk to again load the bases, bringing up Birk with Stratford still trailing 4-3. Birk helped herself out with an RBI single to score Denis, tying the game at 4-4 and erasing the deficit.
The Brakettes eaked out the win with a run in the seventh inning, started off by a double by Waters. Denis beat out a bunt single which sent Waters to third, and Waters raced home when the throw to first sailed into right field.
Balschmiter earned the win in relief to improve to 2-0 on the season, and later picked up her third win in the nightcap with a 2-1 victory.
The Rock again jumped ahead with a run in the third, as Courtney Brandt reached on a one-out walk. She went all the way to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Dominique Pinto for a 1-0 lead.
The Brakettes came right back and scored the tying run in the bottom of the third.
Becca Carden singled with two outs and came home with the go-ahead run on a hard-hit line drive by Bowen, which hit the right field fence on one bounce.
Although not as dominant as in Friday night's appearance, Balschmiter toiled for the win and notched five strikeouts along the way. She allowed four hits and walked one.
The Brakettes stretched their franchise-record winning streak to 122 games with the doubleheader sweep.
Stratford will take on the Rock one last time on Sunday at 1:00 and then play the Stratford Seahawks at 3:00. Both games will be broadcast at www.brakettes.com.
First Game
Second Game
