ALISA HERONEMA HAS BECOME A TOUGH OUT

June 6, 2012 - Alisa Heronema will try to put her name in the Stratford Brakettes career record book when they host the Stratford Seahawks Thursday in a 7 o'clock doubleheader at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. Heronema has hit safely in her last nine at bats and is one shy of tying the team record.

National Hall of Famer Micki Stratton, Irene Shea, and Jackie Cippoloni share the record with 10 consecutive base hits. Heronema, the Brakettes catcher from Berthoud, CO, finished last weekend's five-game sweep with nine straight singles. The left-handed hitting catcher, a former Division II All-American at Regis University, went 4-4 in a 2-1 win over the Newtown, Pa, Rock, and she finished the weekend with a 5-for-5 outing against the Seahawks.

"Alisa has done a great job for us," said Manager John Stratton. "With all the star power on this team she kind of sneaks up on you. Last week she was our leadoff hitter and when we are at full strength she will be our second leadoff in the number nine spot. It doesn't matter where she hits, she gets the job done."

In helping the Brakettes compile a 63-0 record and win their 30th national championship last year, Heronema hit a quiet .458 in 59 games. She collected 54 base hits and all but five were singles. Defensively, she handled 420 chances and committed only two errors. "She did a great job handling our pitchers," added Stratton.

The Brakettes survived last weekend by winning four games from the Rock, the last team to beat them on June 4, 2010. Three times the Brakettes had to rally from deficits, including a 4-0 hole last Saturday when they posted a 5-4 comeback win. Stratton was missing six players, including four starters, but he is expecting a full complement of players this weekend.

In addition to the doubleheader with the Seahawks, the Brakettes will compete in a USSSA round-robin tournament at Carey Field in Cromwell on Saturday. They will face the Mirage Gold at 12 noon, the CT Eliminators #1 at 3 p.m. and the CT Eliminators #2 at 4:30 p.m.

Making her first appearance with the Brakettes in two years will be third baseman Jessica Mouse who played in the College World Series with the University of South Florida. The LSU graduate missed the entire 2011 college and Brakettes season with an injury and she did her graduate work at USF this year in her hometown of Tampa. Mouse hit .351 in 2010 and she owns a .322 career average with 48 extra base hits and 102 RBI.

Stratton will have record-setting Stephanie Call of Florida Atlantic at first base where she hit 31 home runs and drove in 91 RBI last year. Also back in the fold are LSU pitcher Rachele Fico and freshman outfielder Tammy Vermeulen of Patchogue, NY, outfielder Carly Normandin, and catcher/first baseman Mariel Schlaefer, the recent Lauralton Hall graduate.

The Seahawks of Manager Kevin Maltese and Mike Treglia feature outstanding shortstop Sheri Paci on their roster.

Gates to DeLuca Field open at 6 p.m.