Brakettes Sweep Resilient New York Swag

June 23, 2012 - Stephanie Call launched a two-out grand slam in the fifth inning Saturday night, breaking a 1-1 tie, and leading the Brakettes to a 6-1 win over the New York Swag. Stratford also won the nightcap, 5-0.

Brandice Balschmiter earned the victory to improve to 13-0 on the season. While Balschmiter was not her usual dominant self, she managed to get big outs when she needed to. Balschmiter struck out eight and walked three, while giving up four walks and hitting a batter.

Carly Normandin got the Brakettes off to a quick start in the first inning, leading off with a single. Ashley Waters pushed Normandin to second with a sac bunt, and Denise Denis followed with a walk to put two on. Call came through with a single to score Normandin for a 1-0 lead.

Balschmiter cruised in the early going, striking out five in the first two innings, but got into trouble in the third.

Balschmiter hit Cierra Rojas to lead off the third, and then was the beneficiary of some solid defense behind her. Gabby Torzilli grounded to shortstop Mandie Fishback, who flipped to Waters at second to start a 6-4-3 double play.

With two outs, Maddy Reese reached on a single. Michelle Prong followed with a base hit to move Reese to second. That double play loomed large in the inning, as Elise Fortier came up and delivered a run-scoring single. Reese raced home from second and tied the game at 1-1.

Stacy Kuwick pitched well into the fifth inning, as the Brakettes and Swag stayed knotted at a run apiece.

The Brakettes broke the game open in the fifth, after Mariel Schlaefer earned a one-out walk. Waters reached on a walk with two away to push Schlaefer up a bag, and Denis was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Call provided Balschmiter with all the offense she would need, smacking her grand slam on the first pitch to give Stratford a 5-1 edge. Call drove in all of the Brakettes’ first five runs and was named the CPTV Sports player of the game.

Balschmiter allowed two runners on base in the fourth, both on walks, but again had her defense pick her up. With two on and one out, Mariel Schlaefer threw behind Gabby Torzilli at second base and caught her off the bag. Waters fielded the strong throw and tagged Torzilli for the second out. Balschmiter struck out the next batter to get out of the inning.

The Brakettes picked up an insurance run in the fifth, as Jess Mouse led off with a double. Stacy Birk chopped a grounder in front of the plate, moving Mouse to third. Schlaefer continued her strong play with a base hit to score Mouse for a 6-1 advantage.

Balschmiter made the lead stick, retiring the side in the last two innings to close out the victory for the Brakettes.

Rachele Fico made her 2012 Brakette debut in the late game, throwing a three-hit shutout to earn the win. She struck out ten, while giving up four walks.

Normandin led off the bottom of the first with a double and went to third on a bunt single by Waters. Denis contributed a base hit to score Normandin for an early 1-0 lead.

Fico allowed walks in each of the first three innings, but appeared to get stronger as the game progressed.

Swag starter Taylor Pirone kept the Brakettes scoreless in the second and third innings, but Stratford extended the lead in the fifth.

Becca Carden singled to lead off the inning and was sacrificed over by Mouse. Birk grounded out to short, and Carden moved up to third. Amber Radomski sent a fly ball out to centerfield, which was dropped by Hali Enderby. The error allowed Carden to score the Brakettes’ second run.

Waters led off the fifth with a walk and scored on a triple by Denis to push the lead to 3-0. Fishback also picked up an RBI with one out, driving in Denis with a single for a 4-0 lead.

The Brakettes scored their last run in the sixth frame, after Normandin reached on a one-out walk. Waters singled to put two on for Denis, who again came through for Stratford.

Denis delivered her third hit of the game, driving in Normandin for her third RBI and a 5-0 margin.

Fico allowed a hit and a walk in the seventh, but struck out Rojas swinging to end the game.

With the doubleheader sweep, the Brakettes improved to 18-0 for the 2012 season and extended their record winning streak to 137 straight games.

CPTV Sports recorded the game for airing on the 24-hour all-sports channel next week. Last week’s game against the CT High School All-Stars will be broadcast Sunday night, June 24th, at 7:00 on CPTV Sports. Check out CPTVSports.com for the complete channel directory.

The Brakettes will play the New York Swag again on Sunday at 1:00, followed by a 3:00 game against the Stratford Seahawks. Both games will be video webcast at brakettes.com.