Unbeaten Brakettes Host Eliminators Thursday; Fico Seeks Record as Stratton Nears 1,000th

June 25, 2012 - The Stratford Brakettes jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning against the New York Swag Sunday afternoon, on their way to a 6-1 victory. The Brakettes also cruised past the Stratford Seahawks in the next game to move to 20-0 on the season.

Carly Normandin led off the first with a walk and moved up 60 feet on a sacrifice by Ashley Waters. Mandie Fishback drove in Normandin with a double for the game's first run, and then went to third on a single by Stephanie Call.

With runners at the corners, Becca Carden grounded out to the right, but sent Fishback home on the play for a 2-0 lead. Jess Mouse followed with a single to score Call and extend the lead to 3-0.

Mariel Schlaefer singled with one out in the second and advanced on a base hit by Normandin. Waters brought in Schlaefer with the team's third straight single, stretching the margin to 4-0.

The Swag scored their lone run in the third, as Maddy Reese led off with a double. Reese moved up a bag on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to cut the Brakettes' lead to 4-1.

Amber Radomski was hit by a pitch with two outs in the third and raced to second on a wild pitch. After Stacy Birk walked, Schlaefer drilled a double to score Radomski, putting the Brakettes up, 5-1.

Call scored again in the fourth after reaching on a two-out double. Carden picked up her second RBI of the game with a single, and Call's run closed out the scoring at 6-1.

Swag starter Stacy Kuwick struck out seven Brakettes in a gritty performance, but allowed ten hits in six innings. Kuwick also hit a triple in the second frame.

Brandice Balschmiter struck out eight batters and registered her 14th win in as many tries in 2012. She allowed three hits and walked one.

Fishback, Call and Schlaefer each contributed a pair of hits in the win.

The Brakettes cruised to a 17-0 victory over the Stratford Seahawks in the late game.

Rachele Fico improved to 2-0 with a one-hit shutout, striking out five in five innings.

The Brakettes scored four runs in the first, six in the second, four more in the third and three runs in the fourth inning to post their highest run total of the year.

Carden went 4-for-4 with a three-run, inside-the-park homer and a run-scoring double.

Fishback, Birk and Schlaefer all had a pair of doubles, while Birk added another single to the mix.

Call scored four times and drove in a run with a double. Normandin and Mouse each had two hits and Mouse drove in three runs in the contest.

The Seahawks and Swag started the three-team, round robin play on Sunday at DeLuca with an 11:00 matchup. The Seahawks picked up their first win of the 2012 campaign with a 3-2 decision in eight innings.

The Brakettes return to action on Thursday night with a 7:00 doubleheader against the Stratford Breakers. Both games will be video webcast at brakettes.com.