Brakettes Win Three, Earn Tourney Play Top Seed

June 30, 2012 - The Stratford Brakettes swept through three pool play games on Saturday at the Lyons (PA) Ballfield Fourth of July Tournament, ensuring themselves the top seed for Sunday's single-elimination play.

Brandice Balschmiter tossed her second straight perfect game in the early matchup and a one-hitter in the late contest, extending her mark to 18-0 on the season. She struck out ten batters and completely dominated the New Jersey Renegades en route to a 10-0 victory. The win was also the third for Balschmiter in less than 24 hours.

Alisa Heronema collected her first home run as a Brakette in the first game. The inside-the-park, three-run shot came in a five-run third inning.

Stephanie Call and Mandie Fishback hit back-to-back two-run singles in the fourth to pace another five-run frame. Both players had a pair of hits, as did Ashley Waters and Jess Mouse.

Becca Carden smashed a two-run homer in the first inning of the middle game, a 19-2 win over the Lady Fireballs of Pennsylvania. The Brakettes crossed the plate four times in the first frame for a 4-0 lead.

An under-the-weather Rachele Fico moved to 3-0 for 2012 with the win in the second game, just one day after missing Friday’s doubleheader altogether. She struck out nine and gave up four hits, settling in after giving up two first inning runs.

Maggie Crecian led off the game for the Lady Fireballs with a single and scored on a two-run, inside-the-park homer by Sarah Norris. The two earned runs matched Fico’s total for the entire 2011 season.

Julia Popavich and Jill Viguers picked up the other two hits for the Lady Fireballs.
The Brakettes scored four more times in the second, led by a two-run single by Fishback.

After a scoreless third inning, Stratford added nine more in the fourth to stretch the lead to 17-2. Denise Denis started the onslaught with a double and Kate Bowen had a two-run single. Call also picked up two of her four hits in the inning with a run-scoring single and an RBI triple.

The Brakettes closed out the scoring at 19-2 with two more runs in the fifth, as Call had another RBI single. Fishback had three hits in the game, including a pair of doubles.

The Brakettes finished their Saturday sweep with a 10-0 lead over the PA Shooting Stars, paced by a pair of triples by Carden, who also drove in three runs. Fishback delivered three hits in the matchup, while Waters, Denis and Bowen also had two hits apiece.

Balschmiter had to go six innings against the PA Shooting Stars, striking out nine along the way. She was perfect again through 4 and 2/3 innings before giving up a single to Haley Neff. The single ended Balschmiter’s impressive streak of 46 consecutive batters retired, going back to Friday night’s first game against the CT Mirage.

The Brakettes earned the top seed for Sunday’s single-elimination tournament play and will face the winner of the Jersey Renegades and (PA) Elite Storm at 11:15 on Lyons Ballfield #1. If the Brakettes advance, they will face the winner of the Jersey Fusion and New York Raiders immediately after.

All games on Sunday from the Lyons Ballfield Fourth of July Tournament will be broadcast (AUDIO ONLY) at brakettes.com.