Call's Historic 300-ft. Blast Drives Brakettes

July 14, 2012 - Stephanie Call hit the longest ball in the history of women's fastpitch at DeLuca Field on Friday night, becoming the first woman to clear the 290-foot men's slowpitch fence in a game. The homer was the first of two on the night by the slugger, as the Brakettes swept the Mass Pride, 9-0 and 7-2.

The late game, first-inning blast traveled 300+ feet before disappearing on the other side of the 12-foot tall fence, just feet to the right of dead center. The entire crowd seemed to gasp in unison as the ball kept sailing, and Call raced around the bases with both hands on her head once she realized it had left the park.

The Brakettes won the first game 9-0 behind another dominant performance by Brandice Balschmiter, who struck out ten in five innings. Balschmiter allowed just three singles and walked one, while improving to 24-0 on the season.

After a scoreless first, Stratford put three on the board in the second inning. Call led off with a walk and moved up a bag on a single by Mandie Fishback. Becca Carden followed with a walk to load the bases, and Jess Mouse delivered a sac fly to plate Call for a 1-0 edge.

With two outs, Amber Radomski lined a two-run, ground rule double to left, putting the Brakettes up 3-0.

Denise Denis started another rally in the third with a triple, and came home on a fielder's choice by Fishback. Carden reached again with a free pass, and scored along with Fishback on a double by Kate Bowen, extending the lead to 6-0.

Denis walked and stole second in the fourth, then watched Call earn her third walk in three plate appearances. Fishback cleared the bases with a three-run shot, her second of the year, to close out the scoring at 9-0.

Kiki Saveriano started the game for the Pride, and was relieved with two outs in the fourth by Lauren Duggan.

Anna Kelly, Katie Bettencourt and Tori Constantin picked up the base hits for the Pride.

The Brakettes earned a much more difficult win in the nightcap, despite the fireworks provided by Call. The game was still very much in question after Call's mammoth shot, as the Brakettes didn't break it open until the fifth.

Rachele Fico picked up the win for the Brakettes, moving to 7-0, while striking out eight and giving up four hits.

The Pride jumped up 1-0 in the first, as Quianna Diaz-Patterson singled and stole second. Alyssa Zahka flied out to Denis in right, but an uncharacteristic misplay by Denis allowed Diaz-Patterson to score and Zahka to reach.

Call's two-run shot brought in Denis, who had walked, and put Stratford up 2-1.

Diaz-Patterson brought the Pride right back in the top of the third with a solo shot to left. The opposite-field blast tied the game at 2-2, where it stayed until the home fifth.

Alisa Heronema was again a sparkplug for Stratford, as she reached on a one-out walk in the fifth. After a single by Ashley Waters, Call launched her second homer of the game to right field. The blast put Stratford on top, 5-2.

Fishback and Carden singled to continue the inning, and Mouse walked to load the bases. Carly Normandin reached on an infield single to bring the lead to 6-2.

Radomski added some more offense in the sixth, as she led off with a double. She moved up a bag on a grounder, then scored on a wild pitch, closing out the scoring at 7-2.

Fico worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to seal the win, as the Brakettes stretched their win streak to 158 games. Their 2012 record now stands at 39-0.

The Brakettes return to action on Saturday night at DeLuca Field, as they host the Mass Pride in a 7:00 doubleheader.

Both games will be live video webcast at brakettes.com.