BRAKETTES HOST THUNDER ELITE TO START FINAL JULY HOMESTAND

July 18, 2012 - Thursday night's doubleheader with the Rhode Island Thunder Elite starts an eight-game weekend homestand, the final home games in July for the defending two-time national champion Stratford Brakettes (43-0). Coming off eight wins last week, the Brakettes improved their consecutive game win streak to 162. It stands as a new record for a club softball team in the United States, surpassed only by the Team USA win streak of 185 that ended during their 2008 pre-Olympic tour.

In last week's action there were plenty of high notes, starting with the 1,000th coaching victory of Manager John Stratton. That was achieved in a 10-3 win over the Newtown Rock in last Thursday's opener. On Friday night, in a sweep of the Mass Pride, first baseman Stephanie Call became the first female softball player to hit a ball over the back fence at DeLuca Field, a 300-foot shot from home plate. Call is the team leader with 11 home runs, seven triples and 47 RBI to go with a team high .486 batting average.

Brandice Balschmiter (27-0) picked up both wins last Sunday against the New York Swag. The Brakettes had to rally for a 9-3 win in the nightcap. They scored twice in the home fourth to tie the game at 3-all and then recorded six runs in the fifth to beat the pending thunder storm and heavy rains.

The eight starting position players in the lineup are all hitting above .400 on the year. They include catcher Alisa Heronema (.484), centerfielder Carly Normandin (.480), shortstop Mandie Fishback (.454), second baseman Ashley Waters (.450), right fielder Denise Denis (.443), left fielder Becca Carden (.426), and third baseman Jess Mouse (.419). Carden has 42 RBI, Fishback 41, Waters 37, and Mouse 35.

The Rhode Island Thunder Elite is a highly-competitive U18 travel team that competes in College Exposure tournaments throughout the United States. The goal of the team is to place their players in college softball programs that are the best fit for both the college and the player.

The Thunder Elite proved they were the best in last weekend's Softball Showcase in Stratford as they won all five games and only allowed five runs. Following Thursday night's doubleheader, the first meeting between the two teams, the Thunder Elite will travel to the Newtown, PA, Rock Showcase on Saturday and Sunday where they have five more games on tap in front of dozens of college coaches.

With players from every New England state except Vermont, the Thunder Elite have compiled a 28-5 record thus far. Two of their players, catcher/third baseman CC Murphy (Lewis Mills H.S.) and pitcher/outfielder Alana Luzzio (Fitch H.S.) are from Connecticut. Pitcher Anna O'Neill of King Philip High School (MA) is the top pitcher with an 18-3 record, 0.83 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 84 innings.

Top hitters for the Thunder Elite include Brittany Camara (.528, 17 RBI), Murphy (.484, 25 RBI), Tori Constantin (.393, 23 RBI, 4 HR), Sarah Drazin (.387, 26 RBI, 4 HR), Brooke Hardy (.380, 25 stolen bases), and Luzzio (.351, 18 RBI). The Thunder Elite have finished unbeaten in three of the five tournaments they have played in. They went 8-0 in the Thunder Summer Sizzler in Plainville, where the beat the Thunder Gold 9-2. They also finished 9th in the Colorado Fireworks tournament that had a 180-team field.

TOURNAMENT TICKETS for the fourth annual Women's Major Softball National Championship are on sale throughout the weekend. The tournament will be played August 9-12 at DeLuca Field and the Short Beach Rec Complex. Tournament passes go for $35 for box seats, $30 for reserved with back rests, and $25 for first and third base general admission. All youth league teams and players will be admitted FREE throughout the tournament by wearing their game jersey.