Brakettes Win Two Games Saturday Night in FCI; Need Three More Sunday to Win Title in Desert

July 29, 2012 - The Stratford Brakettes took two games in the Fastpitch Championship Invitational in Henderson, Nevada on Saturday, including a spectacular comeback win over the Corona Angels. Trailing 4-0, the Brakettes scored three in the third and two in the fifth to defeat the Angels 5-4 in a time limit-shortened game. The Brakettes advanced to play on Sunday morning at 8 PT (11 ET) against the California Crusaders.

Stratford sprinted past the SoCal Scorpions 12-1 in the first game, as Denise Denis smashed a double, a triple and a home run. Denis drove in three runs and also scored three times.

The Brakettes jumped up early and never looked back, scoring two in the first and three in the third.

Rachele Fico started and pitched into the third inning, when she was relieved by Sam Greiner.

Steffi Call notched two RBI doubles in the game and scored twice, while Carly Normandin went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in.

Mandie Fishback and Becca Carden both picked up two hits and scored twice, while Carden also drove in two. Alisa Heronema crossed home twice for Stratford.

Denis blasted her homer in the top of the fifth, when the final was no longer in question. The three-run shot was her ninth of the year and put the Brakettes up 12-0.

The Scorpions scored their only run in the bottom of the fifth, as Christine Kulick came home on an error. The Scorpions managed just four hits off Brakette pitching. Greiner earned the win in relief.

The win moved the Brakettes along in the losers bracket, where they ran into an impressive young team in the Angels.

The Angels rode the powerful bat of UCLA shortstop Steph LaRosa to a 2-0 edge, as she blasted a two-run shot with Ashley Huff on base in the first inning.

The Angels added to the lead in the second, as Cheyenne Cordes reached on a walk and stole second. Ashley Carter eventually drove Cordes in with a single, putting Corona up 3-0.

LaRosa struck again in the third, as she launched a solo shot to push the Angels’ lead to 4-0.

The Brakettes began the comeback with three runs in the third, as they picked up five singles. Heronema and Ashley Waters collected the first two base hits, and Call loaded the bases with a hit of her own.

Fishback delivered a two-run single to pull the Brakettes to within 4-2, and Jess Mouse singled to score Lindsey Kay Bright, who came on to run for Call.

The Angels held a 4-3 advantage heading into the fourth inning.

Brandice Balschmiter started for the Brakettes, but was relieved by Fico in the fourth.

Kate Bowen led off the fourth and looped a double into shallow left field, putting the tying run at second base for Heronema.

While Bowen stood at second and the crowd buzzed about the Brakettes’ charge, the sprinkler system at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park went off and sprayed water all over the outfield.

There was a 15 minute delay as officials scrambled to turn off the automatic watering system.

After play resumed, the umpires informed both benches that there were 23 minutes left before the game’s time limit was up.

The time limit only added to the anxiety in the stands, as fans from both sides watched intently.

Heronema sacrificed Bowen to third to put the potential tying run just 60 feet away. Waters flew out to left, but not deep enough to score the run, and then Denis came to the plate with two outs.

Given the time limit, an out by Denis would have almost certainly meant a defeat and an early tournament exit. However, Denis delivered a single to score Bowen and tie it up, and advanced to third on the play.

Call grounded to short with two outs, and Denis scored the eventual game-winner as the ball was misplayed by LaRosa.

Fico retired the side in the fifth, but the Angels put the tying run at third. Amber Freeman grounded out to Waters at second to end the inning.

The Angels conceded the decision after being told there were just four minutes left, and the Brakettes coming to bat.

The Brakettes and Crusaders will meet Sunday morning for a chance to advance to the championship game against the SoCal Hurricanes. The winner would need to beat the Hurricanes twice, as SoCal has yet to be beaten in the tourney.

All Brakette games at the FCI will be video webcast at brakettes.com.