Brakettes End Regular Season with Sweep

August 8, 2012 - The Stratford Brakettes won a pair of run rule-shortened games over the CT Charmers on Wednesday night at DeLuca Field, sprinting past their in-state rivals 8-0 and 11-3. The Brakettes finished the regular season at 62-3, with a 12-game win streak. Stratford will begin play in the 2012 WMS Championship against the CT Eliminators 23-Under in a pool play matchup on Thursday morning at 11:00.

Rachele Fico picked up the win in the first game, allowing just one hit over five innings. Fico struck out five and walked one, while improving to 19-1 on the season.

The Brakettes and Charmers played scoreless ball until the third, when Stratford scored five runs.

Alisa Heronema reached on a one-out single in the home third and stole second base. Ashley Waters followed and reached on a walk, as did Denis Denis, loading the bases for Stephanie Call.

Call delivered a single to score two runs, as Heronema and Waters raced home. Denis then came home on a single by Fishback, extending the lead to 3-0.

Call moved to second on Fishback’s single and took third on a fielder’s choice grounder by Becca Carden. With runners at the corners, Jess Mouse walked to load the bases for Kate Bowen.

Bowen ripped a single to bring home Call and Carden, pushing the lead to 5-0.

Call picked up two more RBI’s in the bottom of the fourth, after Heronema led off with a single. With two outs, Call lofted a sky-high shot to center, which just barely cleared the fence for her 18th homer of the year. The two-run shot by Call stretched the margin to 7-0.

Carden led off the fifth with a single and went to second on a walk by Mouse. Carden raced to third and then home on a pair of wild pitches, closing out the game at 8-0.

Alyssa Rodia had the only hit for the Charmers in the first game, while Taylor Burger walked and stole a base.

Brandice Balschmiter pitched the nightcap for the Brakettes and earned the win, moving to 33-2 on the year. She struck out 10 in five innings, surrendering three runs on just two hits. Only one of the runs was earned.

The Charmers jumped up early with two first-inning runs, as Felicia Lennon launched a two-run homer. Hannah Ford also scored on the shot after reaching on an error in left by Bowen.

The Brakettes responded to the Charmers with six runs of their own in the bottom of the first.

Heronema, who collected six hits on the night, led off the first with a single. Waters roped a double to score Heronema and moved to third on a wild pitch, pulling Stratford within 2-1.

Call earned a one-out walk to put runners at the corners. Mandie Fishback then dropped a perfect suicide squeeze, which allowed Waters to cross with the tying run. Bowen came up with two outs and was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Amber Radomski drilled a double to clear the bases, giving the Brakettes a 5-2 advantage. Heronema continued the inning with an infield single, scoring Radomski for a 6-2 lead.

Erika Leonard struck out to start the second, but reached on a third strike in the dirt. Leonard then stole second base and went to third on a sacrifice by Shelby Butwell. Burger reached on an infield single, while scored Leonard, and closed the lead to 6-3.

The Brakettes pushed the lead to 10-3 in the second with four more runs.

Call reached on a one-out single and moved to third on a double by Fishback. With two outs, Bowen singled to score Call. Radomski picked up her second straight double, scoring two more runs, to stretch the lead to 9-3. Marield Schlaefer brought in the last run of the inning with a single, which scored Radomski for a 10-3 advantage.

Call laced a two-out double in the third inning and moved up a bag on a single by Fishback. Carden beat out an infield single, which scored Call and closed out the scoring at 11-3.

The Brakettes earned the win in five due to the run rule, and will take part in two pool play games on Thursday in the 2012 WMS Championship.

All 2012 WMS games at DeLuca Field will be live video webcast at brakettes.com.

The games at Short Beach Field will NOT be broadcast.