STRATFORD BRAKETTES OPEN SEASON SATURDAY NIGHT AT DELUCA FIELD

May 30, 2013 - When the Stratford Brakettes celebrated their national championship victory over the St. Louis Saints last August 12 Manager John Stratton didn't want to think about the 2013 season. "It was the furthest thing from my mind. I was having nightmares on what to expect. Eight starters announced at the post-season banquet that they were hanging up their spikes."

Over the passage of time Stratton has been sleeping a lot better as six of the eight had a change of heart and they will be in the lineup Saturday night at 7 p.m. when the defending three-time national champion Brakettes open the season with a doubleheader against the rejuvenated Stratford Seahawks. The teams also meet Sunday at 6 p.m. at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field in Stratford. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

As the Brakettes enter their 67th consecutive season of play, the longest streak in women's major fast pitch softball history, they will unveil a veteran lineup to tackle an imposing 76-game regular-season schedule. Connecticut Public Television will be on hand Saturday to tape both games for viewing next week. CPTV is planning to televise one doubleheader every week during the season. All Brakettes games will be video webcast by Rob Baird and Pat Sanders. Go to www.brakettes.com and click on the link for the webcast.

"I thought we were wiped out last year," said veteran Manager John Stratton who is heading into his 19th year at the helm. "But as time passed by and circumstances changed, so did our roster. I'm glad we have virtually everyone back again."

This Seahawks team has not played in three years. Veteran manager Tom D'Amico has reassembled a club that is vastly superior to past teams with the addition of four members of the New York City Havoc, who folded after the 2012 season.

Two key players from last year's 68-3 club will not be back, including recent LSU graduate Rachele Fico, the No. 1 pick in the National Pro Fastpitch draft. Rachele compiled a 22-1 record last year and she concluded her Brakettes career with a 94-1 overall record. Ironically, her only defeat came last July 24 when the Brakettes lost a doubleheader to the Akron Racers by identical 5-3 margins, thus snapping the team's record 168-game winning streak.

Catcher Alisa Heronema, a two-year starter and last year's batting champion at .475, is completing work on her doctorate degree. She also was the most valuable player in the Fastpitch Championship Invitational in Henderson, LV, as the Brakettes compiled a 7-1 record with six straight wins out of the losers' bracket to capture the title with a 7-0 and 3-2 sweep over the Southern California Hurricanes.

Veteran right-handed pitcher Brandice Balschmiter (36-2, 0.76 ERA) will lead the team's pitching staff. The former UMass All-America and NPF pitcher is 61-2 over the past two seasons as the Brakettes have compiled an unbelievable 188-4 record. Balschmiter struck out 300 batters last year to lead the staff.

Stratton, who surpassed the 1,000-win plateau last year, will have University of South Florida pitcher Sam Greiner (5-0, 0.75 ERA) and Stephanie Call (9-0 in 2011) to pitch. He is expecting to add two other pitchers once tryouts for the US National Team have concluded.

The starting infield returns, led by the powerful Call at first base. The Florida Atlantic University star has hit 52 home runs the past two years and she has driven in 165 runs. She also has had 21 doubles and 12 triples. Call finished with a .434 average (82-for-189) in 2012. Second baseman Ashley Waters (.448, 60 RBI), shortstop Mandie Fishback (.425, 65 RBI), and third baseman Jessica Mouse (.367, 44 RBI) complete one of the finest infields in team history.

Right fielder Denise Denis, second all-time in career home runs at 66, enjoyed another fine season with 13 home runs, 59 RBI and a .463 batting average. Center fielder Becca Carden hit .421 with 10 home runs and 64 RBI in her rookie campaign.

Colgate freshman Mariel Schlaefer of Brookfield finished with a .393 average and has the inside track on the catching position, while former Newtown All-Stater Kate Bowen (.314) will see plenty of action in the outfield. Player-coach Amber Radomski (.274) is also back, while Stratton has added former Shelton High standout Brittany Lampert, who led Concordia College in hitting this spring, and Fordham University utility player Elise Fortier of Coventry, RI. Fortier played against the Brakettes with the Rhode Island Thunder and New York Swag the past two summers. She led the Atlantic-10 Conference with 20 home runs this spring.

Highlighting the Brakettes' regular-season schedule in preparation for the 5th annual Women's Major National Championship tournament at DeLuca Field August 8-11, will be a nine-inning game July 17th against the New York/New Jersey Comets of the National Pro Fastpitch League. The Comets are the newest entry, taking over the North Carolina franchise. Listed on the Comets' roster is former Brakettes pitcher Sara Plourde. The team will also compete in the USSSA World Series in Rockford, IL, July 26-28. A total of 26 teams are expected to attend that event. Another highlight is the July 19-21 Brakettes Invitational at DeLuca Field featuring eight teams with pool play followed by a single-elimination championship.

Season tickets will be on sale throughout the weekend. Box seats are $100, reserved with backrests are $80 and bleacher seats (first and third) are $60. All subsequent season passes purchased are half-price. They are good for a total of 31 home dates at DeLuca Field.