Brakettes Complete Opening Weekend Sweep

June 2, 2013 - The Stratford Brakettes closed out a dominant Opening Weekend with a pair of five-inning victories on Sunday night against the Stratford Seahawks at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. Mandie Fishback led the offensive onslaught with four hits, including a homer and double, plus 5 RBI's, as the Brakettes won 8-0 and 10-0.

Brandice Balschmiter and Steffi Call both improved to 2-0 on the season, as the Brakettes moved their 2013 mark to 4-0.

Balschmiter allowed just two infield singles in the first game, as she struck out 12. She is recovering from a fractured ankle, which she suffered in the off-season, but still held the Seahawks scoreless in two games this weekend.

Britanny Lampert led off the home first with a single and scored on a double by Ashley Waters, quickly putting the Brakettes up 1-0. After a groundout by Denise Denis allowed Waters to scamper to third base, Waters came home on a squeeze play by Call for a 2-0 lead.

Becca Carden singled to right-center in the second inning and promptly stole second base. She came home on a single by Jess Mouse, extending the lead to 3-0.

Seahawks' starter Anna Mallory held the Brakettes scoreless in the third, but the fourth inning provided more separation for the Brakettes.

Fishback led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot to centerfield, stretching the advantage to 4-0. It was her first homer of the season and the third in as many games for the Brakettes.

Carden continued the surge with another single and stolen base, putting her in scoring position. With one out, Mariel Schlaefer singled to drive in Carden for a 5-0 lead and took second on the cutoff throw. Shlaefer stole third base, then scored the team's sixth run when Lampert reached on an error.

The Brakettes needed to bat in the fifth inning for the first time on the young season, but manufactured two more runs in the stanza to leave the Seahawks on the field.

Call started the bottom of the fifth with her second walk of the game and moved up a base on a single by Elise Fortier. Fishback reached on an error to load the bases for Carden.

Carden reached on a fielder's choice, which also saw Call cross home for a 7-0 lead. Amber Radomski was a fifth-inning defensive replacement for Mouse, and got her first at-bat of the year in a big spot.

Radmoski hit a comebacker to the mound, and a bobble at home plate on a force attempt allowed Fortier to score the eighth and decisive run.

Kim Procida and Shannon Skeggs provided the only hits for the Seahawks in the first game. Procida and Melissa King each walked twice in the contest.

Call came within an out of her second consecutive no-hitter in the late game, as a bloop single by Shannon Skeggs with two outs in the fifth inning broke up the bid. Call struck out eight on the night.

The Brakettes scored three times in the first inning, as their first five batters to the plate collected hits.

Kate Bowen led off with a triple to left-center and scored on a single by Waters for a 1-0 lead. Waters went first-to-third on a single by Denis, who then took second on the throw. Fortier followed with a single to right, scoring Waters and pushing Denis to third. Denis scored on an RBI single by Fishback, extending the lead to 3-0.

Radomski led off the second frame with a single and moved up on a base hit by Schlaefer. Bowen grounded back to the rubber, and the Seahawks were able to get the force of Radomski at third for the first out. Bowen reached on the fielder's choice, as Schlaefer advanced to second. Both runners moved up a base when Waters reached on an error, giving Denis a chance with the bases loaded.

Denis delivered a sac fly to score Schlaefer, but was robbed of extra bases on a sensational sliding catch by Seahawks' centerfielder Shannon Skeggs. The run pushed the lead to 4-0, and Bowen also tagged and ran to third on the play.

Waters then took second with Fortier at the plate, as the Seahawks conceded the bag. Fortier earned a walk to bring up Fishback, who once again came through with a big hit for the Brakettes.

Fishback drilled a double to within feet of the fence in left-center, clearing the bases and driving in three runs. The lead stood at 7-0 following two innings, but the Brakettes were not done yet.

Jess Mouse started the home third with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice by Radomski. Schlaefer sent Mouse home with for an 8-0 lead with a one-out single, then reached second on an infield single by Bowen. Waters followed and stretched the margin to 9-0 with an RBI single to score Schlaefer.

Fishback picked up her third hit of the game in leading off the fourth, and went to second on a base hit by Carden. With one out, Radomski singled to right, scoring Fishback and closing out the scoring at 10-0.

Waters contributed three hits in the doubleheader, along with a trio of runs and three RBI's. Carden picked up three hits and three runs, while swiping two bases. Schlaefer also had three hits and scored three times on the night.

The Brakettes wil return to action on Thursday night at 7:00 at DeLuca Field against the Stratford Diamonds.

All 2013 Brakettes' home games are video webcast at brakettes.com.