Brakettes Continue Home Scoreless Streak

June 23, 2013 - The Brakettes posted two shutouts over the Stratford Breakers 18U on Sunday night at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field, by 7-0 and 9-0 margins. The wins moved the Brakettes to 22-0 for the season, while extending their DeLuca Field scoreless streak to 19 games, dating back to last year.

In the early contest, Sam Greiner capped the victory with a three-home run, her first as a Brakette. Greiner struck out seven in a three-hitter, walking none. She retired the last 13 batters she faced.

Marissa Bruno led off the top of the first for the Breakers with a single up the middle. Dani Kemp moved her to second with a sacrifice, before Bruno reached third on a groundout by Melissa Peet. Greiner induced a grounder by Gina Georgetti to Steffi Call at first base to retire the side.

Kate Bowen gave the Brakettes an early boost with a leadoff double in the home first. She was pushed to third on a groundout by Ashley Waters and scored on an RBI single by Call for a 1-0 lead.

Breaker starting pitcher Heather Ferranti limited the damage by retiring the next two batters, and kept the Brakettes off the scoreboard in the second and third innings.

The Brakettes gave Greiner some separation in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two more runs without a hit.

Becca Carden reached on a fielding error on the left side and was sacrificed over by Jess Mouse. Mariel Schlaefer walked and swiped an empty second base, as Carden had moved up a base on a wild pitch. Schlaefer also tagged up and moved to third on the play. Greiner then reached on an error in left field, which also allowed Schlaefer to come home for a 3-0 score.

Waters led off the fifth and reached base on an infield single. Call also contributed a single, her third of the game, to move Waters to second. Mandie Fishback reached on a fielder's choice, which saw Call get forced out at second. Waters was pushed to third on the grounder, and scored as Carden reached on another error.

The Brakettes took a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning, in which Greiner would help herself out at the plate.

Schlaefer reached on a leadoff single and went to second on an infield base hit by Lampert. Greiner followed and drilled a three-run homer to left field, stretching the score to 7-0.

Ferranti set down the next three batters to close out the inning, denying the Brakettes a chance to close the game out early.

Greiner worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning to secure the shutout, improving to 9-0 in 2013.

Jen Vazquez and Dani Kemp earned the other hits for the Breakers, both singles.

Steffi Call struck out 12 batters in the late game to improve to 11-0, allowing just two hits and a walk in the outing.

The Brakettes could not wait to swing their bats in the nightcap, scoring five first-inning runs, while sending 11 to the plate.

Bowen led off with a walk and advanced to second on an infield single by Waters. Denise Denis grounded into a fielder's choice, as Waters was forced out at second. With runners at the corners and one out, Denis stole second base to put two in scoring position for Call.

Call singled to score two runs, giving the Brakettes an early 2-0 edge. Elise Fortier sent Call to third with a double, leaving just first base open. Fishback drove in Call with a single and pushed Fortier to third. The Brakettes again had runners at first and third, as the lead stood at 3-0.

Carden reached on a grounder to the left side, which scored Fortier and extended the lead to 4-0. Fishback was out at second on the force, bringing Mouse to the plate.

Mouse walked to put two on with two outs, and Amber Radomski reached safely on an infield single. Carden came home as the late throw sailed high to push the score to 5-0.

After Breaker pitcher Tori Ceballos worked a 1-2-3 second inning, the Brakettes hung a four on the board in the third.

With one out, Fishback reached on an error and raced to third on a double by Carden. Mouse delivered a double of her own to score both runners, stretching the lead to 7-0. Radomski followed with her second single of the game, scoring Fishback for an 8-0 advantage.

With two outs, Mouse charged home on a double by Bowen, closing out the scoring at 9-0.

Fortier and Fishback also contributed a pair of hits, while Carden was the only Brakette to score twice.

The Brakettes have not allowed a run at DeLuca Field since August 11th, 2012, when they defeated the NYC Havoc 10-2 during the 2012 WMS Nationals. That game was followed by a 7-0 Winner's Bracket Final victory over the St. Louis Saints, although the game had to be played at Short Beach, due to standing water in the outfield at DeLuca.

The WMS Final was played at DeLuca Field, with the Brakettes again shutting out St. Louis, 7-0. The championship game also served as the start of the current 19-game scoreless stretch, with the Brakettes pitching shutouts in all 18 home contests of 2013.

The Brakettes return to action at 7:00 on Thursday night at DeLuca Field. They will try to extend the run of shutouts in a doubleheader against the East Coast (R.I.) Firecrackers.

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