Stratford Outduels Precocious Rock Squad

July 12, 2013 - The Stratford Brakettes slipped past a resilient Newtown (PA) Rock club on Thursday night at DeLuca Field in Stratford, coming from behind in both games of a doubleheader to secure a 4-1, 2-1 sweep. Sam Greiner and Steffi Call picked up victories for the Brakettes, who continued their impressive home win streak.

Sam Greiner and Rock starting pitcher Kylee Hanson dueled in the opener, with Greiner eventually picking up her 15th win of the year. Coincidentally, Greiner was the pitcher on the mound for the Rock when they defeated the Brakettes 7-3 on June 4th, 2010, the last time the Brakettes lost at DeLuca Field.

Hanson gave way to Jacki Amato in the fifth inning, but later returned to the game in a jam. Greiner went the distance in the two-hitter and struck out two, while giving up three walks.

Both teams went scoreless into the sixth inning, with the Rock striking first. Rebecca Hall led off with a single and went to second on a walk by Nicole Alden. Dominique Pinto dropped a sacrifice to advance the runners, but Call charged in from first and tried to make the play on the lead runner at third.

The throw was late, allowing Pinto to reach first and giving the Rock the bases loaded with no outs. Hall remained an active presence at third, but strayed too far from the bag. Brakette catcher Jess Mouse threw behind her on a pickoff attempt, but the throw kicked off Mandie Fishback's glove and away from the bag. Hall raced home with the Rock's lone run of the game.

Greiner retired the side without further damage, but given the stinginess of the Newtown pitchers on the night, a 1-0 hole seemed larger than usual for the Brakettes.

Stratford rallied back, however, with four runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead for good.

Denise Denis led off with a single and was sacrificed over by Call. Fishback provided a single to score Denis, tying the game at 1-1. Becca Carden followed with a double to move Fishback to third, putting two Brakettes in scoring position.

Mouse worked a walk to load the bases, giving player/coach Amber Radomski a chance with the bases loaded.

Radomski did not disappoint, as she lined a single to score two runs for a 3-1 lead. Newcomer Shannon Doepking offered up a double, her first hit as a Brakette, to send Mouse home for a 4-1 lead.

Greiner retired the side in order in the seventh to close out the win.

Call struck out 14 in the nightcap, but finally allowed her first run of the year in the first inning.

Rebecca Hall walked with one out in the top of the first and scored from first on a single by Arden Pettit. Hall took off as soon as Pettit made contact, as there were two outs, never slowing down when the ball unexpectedly dropped in for a hit in right-center. Centerfielder Becca Carden made a long run for the ball in the gap, but the high fly landed just outside her reach.

Call dominated the rest of the way, only allowing one more hit and a walk for the remainder of the contest.

The Brakettes were held scoreless by starting pitcher Jacki Amato until the fourth, as they tied it up with two nots. Doepking singled down the right field line and reached second on a surprise bunt single by Mandie Fishback.

Carden followed with a single up the middle to plate Doepking for the equalizer.

After scoreless frames for both squads in the fifth and sixth, the Brakettes scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs.

Mouse led off the seventh with a single and reached second on a single to left by Britt Lampert, her third hit of the game. Radomski sacrificed both runners over to put runners at second and third. After a pop up for the second out, Ashley Waters beat out an infield single, which allowed Mouse to scamper home. The run closed out the 2-1 Brakette victory and pushed their record to 36-0 on the season.

The Brakettes will return to action on Friday night at 7:00 against the CT Falcons at DeLuca Field in Stratford.

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