Brakettes Shut Out Lyons Spirit Twice

July 13, 2013 - The Stratford Brakettes twice shut out the Lyons (PA) Spirit at DeLuca Field Saturday night, posting 8-0 and 11-0 victories. Sam Greiner tossed a one-hitter in the opener and Steffi Call threw a no-hitter in the nightcap.

Greiner got some early support from the Brakettes’ bats in the first inning, as they put a three-spot up on the board. Kate Bowen led off with a single to right-center and reached second when Ashley Waters beat out a bunt single. With one out, Call launched her 10th home run of the year, tying Elise Fortier for the team lead and putting the Brakettes up 3-0.

Spirit starter Liz Gall held the Brakettes scoreless in the second and third inning, but they added another tally in the fourth.

Bowen led off with a line drive to centerfield, which seemed destined to drop in. Spirit centerfielder Elaine Bedell sprinted in and made a sliding shoestring catch, limiting the damage that would follow.

Waters then reached on a single and moved up a base on an error. Call picked up her fourth RBI of the game with a single, chasing Waters home from second for a 4-0 lead.

Stratford scored four more runs in the fifth to leave the Spirit on the field, sparked by three straight singles to start the rally.

Becca Carden led off with the first base hit, turning around a pitch from Gall and sending it back up the middle. Jess Mouse singled to left field, before both runners moved up a base on a bunt single by Britt Lampert.

Bowen was then hit by a pitch in the helmet, but shook it off to take her base. Carden scored on the play, extending the lead to 5-0.

Denise Denis followed with a bases-clearing triple, sliding into third just before the decisive run crossed the plate. The three-bagger scored three runs to close out the early game 8-0.

Greiner struck out three in the game and did not allow a walk, as she improved to 17-0 in 2013. She gave up only a fourth-inning single to Liz Gall.

The Brakettes jumped ahead early in the second game, scoring four first-inning runs.

Bowen started off with a single and went to second on an error. Waters also singled, sending Bowen to third. Waters advanced to second on the throw and Denis walked to load the bases. Call grounded to third, prompting a throw home. The Spirit got the force on the lead runner, but the bases were still loaded with one out.

Fortier delivered a single to score Waters and Denis, giving the Brakettes a 2-0 edge. After Mandie Fishback reached on a bunt single, Carden smacked a single to score two more, ending the inning with a 4-0 lead.

The Brakettes added three more in the second, with Denis starting things off with a one-out single. Denis advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Call earned to walk to put two on. Fortier laced a single to right, bringing Denis home for a 5-0 lead, and pushing Call to third.

Fishback followed with a single to score Call, extending the advantage to 6-0. Carden also picked up a base hit, loading the bases once more. Mouse then drove in Fortier with a base hit, pushing the lead to 7-0.

Carden started the last rally in the home fourth, leading off with a single. Mouse sacrificed her over, but Carden never stopped at second base and sprinted to third. She slid in hard at third, then headed home after the throw went awry. The run gave the Brakettes an 8-0 margin.

The Brakettes continued the surge with two outs, as Bowen lined a double. Waters reached on an infield single, but Bowen stayed put. Denis followed with a base hit to load the bases for Call.

Call came through with a double to clear the bases, closing out the scoring at 11-0.

Call struck out five in the no-hit outing, while walking three. She improved to 19-0 on the season with the victory. The Brakettes pushed their 2013 mark to 39-0 with the doubleheader sweep.

The Brakettes and Lyons (PA) Spirit will meet up again on Sunday at DeLuca Field in a doubleheader that starts at 11:30 am.