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Sunday at Lyons, PA
Brakettes Avenge 2017 Losses with Wins over Spirit and Nook 23U Gold in Rain-shortened Cornfield Classic
 June 11 - by Ilan Woll - Entering the 2018 Cornfield Classic as the fourth seeded team, the Brakettes would need to face the two teams that had denied them both in the previous year's tournament and in the Women's Major Softball tournament to end the year. Facing both the Lyons Spirit and, with a win, the Nook 23 and under Gold team, the Brakettes would be in a position to win the tournament with two key victories.
The University of Pennsylvania's Abby Abramson faced the veteran Liz Gall. The Spirit had defeated Stratford twice in 2017, with wins at the Cornfield Classic 6-3 and at the WMS 5-4.
The Brakettes broke the game open early in the first when, following singles by Brit Younan and Denise Denis, Jolie Duffner had her second triple of the tournament to centerfield and scored on a sacrifice fly from Alex Heinen. Lauren Pitney then tripled to the corner in leftfield, scoring on an equally well hit double by Heather Holly for an early four run lead.
The Spirit led the second with a leadoff walk, however a Younan-Pitney-Holly double play quickly eliminated that. Both teams threatened in the third as a walk to Janae Matos and a Karen Bauer single were left on the base paths. Similarly, Heinen tripled to centerfield, but did not score in the bottom of the frame.
Samantha Rodriguez started the home-team offense in the fourth with a double to left center. Molly Keshin laid down an excellent bunt, which became a single. A throwing error brought in pinch runner Megan Hodgdon. Val Suto singled, driving in Keshin. Younan and Denis then singled, with a run coming in on a throwing error. A ground ball by Duffner produced the final run in the inning as the Brakettes took a potential run-rule victory into the fifth.
However, the Spirit proved that they are never out of a game. Following a Matos single, Jenn Shellhammer drew a walk and scored on a double to left by Sam Sweigart and a single from Gall to bring the Spirit back into the game. In both the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth, key double plays stopped rallies early, earning the Brakettes the final 8-2 victory.
Abby Abramson (1-0) threw five innings, allowing two runs on four hits, with two strike outs. Kaysee Talcik came in relief to finish the last inning as time expired after six frames. Britt Younan, Denise Denis, and Heather Holly each had multi-hit games.
The Brakettes then faced the number two seed Nook 23U Gold team. The Nook had tied Stratford one year earlier in Lyons, and defeated the WMS Hosts 2-1 to bring Stratford to the losers bracket.
Brandice Balschmiter took the circle looking to get a key win after the game against the Pegasus. She faced La Salle's Reilly Gearhart.
Britt Younan started the offense in the first with a liner to centerfield, followed by Denise Denis tripling to deep center. Jolie Duffner contributed another extra base hit, doubling to left field for the second run. However, a triple from the powerful Rebecca Blatt and a run scoring single from Gearhart helped her own cause by cutting the Brakettes lead to 2-1.
Both pitchers dominated the lineups for the next two frames with neither allowing a baserunner. However, in the fourth, Duffner added her third triple of the Cornfield Classic and scored on a sacrifice fly from Alex Heinen to extend the lead.
The rain had been getting progressively worse and began affecting both pitchers and fielders. Val Suto singled and an errant throw put her at second. Following walks to Denis and Duffner, Heinen then blasted a bases-clearing double to give the Brakettes the runs that would ultimately be their 6-1 victory.
Brandice Balschmiter (2-1) allowed just one run on three hits while striking out four in the cold and rainy affair. Joley Duffner was the only player with multiple hits, a double and triple. Alex Heinen added four RBIs.
Nicole Williams was to start the championship game against the Pegasus. However, continued and stronger rains forced the premature end of the tournament, but with the Brakettes coming home with two key wins to propel the team going forward.
Frank De Luca Hall of Fame Field will host two upcoming nine inning games. Thursday, the Brakettes host the Connecticut High School All Star team with a special 6:30pm start. Friday, another single nine inning game will be played with the Ridgefield Rebels, also starting at 6:30. Saturday night Team Connecticut visits Stratford for a traditional double header. All games will be broadcast on Brakettes.com.
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CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RAINED OUT
PEGASUS DECLARED CHAMPS (HIGHER SEED)
Cornfield Classic, Lyons, PA
Sunday June 10
Semifinal
11:20AM - ENDED EARLY, FIELD UNPLAYABLE |
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4 |
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| BRAKETTES |
2 |
0 |
0 |
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1 |
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0 |
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6 |
7 |
2 |
| NOOK GOLD |
1 |
0 |
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3 |
1 |
Records: Brakettes 6-1
Batteries: Brakettes- Brandice Balschmiter (W, 2-1) and Alex Heinen; Nook Gold- Reilly Gearhart (L) and Halley Kisamore
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Cornfield Classic, Lyons, PA
Sunday June 10
Quarterfinal
8:00 AM - TIME LIMIT |
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6 |
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7 |
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| LYONS SPIRIT |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
2 |
0 |
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2 |
4 |
3 |
| BRAKETTES |
4 |
0 |
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4 |
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8 |
12 |
1 |
Records: Brakettes 5-1
Batteries: Spirit- Liz Gall, Maddie Schies (3), Bailee Scheis (4) and Janae Matos; Brakettes- Abby Abramson (W, 1-0), Kaysee Talcik (6, S) and Sam Rodriguez |
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