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Sunday Night
Brakettes Lose Late Lead, Drop Battle of the Sexes
 July 16 - The Stratford Brakettes lost a 2-0 lead in the late innings in Sunday night's Battle of the Sexes, as the New Britain Bees scored one in the eighth and two in ninth to leave the Brakettes on the field. The Bees captured the exhibition, 3-2, before an announced crowd of 3,254 at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, CT.
After four years of competing against the now-defunct Bridgeport Bluefish in the Battle of the Sexes, the Brakettes and Bees came together to compete in the fifth installment of the promotion. The Brakettes won last year's game in Bridgeport, while the Bluefish won the first three contests in the series.
The latest version of the Battle of the Sexes did not disappoint for the fans in attendance, who cheered wildly for the Brakettes, despite the Bees being the home squad. The contest was a pitcher's duel for the first six frames, as Bees' starter Nick French and a trio of Brakette hurlers traded scoreless innings.
Nicole Williams got the start for the Brakettes and worked two quick frames, striking out two. She allowed just one hit, a double to Jamar Walton, who was quickly erased trying to stretch it into a triple.
Raeanne Geffert worked the third and fourth innings in perfect style, while fanning four New Britain batters. Kaysee Talcik spun the fifth and sixth and also did not allow a baserunner, while striking out three.
 Alex Heinen finally got things going for the Brakettes in the top of the seventh with a leadoff single up the middle. With one out, Briana Marcelino launched a line drive, two-run homer to left to put the Brakettes up on top, 2-0 (photo).
Brandice Balschmiter came on in the seventh and worked the last three innings for the Brakettes. She struck out five, but would eventually take the loss for Stratford.
Marcelino also starred defensively in the bottom of the frame at shortstop, diving to her right to stop a would-be single deep in the hole, and throwing from the ground to get the force out at third (photo).
The Bees first cracked the scoreboard during the eighth stanza, when Walton beat out an infield single and stole second. Walton took third as the throw down to second sailed into center. Ozney Guillen, son of former Major League player/manager Ozzie Guillen, singled to bring home Walton and close the gap to 2-1.
Heinen threw out Guillen at second base on a steal attempt to end the inning, as the Brakettes clung to the thin lead heading to the final frame.
Stratford was unable to get an insurance run in the top of the ninth, so the Bees came up needing one run to tie it.
Mike Hepple and Anthony Aresco earned walks to start the ninth inning, putting the tying run at second and the go-ahead run at first. Cody Charneski grounded up the middle and reached on a fielder's choice when the attempted force at second went astray. With the bases loaded and no outs, Balschmiter struck out Deibinson Romero swinging.
Kyle Simon followed and grounded to second baseman Lauren Pitney, and the only play was to first. With the tying run conceded on the slow roller, the ball was dropped at first, which allowed the winning run to come home for the Bees.
The Brakettes will return to action on Thursday night at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field in Stratford at 7:00 with a twinbill against the Connecticut Seahawks.
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Sunday night, July 15th, 7:05pm
at New Britain Bees
New Britain Stadium (CT) (exhibition) |
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| BRAKETTES |
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| NEW BRITAIN BEES |
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Batteries: Brakettes- Nicole Williams, Raeanne Geffert (3), Kaysee Talcik (5), Brandice Balschmiter (7, L) and Megan Hodgdon, Alex Heinen (6); Bees- Nick French (W) and Anthony Aresco
Homerun: Brakettes- Briana Marcelino |
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