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Denis Gains Hit Number 800 and Grand Slams Brakettes over Saints 12-2
 Aug 1 - by Ilan Woll - With Denise Denis sitting at 799 hits, and two doubles shy of second place on the all-time list, today's game with the St. Louis Saints would prove valuable not just to avenge the Saints WMS championship last year, but also to set some personal marks. Abigail Deane of Kennesaw State University made the start for the Saints against the Brakettes' Nicole Williams.
The Saints had a prime opportunity in the first as Britney Lange singled, followed by Sammey Bunch following suit. A walk to Katelyn Massa loaded the bases, but a fly ball to right field ended the threat.
Theresa Kane began things for the Brakettes with a single to left. Denise Denis then doubled to the fence in centerfield. Following a walk to Jolie Duffner to load the bases, Briana Marcelino doubled into the gap, scoring two. Lauren Pitney then singled in a run, followed shortly by Megan Hodgdon for the early four run lead.
Denise Denis, with this double, achieved her 800th career hit and tied her with Pat Dufficy for second all time among Brakettes in doubles with 148 and only five behind Joan Joyce.
After both teams were retired in order in the second, St. Louis got on the board when Joey Lauts singled and Sammey Bunch slammed a ball over the left field fence to cut the Brakettes lead to 4-2.
Marcelino responded in the bottom of the third by demolishing a pitch down the left field line for her third Brakettes home run (she also had one in an exhibition against the New Britain Bees in the Battle of the Sexes). Singles by Pitney and Hodgdon provided an additional run.
Pitney added her own power when, after Marcelino singled in the fifth, the second baseman skied a ball over the center field fence with her ninth home run to extend the lead to six.
Raeanne Geffert, who came into the game in the fourth, retired all nine batters she faced.
Denis then ended the game when, after Kaysee Talcik singled up the middle, and Val Suto reached on an infield hit, Gretchen Bunovsky then blooped a single to left to load the bases. Denis then polished the game off with a grand slam to center, ending the game by run-rule 12-2. This was Denis's ninth home run of the season and 127th of all time.
Nicole Williams (6-0) and Raeanne Geffert combined to allow only four hits and one walk. Sammey Bunch had a multi-hit game for the Saints. Briana Marcelino and Lauren Pitney hit successfully in all three at bats they had. Val Suto, Denise Denis and Megan Hodgdon each added two hits as well for the Brakettes.
The Brakettes conclude their season with the tenth annual Women's Major Softball National Championship August 2-5. The Brakettes host the NYC Havoc Thursday at 6:30pm and the Allentown Patriettes immediately following that game at 8:00pm ET. All games at Frank DeLuca field, including those not including the Brakettes, will be broadcast on Brakettes.com.
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| 6:30 PM Tuesday, July 31st |
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Records: Saints 18-5; Brakettes 40-3
Batteries: Saints- Abigail Deane (L) and Katelyn Massa; Brakettes- Nicole Williams (W, 6-0), Raeanne Geffert (4) and Megan Hodgdon
Homerun: Saints- Sammey Bunch; Brakettes- Briana Marcelino (3), Lauren Pitney (9), Denise Denis (9, grand slam) |
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