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Brakettes Recharge for 2024 WMS Title Run
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| Brakettes Manager/3rd base coach Lauren Pitney with Lindsey Hoag |
May 26 - The Stratford Brakettes will open the 2024 season on June 1st at 7:00 against the Junior Brakettes, kicking off their 78th year of top-notch women's fastpitch softball in Stratford, CT.
Some highlights of the upcoming season include the team's road trip (June 22-23) to Lyons, PA for the Arlan Schwoyer Honorary Tournament, Bob Baird Memorial Scholarship Night (June 28th), a six-game home stand (June 28-30) against Stripes & Strikes (PA), the Micki Stratton Round Robin (July 20-21), and the 16th Annual Women's Major Softball (WMS) National Championship (August 1-4).
Stripes & Strikes took second place for the last two years in the WMS and will again compete for the championship at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field in August. The reigning WMS champion Central Jersey Lightning will also return to Stratford to defend their title.
Second-year Brakettes Manager Lauren Pitney's first go-round came in the shadows of a newly retired Brakettes legend, National USA Softball Hall of Fame Manager John Stratton. The Brakettes finished 22-8 with a third-place finish at the 2023 WMS in her first year at the helm. The Brakettes won 12 of the first 15 WMS titles.
In 2024, Pitney looks forward to blazing her own trail. Despite the long grind ahead this season, Pitney is confident that the Brakettes have what it takes to try to reclaim the WMS Championship. She knows the task won't be easy, nor will it be accomplished in one day.
“The Brakettes have always had great culture, and that's something we can rely on and continue to build on,” said Pitney. “We're fortunate to return veteran leaders like Kaitlyn Flood and Katie Sciglimpaglia, and others, while mixing in promising new talent… And now with a year under my belt, I'm really excited for the new season. Let's get to work.”
Flood (Manhattan College) has been a constant for the Brakettes for the last five years, first getting her start with the Junior Brakettes. While playing 32 games with the Junior squad in 2019, Kaitlyn was called up and appeared in six contests with the Stratford Brakettes. Flood has now played over 150 games with the Brakettes in 4+ seasons, while batting over .400 every year. She batted a career-high .505 in 2021.
Sciglimpaglia (St. Peter's University) returns in 2024 after missing the 2023 Brakettes season due to injury. Katie also started with the Juniors in 2019, while playing in three games that year with the big club. In three full Brakettes seasons, she has smashed 12 home runs with 80 RBI. Sciglimpaglia batted .410 with 4 HR and 32 RBI during her last action with the Brakettes in 2022.
Multi-talented Sophia DiCocco (Tufts College) will return in 2024 after she competes with the Tufts Jumbos in the Division III World Series (starting May 30th). Sophia was the 2023 Brakettes Batting Queen, finishing the season with a .476 average. As a pitcher, she finished 5-2 for the Brakettes in 2023. DiCocco (17-4 with a 0.92 ERA at Tufts this season) picked up a win and a save on the final day of Super Regionals to clinch the school's World Series berth.
Former Masuk High School star pitcher Kat Gallant (Villanova University) is set to make her Brakettes debut this season after a successful NCAA campaign with the Wildcats. Kat holds a 21-11 record in two seasons with Villanova and picked up the win against #12 Arkansas in the NCAA Division I Regionals last week.
Jackie Pengel (Syracuse University) will return to the Brakettes for her second season in the circle, looking to build on a strong rookie season. Jackie went 7-3 last year, while striking out 87 batters in 59 innings. Pengel also showed off her strong bat with a .406 average, 4 home runs and 19 RBI in 2023.
Lauren Rende (Manhattan College) will start her third season with the Stratford Brakettes in 2024. She put up a .311 avg./2 HR/8 RBI line in 2023 after missing 2022 with an injury. Her big club debut was a smashing success in 2021, with 9 HR, 45 RBI and a .430 batting average. She also starred for the Juniors in 2020 (.435 avg./6 HR/30 RBI).
Outfielder Lindsey Hoag (Manhattan College) also hopes to build on a strong rookie campaign, after she batted .443 with 8 homers and 28 RBI in 2023.
Sarah Rende (Binghampton University) will also patrol the outfield for the Brakettes in 2024, her third season with the club. She batted .390 with 3 long balls and 17 RBI last year. Sarah also notched big numbers with the Select Brakettes (.396 avg./6 HR/30 RBI) in 2021.
Catcher Kylie Bulinski (URI) returns for her second year in Stratford, coming off a strong season at Rhode Island, where she batted .292 (3 HR/21 RBI). Catcher Megan Hodgdon (Eastern Connecticut) also returns to the Brakettes after a four-year absence. She played in 74 games between 2017 and 2019 for the Stratford Brakettes.
First baseman Brooke Matyasovsky (Carson-Newman) joins the Brakettes this summer after batting .342, while launching 14 homers and driving in 36 for the Division II Eagles.
Other key newcomers include pitcher Anna Gedacht (Merrimack), Elena Ohe (Yale), Sam Rogers (Marist), and Maddy Weir (Manhattan College).
“We are committed to growing the local softball culture around the Brakettes,” added Pitney. “It will only help us to have today's young players hanging out at our field and learning first-hand from the Brakettes. We can't wait to grow the crowds and bridge the gap between our current Brakettes and the young stars of tomorrow.”
The Brakettes have hosted youth teams for FREE at games for years, and the visitation program will continue in 2024. Any interested groups are encouraged to reach out to us at visitbrakettes@gmail.com to set up a visit.
The Brakettes will also play an exhibition against the Stratford Fire Department on June 20th and take part in the first annual Stratford PAL Night on July 11th. The Brakettes will host the inaugural five-day Brakettes-Stratford PAL Girls Softball Camp from July 8th-12th at DeLuca Field, in conjunction with Stratford PAL, the Stratford Recreation Department, and Sterling House Community Center.
 In addition to these dates, the Brakettes will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the ISF World Championships, which were held at Raybestos Memorial Field in Stratford. The 1974 Raybestos Brakettes, representing the USA, won the World Title behind Joan Joyce and company in front of 10,000 fans. The date for the 1974 Ceremony will be announced soon. Stay tuned! (Click image at right to enlarge 1974 team page).
Retired Manager Stratton, who was inducted into the USA Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City last October 28th, continues to contribute as a coach and as Brakettes Director of Player Development.
All 2024 Stratford Brakettes and Junior Brakettes games will be live video webcast at www.brakettes.com.
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