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OUTLOOK BRIGHT AS BRAKETIES ENTER 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
The 50th Anniversary Season in the illustrious history of the Brakettes women's softball team promises to be an exciting one.
John Stratton begins his third season as Field Manager of the Brakettes and he will be assisted by player/coach Patti Femandes. Last year's team compiled a 30-8-1 overall record in a major rebuilding season, under the direction of a new management team of David Carpenter and Bob Wirz, a pair of local businessmen and sports fans who assumed the sponsorship role.
The outlook for the 1997 season is one of optimism. While seven key members from last year's surprising seventh place club in the National ASA Championships are back, the Brakettes also have been bolstered by the return of 17-year veteran Pat Dufficy and seven touted newcomers.
Dufficy, who hit .427 for the 1995 Brakettes, played for the Coors Silver Bullets women's baseball team last year. During her Brakettes' career, which also includes 13 All-America selections, Dufficy has moved to the top in career games played, hits, runs scored, triples, home runs and RBI while possessing a .333 batting average.
Pacing the 1996 returnees is batting champion Donna McLean, a power-hitting outfielder who had a .414 average and 29 RBI. Other returning players for the Brakettes are catcher Debra Larson, first baseman Jenn Goodwin, outfielder Kristine MacLean, pitcher Jenn Huyett, third baseman Allyson Johnson and Fernandes, a utility player.
Huyett, who was the pitching coach at Yale this season, led the Brakettes with a 14-2 record last year and 0.95 ERA. Larson was runnerup for the batting crown with a .356 mark (31-for-87). Goodwin had a strong rookie season with a .355 average and 26 RBI. MacLean hit .323 last year and led the club in stolen bases. Johnson, who finished another strong year as UConn's shortstop, was a .267 hitter for the Brakettes last year with 17 RBI. Fernandes compiled a .261 average last year as a reserve outfielder.
Heading the list of newcomers to the ballclub is University of Massachusetts All-America pitcher Danielle Henderson, a powerful 6-foot-1 right-handed pitcher from Commack, NY. Henderson and UMass spent the Memorial Day weekend in Oklahoma City at Hall of Fame Stadium, site of the NCAA Division 1 College Softball World Series. The Most Outstanding Player in UMass' upset win over 10th-ranked Colorado State in the Northeast Regional tournament, Henderson led the Minutewomen into the World Series with a 25-13 overall record. "Her record is deceiving," said Stratton. "UMass isn't a big hitting team and sometimes their defense isn't as strong as it should be." Supporting Stratton's statement is the fact that Henderson recorded a sparkling 0.79 ERA and she has struck out 346 batters in 257 innings. "She's going to be a great pitcher," added Stratton, who has worked with all of the Brakettes' greats during his 20-plus year career with the ballclub. "Her presence makes us a much improved team from last year."
Stratton also recruited a middle infield in shortstop Ellen Spruce and second baseman Dana Bennett of Hofstra. Spruce, a former Adelphi star, most recently played for the North Tonowanda, NY, Shamrocks. University of Maryland catcher Sarah Putnam and George Mason outfielder/catcher Christa Dalakis are other out-of-state newcomers. Completing the roster are Jonathan Law High School shortstop Jessica Yanosy, who will be attending UConn next fall, and former Brakette (1985-86) outfielder Elaine Amundsen of Milford.
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