C/IF  Germaine Fairchild

NUMBER: 27
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Boulder, CO
COLLEGE: Tulsa

Germaine Fairchild enjoyed a monster season with the Brakettes last year as she led the club in most offensive categories. In winning the team batting title with a .361 average, Germaine also led the club in runs scored (49), hits (86), doubles (l8), triples (8), home runs (5) and RBI (54). The second-year Brakette once again demonstrated her versatility by playing six different positions. Named first-team All-America at the 2001 National Tournament where she hit .346 with four RBI, Fairchild recently completed her first year as head softball coach at Quinnipiac University. The Tulsa University graduate played professionally with the Virginia Roadsters. During Fairchild's collegiate career, she was a member of the All Missouri Valley Conference Academic Team from 1993-95. She completed her college career in style, hitting .326 (42-129) with 14 doubles and 29 RBI during her senior season in 1995. Following an open tryout in 1998 with the Women's Professional Softball League, Germaine signed with Virginia. Her most memorable softball event came with the Roadsters when she hit game-winning home runs in consecutive games to defeat the eventual champion Tampa Bay Firestix.

IB/P  Robyn King

NUMBER: 21
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Ashby, MA
COLLEGE: Boston University

Robyn King enters her fourth year with the Brakettes. After an arm injury kept her from pitching in 2000, she returned in great shape last year. She compiled a 5-0 record and 0.00 ERA, including a perfect game with 14 K's in the Topton Tournament. She made her biggest contribution at first base and played in 42 games before she suffered a broken ankle in late July. King responded with eight doubles, two triples and 17 RBI. In her rookie season in 1999, Robyn had a 16-4 record with a 0.37 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 151 innings. The Ashby, MA, native is a graduate of Boston University, where she earned All-New England honors twice. Robyn had a superb junior season for the Terriers with a mark of 15-3 and a 1.03 ERA, including 161 strikeouts in 122.1 innings. At the plate, Robyn hit a team best .346 (45-130) with 8 home runs and 25 RBI in 46 games.

C  Keri McCallum

NUMBER: 10
BATS: Left
THROWS: Left
HOMETOWN: Port Orchard, WA
COLLEGE: Mississippi State

Now entering her fifth year with the Brakettes, Keri McCallum provides the team with potent offense and steady defense. McCallum has been simply superb in her Brakettes career. One of the nation's top catchers, the left-handed hitting and throwing McCallum was a first-team All-America in Phoenix last summer where she led the club with a .385 average and team-high 10 hits. Her .361 career average is second highest among active players. The Port Orchard, WA, native won the team batting title as a rookie in 1998 with a .391 average and she finished 1999 with a .370 (30-81) mark, but she didn't have enough plate appearances to win the batting crown. She hit .382 last year, but once again only appeared in 27 games because of her participation on Team USA. McCallum graduated from Mississippi State in style in 2000, batting .405 (90-222) with 4 home runs, 10 triples, 9 doubles, 22 RBI, 59 runs scored and 27 stolen bases. She is an adept bunter with the ability to beat out many infield hits. Keri completed her first year as head softball coach at the University of Bridgeport.

RF  Donna McLean

NUMBER: 14
BATS: Right
THROWS: Left
HOMETOWN: Westfield, MA
COLLEGE: Westfield State

Donna McLean enters her 10th and final year in a Brakettes uniform. Having announced her decision to end a fine career after the 2002 Women's ASA Tournament, Donna is the veteran of the team. The resident of Middletown, CT hit .281 last year (40-for-142) as she appeared in 54 games. A former standout at Westfield State, Donna has a solid .296 batting average (392-1323) in her Brakettes' career. A former team batting champion, winning that honor in 1996 with a .414 average, Donna earned second team All-America status in the 2000 National Tournament. During her first tour of duty with the Brakettes (1987-89), McLean set the team record with 10 RBI in a game when she also hit for the cycle on June 28, 1987. Defensively, she remains one of the finest right fielders in the game and her strong throwing arm annually cuts down several opposing base runners. Donna enters the season in 13th place for games played, 14th in career hits, 16th in runs scored, 15th in doubles and 11th in triples in a career with 29.

2B  Emily Robustelli

NUMBER: 6
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Stamford, CT
COLLEGE: Massachusetts

The Robustelli name has been synonymous with sports excellence in Connecticut for over 50 years. In her fourth year as the Brakettes second baseman, Emily Robustelli now is the one making the headlines, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, NFL Hall of Famer Andy Robustelli, and father Rick, a former quarterback at UConn. Emily recently completed her junior season at UMass, where she plays shortstop and helped the club to an NCAA Regional Tournament berth and Atlantic-10 championship. After winning the Brakettes team batting title as a rookie in 1999 with a .325 average, she followed that with a .305 mark (46-151) in 2000 and .294 mark last year. She was second in runs scored last year with 47 and she drew a career-high 17 walks. Emily has played in 172 games, the most of any active Brakettes, since she graduated from Trinity Catholic High School in her native Stamford, CT in 1999. She led the Crusaders to a runner-up finish in the CIAC Class S tournament her senior season. She was named Gatorade Softball New England Player of the Year in both 1998 and 1999.

OF/P  Alicia Smith

NUMBER: 16
BATS: Left
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Katonah, NY
COLLEGE: Hofstra

Alicia Smith had another strong season with the Brakettes in 2001. She ranked among the team leaders in several categories as she had a .316 average with 73 hits, 43 runs scored and a career-high 29 RBI. While she didn't hit for average in the Nationals, she drove in three key runs that resulted in two victories in Phoenix. In addition to her offense, Smith chipped in with a 6-1 pitching record and 0.16 ERA. She is 14-1 in her four-year Brakettes career. The left-handed hitter, who sees most of her action in center field, Smith was a first-team All-America in 2000. Owner of a .300 career average, Alicia possesses a keen eye at the plate and strikes out less than any other starter. The former Hofstra University standout recently completed her second year as an assistant softball coach at Northwestern University. During her collegiate career, Smith compiled a 68-23 pitching mark. Smith also hit .376 (265-704) during her Hofstra career.

LF/P  Jen Smith

NUMBER: 5
BATS: Left
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Gilbertsville, PA
COLLEGE: Hofstra

Now in her fifth year with the Brakettes, Jen Smith has been sensational, both on the mound and at the plate. It doesn't matter where she is in the pitching rotation, because she always turns in a strong outing. Last year, as the No. 2 starter, Smith went 14-2 with a 0.35 ERA. She recorded three no-hitters, including a 12-0 win over the Shilos in the ASA Nationals, and six 1-hitters. One of the 1-hitters was the Brakettes' only win over the Phoenix Storm. She owns a 56-10 career record, good for 10th on the all-time list, and has a 0.17 career ERA with 446 strikeouts. Jen had a great year offensively in 2001, hitting for power and driving in runs. She hit .308, but was third in hits with 71, second in doubles with 15, and second in RBI with 52, almost doubling her career total which stands at 108. A career .331 hitter, Smith usually plays left field or is the designated hitter when she is not on the mound. Jen Smith was a first team All-America, turning in a 2-1 pitching record (0.00 ERA) and .250 batting mark in 2000. The Hofstra University graduate had a 77-43 collegiate pitching slate with a .348 batting average. She is an assistant coach at Fairfield University.

3B/SS  Ellen “Frankie” Spruce

NUMBER: 11
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Binghamton, NY
COLLEGE: Adelphi

Ellen "Frankie" Spruce begins her sixth season with the Brakettes. The Binghamton, NY resident turned in a solid performance in 2001, finishing with a .250 batting average. Boasting a career .280 average, Frankie displayed good power last year with 10 extra base hits. She delivered many timely base hits, which produced a career-high 40 RBI. One of her most important hits was a two-run suicide bunt single to give the Brakettes a 2-1 win over Bloomington, IL, in the opening game of last year's National tourney. Last year she moved from shortstop over to third base and she was outstanding in the field. Second among active players in run production with 115 RBI, Spruce spent three seasons with the North Tonowanda, NY, Shamrocks, where she was a three-time ASA All-America pick before joining the Brakettes. The graduate of Adelphi University also was on the NCAA All-Northeast Region three times and participated in a pair of College World Series.

CF  Kellie Wilkerson

NUMBER: 26
BATS: Left
THROWS: Left
HOMETOWN: Jacksonville, FL
COLLEGE: Mississippi State

Kellie Wilkerson recently completed her Mississippi State University career with a first team All-America selection for the fourth straight year. The left-handed power-hitting designated hitter/utility player also joined a select group with her fourth All-SEC first team honor. In leading Kathy Arendsen's squad to an NCAA Regional berth, Wilkerson hit .412 (70-for-170) with 17 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 29 RBI. When pitching, Wilkerson went 5-2 with a 1.72 ERA and she notched an NCAA record 14 saves. As a junior, she was 9-1 pitching with an NCAA leading 10 saves. Kellie played in only 12 games last year, a back injury ending her season early. She was a member of Team USA and has received an invite to this year's tryouts May 30-June 2 in Chula Vista, CA. In her rookie year with the Brakettes in 2000, Wilkerson captured the team batting title, with a .386 average, while scoring 30 runs and driving in 40.

P  Kaci Clark

NUMBER: 15
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Brandon, FL
COLLEGE: UCLA

Don't be fooled by her size because Kaci Clark can really fire the softball. The 5-foot-4 Clark, a first-year pitcher for the Stratford Brakettes, is one of the nation's best hurlers. After signing to play in the Women's Professional League in 1998, she has enjoyed quite a career. Selected Pitcher of the Year in the WPSL in 1998 and 1999, she also was named its Most Valuable Player in 1999. A member of the WPSL tournament all-star team last year, Clark also pitched the first victory over the US Gold (Olympic) Team. A two-time all-star, she leaves the pro circuit with the most wins (53) and is the leader in strikeouts and shutouts. Kaci is a graduate of UCLA, where she was unbeaten during the Bruins' 1995 NCAA championship season.

C  Sara Jewett

NUMBER: 17
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Haverhill, MA
COLLEGE: Maine

Sara Jewett didn't let a broken wrist stop her last year. Despite being sidelined several weeks with the injury, she returned in time for the National Tournament in Phoenix. It was a welcomed retum for the Brakettes as Jewett figured prominently in several tourney wins and she earned second team All-America in the outfield. Jewett's injury occurred when she slid home with the winning run in a marathon game with the Phoenix Storm in early July. She finished the year with a .284 average and 19 RBI. An assistant softball coach at St. John 's University, Jewett enjoyed a star-studded career at the University of Maine, where she was the 2000 AmericaEast Conference's Player of the Year. An all-league catcher for three years, she became the conference's first player to hit for the triple crown, leading it in home runs (15), RB1(47) and average (.409).

P  Danielle Henderson

NUMBER: 44
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Commack, NY
COLLEGE: Massachusetts

Danielle Henderson is back with the Brakettes after spending three years with Team USA. Manager John Stratton couldn't be happier. "Danielle is one of the best in the game. She just needs to pitch more, something she didn't get the last two years." A member of the gold-medal winning 2000 U.S. Olympic team and 2001 WPSL Gold team, Henderson is the holder of 25 UMass records. Currently the UMass assistant coach, she finished her career second on the NCAA career strikeout list with 1,343. Her career marks include a 108-35 record with a 0.70 ERA, 72 shutouts, 135 complete games and 14 no-hitters and three perfect games. She was 48-7 with 806 strikeouts in her three-year Brakettes career. Her best mark was in 1997 with a 23-3 record, 0.21 ERA and 406 strikeouts in 199 innings. She was a four-time All-Atlantic 10 selection and four-time A-10 MVP, who also captured the Honda Award her senior year.

P  Leslie Malerich

NUMBER: 24
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Merrillville, IN
COLLEGE: Florida State

Leslie Malerich had a brilliant rookie season with the Stratford Brakettes in 2001. As the team's No. 1 pitcher throughout the season, she had a 24-4 record with 0.22 ERA and 299 strikeouts in 227 innings. The recent Florida State University graduate had three no-hitters, including the opening game of the ASA Nationals against Bloomington, IL, two perfect games and six 1-hitters. Malerich will be playing in Italy this summer and expects to rejoin the Brakettes in 2003. She will participate in the Canada Cup and World Championships and her goal is to gain a berth on the Italian Olympic team. In leading FSU to the NCAA Regionals, she also joined a select group of collegiate pitchers to win 100 games. The century mark occurred against John Stratton's Florida Atlantic University team. Twice named first team All-State, Malerich led her high school team to the 1997 state title and she was named both the Player and Athlete of the Year in Indiana. She is a sports management major.

P  Catherine Osterman

NUMBER: 8
BATS: Left
THROWS: Left
HOMETOWN: Houston, TX
COLLEGE: Texas

Catherine Osterman, the touted freshmen sensation for the University of Texas, joined the Stratford Brakettes for last year's National tournament. She will be available for more than a cameo performance this year, depending upon her Team USA schedule. The 2001 National High School Player of the Year at Cypress Springs, the left-handed pitcher led Texas to the regular-season and Big-12 tournament title. In pitching shutouts of Oklahoma and Nebraska on the final day, Cat took a 34-7 record into the NCAA Regionals. Her strikeout total of 523 set an NCAA freshmen record and she carried a string of 60.1 consecutive innings without allowing an eamed run. Cat registered a 4-1 record with 52 K's in 30 innings with the Brakettes. Her 3-1 ASA tourney record earned her second team All-America acclaim. The only run was unearned, the result of the tie-breaker. She is a finalist for collegiate player of the year honors.

SS  Lea Mishlan

NUMBER: 23
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Pearland, TX
COLLEGE: South Florida

Lea Mishlan gave the Brakettes a big boost last year, both in the field and at the plate. "She definitely lived up to her advance billing," said John Stratton. The University of South Florida (1997-2000) graduate hit for a .323 average and with power; 13 extra-base hits and 40 RBI. She was a wizard in the field, making difficult plays look routine. She came to the Brakettes following one season in the WPSL with the Tampa Bay Firestix. An All-Conference USA player in 2000, Mishlan finished her career as the all-time USF leader in games played (259), at bats (819), runs scored (l50), hits (284), total bases, stolen bases (68), doubles (53) and assists. She was third in career batting average (.347), second in home runs (l4) and third in RBI (108). Lea was an NCAA All-Region selection in 1998 and 1999.

P/DH  Nikki Myers

NUMBER: 25
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: St. Petersburg, FL
COLLEGE: Florida Atlantic

Nikki Myers will be making her debut with the Stratford Brakettes this season. She was unable to play in past years because Brakettes manager John Stratton served as her pitching coach at Florida Atlantic and NCAA rules prevent underclassmen from playing on a summer team with their college coach. Myers, a two-time All-America, recently captured her third straight All-Sun Conference Player of the Year award. In leading the Owls to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Regionals, Myers compiled a 35-6 record in 2002 and she moved ahead of Danielle Henderson into No. 2 on the all-time strikeout list. In addition to her pitching, which included a 108-35 career mark, Myers is one of the top hitters in college. She has a .358 career average with 55 home runs and 175 RBI. She is a finalist for the collegiate player of the year award.

INF/UT  Erica Sobel

NUMBER: 4
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Worcester, MA
COLLEGE: Maine

Erica Sobel was a valuable addition to the Stratford Brakettes' roster in 2001. Originally invited to "help out" during a weekend, she impressed Manager John Stratton so much that he asked her to play all season. The Worcester, MA, native recently concluded an outstanding career at the University of Maine, where she set the season and career record for bases on balls. Versatility was her key as Erica played every infield and outfield position as she appeared in 49 games. She hit .231, scored 20 runs and drove in nine. Defensively, she was outstanding. A slick fielder, Sobel has soft hands and gets a good jump on the ball.

INF/UT  Karrie Rider

NUMBER: 24
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Camas, WA
COLLEGE: Mississippi State

A first-year member of the Brakettes, Karrie Rider has an impressive softball background. The Vancouver, WA, native, enjoyed a standout collegiate career at Mississippi State University, where she played shortstop. A two-time AIl-Southeast Conference and four-time Academic All-Conference pick, Rider posted a .259 career average and had 37 extra-base hits and 92 RBI. She hit .306 her senior year in 2000 with a career-high 43 RBI. She played the 2000 season with the Ohio Pride of the Women's Professional League and led the circuit in fielding percentage. Karrie recently concluded her first year as an assistant coach at Harvard University.

C/1B  Jennifer Fisher

NUMBER:19
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: LaGrangeville, NY
COLLEGE: Manhattan

Jen Fisher joined the Brakettes in mid-June after her former team, the Hopewell Junction, NY, B.A.T.S., folded. She saw duty behind the plate, at first base and in the outfield, appearing in 28 games and hitting .313. Twice named All-Northeast Seaboard League, Fisher always hit well against Brakettes pitching. A graduate of Manhattan College, Fisher is a physical education teacher in the Millbrook Central, NY, School District, while she is pursuing her masters degree at SUNY- New Paltz. A four-time Metro Atlantic Conference all-star, Fisher also was the conference Rookie of the Year in 1996.

3B  Michelle Gates

NUMBER: 30
BATS: Left
THROWS: Right
HOMETOWN: Chowchilla, CA
COLLEGE: Mississippi State

The Stratford Brakettes welcome back Michelle Gates, who enjoyed a spectacular 1998 season at third base. The Mississippi State University graduate played professionally during the 2000 season. Last year she played in the National Tournament with Team Texas. Regarded as the quickest third baseman in the game today, Gates also was a member of Team USA last year. During her collegiate career, Gates led the Bulldogs in several offensive categories and she also saw action on the mound. Gates brings plenty of power to the lineup as well as another left-handed bat. She led the Brakettes in triples (6), home runs (5) and RBI (35) in 1998.