STRATFORD BRAKETTES CAPTURE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

PEKIN, IL Aug 19- The Stratford Brakettes captured their 25th National ASA Women’s Major Fastpitch Championship with a 4-0 victory over TeamSmith Nationals of California last Saturday night at Mineral Springs Park. It also was the second title in a row for Manager John Stratton’s ballclub.

Danielle Henderson was the winning pitcher as she allowed four hits and struck out four batters to finish the season with a 24-2 record. Henderson, one of six Brakettes on the first All-America team, won three games as the Brakettes capped a 5-0 tournament.

Kelly Kretschman, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, drove in two runs for the Brakettes with sacrfice fly balls in the second and fifth innings. Lea Mishlan and Alicia Smith also had run-producing base hits as the Brakettes finished the season with a 65-5 record.

Pitcher Kaci Clark (25-2), who won two games in the tourney, captured the Bertha Tickey Award for the most outstanding pitching performance. Shortstop Mishlan won the Erv Lind Defensive Player Award. Henderson, Clark, Kretschman, Mishlan, outfielder Germaine Fairchild and first baseman Kellie Wilkerson were first team All-Americas. Outfielder Alicia Smith gained second team recognition.

The Brakettes, who ended the season with a 33-game winning skein, gained the finals with a 2-1 victory over Teamsmith earlier on Saturday. In other tournament games the Brakettes defeated Avanti’s of East Peoria 13-2 in first round play, Storm USA of Lake Forest, CA, 2-0 in the quarter-finals and the Bloomington, IL, Lady Hearts 7-0 in the semi-finals.

Prior to the start of the national meet, the Brakettes were 6-0 as they swept doubleheaders from the Lady Hearts (4-0, 18-0) and East Peoria Rage (5-0, 2-0) before taking a split doubleheader from the Pekin Lettes (8-0) and Avanti’s (10-0). They outscored the opposition 47-0 in the pre-tournament play and for the 10-day trip they outscored their rivals 75-3.

In the championship game against Teamsmith, which advanced with a 2-1, eight-inning win over the California Hurricanes in the loser’s bracket finals, the Brakettes reached loser Gina Oaks for a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Singles by Alicia Smith and Karrie Rider were followed by Erica Sobel’s sacrifice bunt. Mishlan then singled sharply to left and Kretschman followed with a sacrifice fly.

Rider, who made several brilliant defensive plays in the tournament, opened the fourth frame with a walk. Sobel also followed with a walk and Mishlan sacrificed both runners up a base. Kretschman drilled a long fly ball to deep centerfield for a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Jen Smith drew a two-out base on balls in the fifth and then stole second base. She scored on Alicia Smith’s single to right field.

In the semi-final win over Teamsmith, Jen Smith put the Brakettes ahead 1-0 with a leadoff home run in the second inning. It was her 8th of the year. The Brakettes finished the season with a record 65 home runs.

After Teamsmith tied the game against Clark in the sixth, the Brakettes rallied in the home seventh inning. Rider drew a walk to start the rally, but she was forced out at second by Sobel. Mishlan’s bunt moved Sobel into scoring position. Leadoff hitter Kretschman hit a two-hopper to shortstop Lindsay Klein, who rushed her throw and the ball sailed over the fence as Sobel crossed the plate with the winning run. Clark allowed five hits and struck out 10 batters.

Henderson allowed only two hits and struck out 10 Lady Hearts batters in the semi-final round win. She retired the last 13 batters she faced. Kretschman, Keri Stratton and Wilkerson all had two hits in the win while Wilkerson drove in three runs.

Kretschman’s home run in the sixth inning broke a scoreless pitcher’s duel as the Brakettes and Clark stopped Storm USA, the 2002 ASA Class A champions. Mishlan’s RBI single in the top of the seventh provided the insurance run. Kretschman had two hits. In the opener against Avanti’s, the Brakettes had 12 hits as they crushed Avanti’s in a five-inning mercy game.


STRATFORD BRAKETTES WILL FACE AVANTI’S IN NATIONAL TOURNAMENT OPENER WEDNESDAY

PEKIN, IL August 12- The Stratford Brakettes will begin their ASA Women’s Major Fastpitch title defense opening night (Wednesday, August 13) at 8’clock EDT against Avanti’s of East Peoria, IL, at Mineral Springs Park. Avanti’s (25-11), which drew first at Tuesday’s pre-tournament luncheon, played the Brakettes Monday night and lost 10-0 in a five-inning mercy game.

Following a six-game sweep of their Illinois road swing, the Brakettes carry a 60-5 record into their 52nd consecutive national tournament appearance. The team is on a 28-game winning streak. On the Illinois road trip the Brakettes shut out all six rivals and outscored them 47-0.

Manager John Stratton will send either 5-foot-4 Kaci Clark (23-2) or Danielle Henderson (21-2) to the mound hoping for a repeat of Monday’s win. In that game Clark hurled her fourth perfect game of the year, striking out 12 Avanti’s batters. Only two balls were hit in fair territory.

Eight games are scheduled Wednesday at Mineral Springs Park, which last hosted this event in 1988. The Brakettes, who have won 24 national championships, captured that tournament with a perfect 6-0 record, including a 2-0 win over the Orange, CA, Majestics in the finals.

Stratton figures to load his lineup with left-handed hitters, starting with left fielder Kelley Kretschman, who went 5-for-7 Monday, and is hitting over .675 for the season. Kretschmnan, the Brakettes’ leadoff hitter, is 13-for-21 in the last six games. Also figuring prominently in the attack from the port side of the plate are Keri Stratton (.347), Kellie Wilkerson (.618), Alicia Smith (.331) and Jen Smith (.395).

Germaine Fairchild (.385), Sara Jewett (.350) and Erica Sobel (.328), the team’s home run leader with 11, are other top hitters for the Brakettes. Entering the tournament the team has hit a record 63 home runs.

If the Brakettes defeat Avanti’s, they will play Thursday in the quarterfinals at 6 p.m. The opposition would come from the winner of the East Peoria Lady Rage, who drew a first-round bye, and the survivor of a game between the Peoria Outlaws and Storm USA of Lake Forest, CA. The Storm USA is the defending ASA Class A champion. Also in the upper bracket are the Lisle Powerhouse, Allentown Pates, St. Louis Saints, Bloomington Lady Hearts and Celina, OH, Suns.

Two of the favorites to challenge the Stratford Brakettes, the 2002 runner-up California Hurricanes and Teamsmith Nationals, are in the lower bracket. The winner’s bracket final semi-finals are Friday night with the winner’s bracket final Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The championship game is set for Saturday at 6 p.m.



STRATFORD BRAKETTES CLOSE 2003 HOME SEASON WITH DOUBLEHEADERS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY

STRATFORD August 4- The Stratford Brakettes will close out the 2003 home season with doubleheaders Tuesday (August 5) and Wednesday (August 6) at 7 p.m. at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. Tuesday, the Brakettes will host the XTreme Chaos while they entertain the Connecticut Classics Wednesday.

Manager John Stratton will send Kaci Clark (20-2) and Danielle Henderson (19-2) to the mound Tuesday as the Brakettes look to extend their winning streak that currently stands at 20 games. The team boasts a 52-5 overall record and it has won 88 straight games at DeLuca Field, dating back to the 2001 season.

While the Brakettes have received outstanding pitching throughout the year, the offense has been unbelievable. In capturing their sixth straight Northeast Seaboard Women’s Fastpitch League title last weekend with a 6-0 record, the Brakettes crushed 12 home runs, giving them 55 on the season. They erased the previous record of 44 set last year.

Leading the home run assault has been third-year Brakettes infielder Erica Sobel of Worcester, MA, who has a team-high 10. She hit four in the tournament to earn a share of MVP laurels with Kelly Kretschman, who had three home runs, four doubles and 11 RBI. Kretschman spent most of the summer playing with the USA Elite Team, which captured the Canada Cup championship. Expected back for Tuesday's doubleheader is Kellie Wilkerson, another USA Elite Team player. When Wilkerson left in early July she led the team with seven home runs. Now she is tied for second place with Jen Smith, while Frankie Spruce and Sara Jewett both have hit five.

The home run talents of the Brakettes and Classics will be on display Wednesday night between games with the annual Home Run Derby on tap. Wilkerson won last year’s title as she hit seven home runs in 10 swings, including two that hit the 300-foot permanent fence in the air.

After the current home stand the Brakettes will depart Saturday for Pekin, IL, as they will attempt to defend their ASA Women’s Major Fastpitch Championship at Mineral Springs Park. The tournament begins Wednesday, August 13 with the Brakettes seeded into the 8 p.m. game. The tournament draw breakfast and team social will take place on Tuesday. Prior to the tournament the Brakettes will play three doubleheaders, meeting the co-host Bloomington Lady Hearts Saturday night in Bloomington at 7 p.m. and the East Peoria Rage at 7 p.m. Saturday night in Bloomington. The team will travel to Pekin for a split twin-bill Monday night against the co-host Pekin Lettes and East Peoria Avanti’s.

A total of 20 teams are entered in the National Tournament, which continues through August 17. In addition to the Brakettes, the 2002 runner-up California Hurricanes and fourth place St. Louis Saints are back. Other top entrants include the Teamsmith Nationals and Storm USA of California.

For Immediate Release - July 31, 2003
National Pro Fastpitch Partners with MLB Red Sox on Massachusetts Tour


NPF ALL-STARS SWEPT BY BRAKETTES AT LOWELL; KACI CLARK AND DANIELLE HENDERSON PITCH TWO COMPLETE GAME SHUTOUTS.  NPF ALL-STARS TO CONTINUE WEEK IN THE NEW ENGLAND AREA.

LOWELL, MASS. - Though the first and second meetings between the National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars and the Stratford Brakettes were separated by nearly two months and a thousand some odd miles, the result was the same as the Brakettes came away victorious, this time in both games of an exhibition double-header in Lowell, Mass., 1-0 and 2-0.

In game one of the Thursday doubleheader, Brakettes pitcher Kaci Clark (UCLA) was too much for the NPF All-Stars to handle.  Clark pitched her way to a 1-0 shutout, improving her season record to 19-2, as the Brakettes upped their mark to 45-5, dropping the NPF team to 15-5.

Tarrah Beyster (Oregon State) took the loss in game one, while surrendering seven hits and one unearned run to Brakettes hitters, the first run she allowed in 34 innings.  The Brakettes got on the board in the fifth inning after Erika Sobel (Maine) reached base on an All-Star fielding miscue by Lisa Iancin (California).  Sobel would move to second base on a sacrifice bunt and eventually score on an RBI base hit by Sara Jewett (Maine).

Only three National Pro Fastpitch hitters managed to collect hits in the ballgame. Lindsey Collins (Arizona) was the only one to have a multiple hit game, going 3-for-3 with two singles and her sixth double on the season.

Game two of the doubleheader closely resembled game one, with good pitching by the Brakettes and poor hitting by the NPF All-Stars.  Danielle Henderson (Massachusetts) threw a complete game shutout giving up only three hits in the ballgame, while striking out five NPF hitters. 

Amy Kyler (Cleveland State) threw a good game for the All-Stars as well, giving up only two unearned runs on one hit.  In the two innings the Brakettes posted runs on the scoreboard, they did not collect a hit.

The first run for the Brakettes came in the bottom of the first inning when Kyler hit the leadoff hitter Jewett with a 1-0 fastball.  Jewett advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt, moved to third on a wild pitch and would eventually score on a Collins passed ball. 

The second run tallied by the Stratford team came in the bottom half of the third inning after Alicia Smith reached safely on a fielding error by Kyler.  Smith moved to second on the same play when the throw got by first baseman Erika Hanson (Arizona), she would eventually score on the second wild pitch of the ballgame by Kyler.

The NPF All-Stars, who have now won 15 of 20 games this summer, will play their final game in Massachusetts Saturday, Aug. 2 at 5 p.m. at Riverside Park in Haverhill, Mass. The game in Haverhill will be the final event in the New England area for the All-Stars before heading to Houston, Texas for a series of games, clinics and appearances with Major League Baseball's Houston Astros.

In addition to posting a 15-5 record in games in California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Tennessee, Phoenix, Tucson, Akron and Lowell this season, the NPF All-Stars have hosted clinics and made appearances at Major League Baseball games in San Francisco, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Denver, Miami, Atlanta, Phoenix, Chicago, Cincinnati and Boston.

The Boston-area stop on the 2003 NPF All-Stars is a part of a nation-wide tour visiting 17 cities this summer.  The tour will partner with Major League Baseball Clubs in 12 of those cities.  Official league play is scheduled to begin early summer, 2004

National Pro Fastpitch is the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States.  Major League Baseball is the Official Development Partner of NPF.  The league is headquartered in Denver, and has been in operation since 1997 under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL).

Boston-area Activities, 2003 NPF All-Star Tour-
Saturday, August 2, 2003 - Haverhill, Mass.
5:00 p.m. - NPF All-Stars vs. Middle-Essex Alumnae All-Stars at Riverside Park. 


STRATFORD BRAKETTES HOST CLASSICS IN DOUBLEHEADER; TEAM NEEDS 3 HOME RUNS TO ECLIPSE REGULAR SEASON RECORD

STRATFORD July 29- Wednesday, July 30 may be the night the Stratford Brakettes set a new single season home run record. Entering the 7 o’clock doubleheader against the Connecticut Classics, the Brakettes are just two home runs shy of last year’s record 44.

Following last weekend’s sweep of the Topton, PA, VIP’s, where the Brakettes crushed seven home runs in the four-game series, Manager John Stratton’s club is primed to erase the record which was set during a 79-game season. The Brakettes bring a 42-5 record into tonight’s games with Kaci Clark (17-2) and Danielle Henderson (15-2) expected to take the mound.

Kellie Wilkerson, who is with the USA Elite team through this weekend, leads the team with seven home runs. She hit that total in a mere 20 games and leads the club with a .583 batting average. Had Wilkerson played the entire season she could have challenged Pat Dufficy’s season record of 15 set in 1990. Close behind in the chase for the home run champion are Jen Smith and Erica Sobel with six apiece, while Frankie Spruce has five and Heather Wright four. Catcher Germaine Fairchild, who is the home run leader among active players with 18 in her career, has hit three, all of them coming this month. A total of 12 players have hit home runs this year with 27 circuit clouts at DeLuca Field. The team’s power surge this year has almost put Lordship Pizza out of business. Everytime a Brakette hits a home run at DeLuca, they get a free pizza pie from Lordship Pizza owner Bo Ernst.

The Classics carry a 28-9 record into the games after a 4-2 finish in the ASA 23-and-Under National tournament in Buffalo, NY, last weekend. Manager Jerry Katona will utilize Barb LaFogg, Kelly Gardner or Melissa Reynolds on the mound. Shortstop Jen Piazza and first baseman Pam Mazzarella are the team’s top hitters.

Following Wednesday night’s action, the Brakettes will travel to Lowell, MA, for a 6:30 p.m. twin-bill Thursday (July 31) against the National Pro Fastpitch all-stars at Martin Field. The Brakettes beat the pro league all-stars 5-2 in a nine-inning game in Milwaukee on June 18.

This weekend the Brakettes will host the Northeast Seaboard Women’s Fastpitch League Tournament at DeLuca Field. The event was originally scheduled for Albany, NY, before it was switched to Stratford. Six games will be played Saturday in the round-robin portion of the event, starting at 12 noon, with the double-elimination play starting Sunday at 8 a.m.

The Brakettes, who carry a 80-game home field winning streak since 2001, complete the DeLuca portion of the 2003 season August 5 against the Xtreme Chaos and August 6 against the Classics in 7 p.m. doubleheaders. The teamsmith Nationals were originally schedule August 5, but they had to cancel their northeast tour (Topton, Allentown, Newark) because of a cutback in funding. Prior to the Classics’ games the annual Brakettes booster club picnic will be staged with the home run derby between games.


BRAKETTES USE HOME RUN TO SWEEP FOUR GAMES FROM TOPTON; NORTHEAST SEABOARD TOURNEY BEGINS SATURDAY AT DELUCA

STRATFORD July 28- The Stratford Brakettes unleased a devastating offensive display over the weekend in sweeping four games from the Topton, PA, VIP’s at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field to extend their current winning streak to 10. In outscoring the VIP’s by 36-1 in the series, the Brakettes crushed seven home runs and 50 hits as they defeated Topton for the seventh straight time this year and 20th in a row since 1999.

Manager John Stratton’s Brakettes, who take a 42-5 record into Wednesday night’s home doubleheader with the Connecticut Classics, will be in action this Saturday (August 2) and Sunday (August 3) at DeLuca Field when they host the Northeast Seaboard Women’s Fastpitch League tournament. Originally scheduled for Albany, the tournament was moved to DeLuca Field last week. The Brakettes, Classics, Allentown Pates and Adirondack Ice will play round-robin games Saturday, beginning at noon. Six games will be on tap Saturday. The elimination round is set for Sunday. The Brakettes are the defending champions, having won the crown in each of the last five years.

Leigh Ann Ellis (10-1) and Kaci Clark (17-2) were the winning pitchers in Sunday’s (July 27) 8-0 and 13-0 wins over Topton. Both games were called in the fifth inning via the mercy rule.

Ellis allowed four hits and struck out five, while Kelly Kretschman went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI in the first game. Alicia Smith hit a 3-run home run in the fourth inning and Jen Smith followed immediately with a solo blast.

In the nightcap, Clark hurled a no-hitter and struck out five. Frankie Spruce belted two 3-run home runs, while Kretschman also homered during a 3-for-3 game. Heather Wright, Erica Sobel, Robyn King and Karrie Rider all had two hits.

On Saturday night (July 26), the Brakettes defeated the VIP’s 8-1 and 7-0.

In the first game, Danielle Henderson (15-2) allowed only three hits and fanned 15 Topton hitters. Kretschman, Germaine Fairchild and Kling all went 3-for-4. King and Rider both drove in two runs.

Sara Jewett and Sobel hit home runs in the nightcap, which saw Clark strike out nine and allow three hits. Alicia Smith, Jewett and King all hit safely twice, while Sobel’s home run plated three.

BRAKETTES BRIEFS- During the Brakettes sweep through the Bob Caravan Memorial Tournament (July 19-20) in Allentown, PA, they won six games by a combined 37-0 score. It was their fifth straight tournament title. . .The team’s 7-4 showing in the 10th annual Canada Cup was outstanding as the only losses were against national teams. The Brakettes lost twice to the Team USA, the second coming at the hands of one of its own pitchers, Cat Osterman, who no-hit the Brakettes in a 5-0 win and struck out 16. They also lost to Canada (3-0) in pool play and Australia 6-2 in nine innings in the elimination round. The Brakettes beat China (3-1) in pool play and eliminated the 2000 Olympic silver medalist 7-1 in the playoffs before it sent Canada home with an 8-1 win. Team USA, Australia, Canada and China comprise one-half of the 2004 Olympic field in Athens. . .The scheduled doubleheader against the Teamsmith Nationals August 5 at DeLuca has been cancelled. Teamsmith cancelled its northeast swing against the Brakettes, Topton and New Jersey Divas, citing lost funding as its reason. The Brakettes will play the Xtreme Chaos in a twin-bill August 5 at 7 p.m. and close the home season August 6 against the Connecticut Classics at 7 p.m. Prior to the doubleheader with the Classics, the annual Brakettes/Classics booster club picnic will be staged at 4:30 p.m.


BRAKETTES vs. TOPTON VIP's
July 26, 7 p.m. and July 27, 12 noon

STRATFORD Saturday, July 26- The Stratford Brakettes bring a 38-5 record into tonight's doubleheader with the Topton, PA, VIPs. The teams met last Sunday (7/20) in the fmals of the annual Bob Caravan Memorial Tournament in Allentown, PA. The Brakettes and Kaci Clark won that game 2-0, scoring both runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Brakettes captured the Caravan championship for the fifth year in a row. This year they defeated the Livingston, NY, Lightning (15-0), New York Magic (5-0) and Long Island Angels (3-0) in pool play. In the elimination round, Manager John Stratton's club ousted the Lehigh Valley Gators (6-0), Adirondack Ice (6-0) and Topton (2-0) to outscore the field 37-0.

During the Brakettes' 7-4 record in the 10th annual Canada Cup (July 5-13), the team finished fourth, the highest of any of the club teams. The USA Elite team won the tournament with a 2-0 win over Australia in the finals. Pacing the USA Elite victory were Kellie Wilkerson and Kelly Kretschman. Wilkerson's home run eliminated the USA National Team 1-0 before the Elite team finished off the Aussies. Wilkerson, the Brakettes' leading hitter and home run leader with seven, led the Canada Cup with four home runs. She also won the home run derby.

At the Canada Cup, the Brakettes were 4-4 against National Teams, including two wins over China, the 2000 Silver Medalist at the Olympics, and an 8-1 win over host Canada. They played four teams (USA, Canada, China and Australia) who will comprise the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. Another participant in the Olympics will be Team Italy, led by former (2001) Brakettes pitcher Leslie Malerich who was 4-0 in the Olympic Qualifier. When they were eliminated by the USA National Team 5-0, the Brakettes were no-hit by their own pitcher, Cat Osterman, who struck out 16. It was the first time in over 10 years the Brakettes had been no-hit in a game.

Kretschman makes her Brakettes' home debut tonight. The left-handed hitting outfielder gained All-America laurels at Alabama, leading them to the College World Series in 2000. She also was an alternate on the USA 2000 Olympic Team and played extensively on the team's Central Park to Sydney, Australia, tour.

When the Brakettes swept the Stratford Seahawks in their last home outing (July 16), the 3-0 second game victory was the 500th of manager John Stratton's career. In 10 years at the helm (he's been with the team for 26), Stratton now has a 506-68 overall record. He is the second most successful manager in the team's 57-year history. Only Ralph Raymond (26 years, 16 national titles) with 1638 wins and 134 losses is ahead of John. Can you name the other Brakettes managers? Answer below.

The Brakettes enter tonight's game with 35 home runs, needing only 10 more to erase last year's record 44.

The Northeast Seaboard Women's Fastpitch League tournament has been switched from Albany NY, to DeLuca Field. It will be staged next weekend (August 2-3). Six round-robin games will be on tap Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m., with the format switching to double-elimination on Sunday, starting at 8 a.m. Check the Brakettes website, www.brakettes.com, for additional information next week. The Brakettes have won the league title five straight seasons. No passes will be honored for the league tournament.

The National ASA Women's Major Fastpitch Tournament will be played in Pekin, IL, August 13-16 or 17 at Mineral Springs Park. It hasn't been held in Pekin since 1988, when the Brakettes won the title with a 6-0 record. At present, 22 teams are entered in the tournament. Prior to the start of play, the Brakettes will play two doubleheaders in Bloomington, IL, against the Lady Hearts (8/9) and the Rage (8/10) before moving to Pekin for a split twin-bill August 11 against the Pekin Lettes and Avanti's of Peoria. Avanti's is managed by J.Y. Davis, who formerly managed Pantera's Classics of St. Louis for 10 years. The Brakettes will play at 7 p.m. on August 13 in their opener.

The annual Brakettes-Classics Booster Club picnic is Wednesday, August 6, beginning at 4:30 p.m. It is only for the official booster club members and the teams. Gates will open at 6 p.m. that evening as Brakettes play a split doubleheader with Classics and XTreme Chaos. Between games there will be the team's annual home run contest, which also will feature three players from the Classics.

The Connecticut Classics, who are sponsored by the Brakettes, began play in the ASA 23-and-Under National Tournament in Buffalo, NY, Thursday. The Classics were 2-0 in pool play that gained them a fifth seed. They opened elimination play with an 11-0 win over the Maryland Chill Friday night and they were scheduled to play two games today. The Classics won the tournament in 2001 at DeLuca Field.

Speaking of DeLuca Field, the Brakettes bring a 76-game home winning streak into tonight's action. It is the second longest since the Brakettes began play at DeLuca in 1988. The record of 103 was snapped on July 4,1993 by Puerto Rico in the semifinals of the Brakettes Invitational.

ABOUT TOPTON- The VIP's are one of the top women's fastpitch softball teams in the country. They were formed in 1960 and were called the Stoney Creek Maids and coached by their founder John Hospidor. In 1965 they became known as the Reading Girl's Softball team and coached by Judy Horning, who played second base for the team for five seasons. By 1969 the team had changed their name again to the Reading Royals and they also held their first invitational tournament. In 1971 the team moved to Blandon and became known as the Blandon VIP's. Finally, in 1974, the team found its present home in Topton and was called the Topton VIP's. They are host of the longest running invitational tournament in the United States, the Fourth of July Tournament. They have played in 21 national tournaments since 1978.

The Brakettes are 51-5 against Topton since moving to DeLuca Field in 1988. All five of Topton's wins came in the 1999 season. They defeated the Brakettes twice in the Topton July 4th tournament and took two of three in the NSA World Series in Orlando. However, the Brakettes won the game that counted, 1-0 in the championship. Topton then split a home doubleheader before the Brakettes won the final three games that year. Stratton's club has won 16 straight in the series. The Brakettes are 27-0 against Topton at DeLuca Field, three of those wins coming in ASA National Tournaments (1993, 96, 02). The Brakettes also have beaten the VIP's in the 1998 Topton July 4th championship game and the 1990 New Jersey Ree-Gals title matchup.

Answer to the Quiz: Bernie Kaplan (1947-56: 290-66), Vin Cullen (1957-61: 261-33) and Wee DeVitt (1962-67: 370-39). Cullen and DeVitt both won three national titles and Stratton has won two as Brakettes have 24 since 1947.


BRAKETTES HOST CLASSICS; TEAM DEPARTS ON THURSDAY FOR CANADA CUP

STRATFORD July 2- Kaci Clark (8-0) and Danielle Henderson (8-0) will be on the mound tonight (Wednesday, July 2) as the Stratford Brakettes complete a lengthy home stand against the Connecticut Classics in a 7 o’clock doubleheader at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field.

The Brakettes (21-0) are 14-0 on the current home stand and have allowed only one run. They will bring a 72-game DeLuca Field win streak into the games. It is the second longest in the team’s history at DeLuca. The record of 113 was set from June 10, 1990 to July 4, 1993.

Following the games with the Classics (8-5) of Jerry Katona, who are part of the Stratford Brakettes organization, the Brakettes will depart for the 10th annual Canada Cup Thursday morning. Sixteen teams are entered in the tournament, which features pool play of seven games followed by double-elimination for the top four finishers in each pool.

In Canada, the Brakettes will face the Illinois Elite Force (July 5- 7 p.m. PCT), USA National Team (July 6- 1 p.m.), Canada (July 7- 7 p.m.), NJCAA (July 8- 1 p.m.), China (July 8- 7 p.m.), Bloomington Lady Hearts (July 9- 10:30 a.m.) and the Philippines (July 9- 3:30 p.m.). The Brakettes could face former teammate Cat Osterman in their second game. Current Brakettes first baseman Kellie Wilkerson will be playing on the USA Elite Team, which is in the opposite pool.

Heading into the Classics game tonight the Brakettes are on a record home run pace. They have already hit 25 on the year, including five Monday night against the Stratford Seahawks. Last year they set the record with 44 in a 78-1 campaign. Ironically, the top three home run hitters from last year have not hit one thus far.

Wilkerson is the club leader in average with a .583 mark. She has seven home runs and 25 RBI. Jen Smith is next at .468 with four home runs and 16 RBI. Alicia Smith (.385), Robyn King (.375), Germaine Fairchild and Keri Stratton (.345) are the other top hitters on the club.

The Brakettes have added University of Georgia speedster Nicole Barber to the roster for the Canada Cup. The left-handed hitting Barber led the nation in stolen bases, while also displaying an abundance of power.

FORMER BRAKETTES PITCHER LESLIE MALERICH LEADS ITALY TO BERTH IN 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES STRATFORD July 1- Leslie Malerich knows exactly where she will be in August 2004. She will be marching into Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece, as a member of the Italian National Softball Team. Malerich, who played for the Stratford Brakettes in 2001, pitched the Italian National Team to a berth in the 2004 Olympic Games. The 6-foot-1 right-handed All-America pitcher from Florida State was the winning pitcher Sunday as the Italian team defeated the Czech Republic 9-2 in the finals of the Europe-Africa Olympic qualifier in Rome to gain one of eight Olympic softball berths. Malerich, an assistant softball coach at Stratford High School, hurled 3 and 2/3 hitless innings of relief in the championship game to earn her fourth win in the tournament as Italy went 8-0. She also was the winning pitcher in the key 1-0 win over Holland as she hurled 6 and 1/3 innings of hitless ball. In the Olympic Qualifier, Malerich, a substitute teacher in the Stratford Public Schools system, allowed only three hits and struck out 20 without allowing a walk. Italy entered 12-team qualifier as the top seed with Holland second. While playing for the Brakettes, Malerich compiled a 24-4 record and she earned second team All-America status in the 2001 National Tournament in Phoenix. She led FSU to a third place finish in the 2002 College World Series and she is the school’s all-time leader in wins.

STRATFORD June 19- The Statford Brakettes begin an 18-game home stand Friday, June 20 when they take on the Long Island Angels in a 7:30 o’clock doubleheader at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field.

Coming off a 5-2 win Wednesday in Milwaukee over the National Pro Fastpitch League all-stars, the Brakettes will bring a 7-0 record into the doubleheader. The Brakettes will play five twin-bills in the next six days. Saturday night the Adirondack Ice provides the opposition at 7 p.m., while the Stratford Seahawks are on tap Sunday at 6 p.m.

Dominican Republic Team Here Monday

One of the season’s highlights occurs Monday with the late addition to the schedule of the Dominican Republic National Team. The doubleheader begins at 7 p.m. and all tickets are priced at $2.00. The Dominican Republic team will be the host for the Pan American Games August 1-17.

Ranked No. 2 in Central America and the Caribbean from last year’s tournament in San Salvador, the Dominican Republic team participated in the 2002 World Championships in Sasketoon, Canada and finished 16th. The team has been on tour this year and it will bring a 20-9 record into DeLuca Field.

Dividing the pitching chores for the Dominican Republic have been veteran Elizabeth Sanchez, Hilma Diaz, Luisa Nunez, Jovanny Nunez and Melissa Pena, all experienced in international competition. The top hitters are Fiordaliza Florian and Vitalia De La Rosa.

Brakettes Manager John Stratton was very pleased with his team’s performance against the National Pro Fastpitch League all-stars at Helfaer Field. “The pros have a nice ballclub and solid pitching. We put the bat on the ball several times in the game, but we hit it right at them. It wasn’t until the top of the ninth inning that we finally broke through.”

Scoreless through seven innings, the international tie-breaker was employed in the eighth and the Brakettes managed to escape an all-star threat in the home eighth. In the ninth, Kellie Wilkerson’s triple and Germaine Fairchild’s RBI single produced two runs. Erica Sobel belted a three-run home run to cap the scoring. It was the team’s 13th blast in seven games.

Danielle Henderson, who picked up the win, raised her record to 4-0, while Kaci Clark tossed four scoreless innings to open the game. Clark is 2-0 and newcomer Leigh Ann Ellis is 1-0 after tossing a no-hitter in her debut against the Angels last Sunday.

The Saturday doubleheader against the Ice will match last year’s finalists in the Northeast Seaboard Women’s Fastpitch League championship game. The Brakettes won that game 2-1 when Germaine Fairchild clouted a 240-foot game-winning home run. She was the MVP in the tournament as the Brakettes concluded a perfect 22-0 league slate with their fifth straight crown.

The Ice, who finished runner-up in both 1999 and 2001, feature three former Brakettes in third baseman Becky VanOrt, first baseman Jen Goodwin and outfielder Kris MacLean.


BRAKETTES BRIEFS- Saturday is Stratford PAL Girl’s Softball League Night with all players and coaches admitted free of charge. . .The Brakettes have outscored the opposition 55-3 this year and are well on the way to setting a new home run record. Last year’s team hit 44 in a 78-1 season. . .The team has won 58 straight home games, tying the third longest record at DeLuca Field since the Brakettes moved there in 1987. They last lost at home August 4, 2001 to the Ice in the first round of the league tournament. . .Next Wednesday’s home doubleheader with the XTreme Chaos is Stratford Board of Education Night. All Stratford BOE employees and their families will be admitted at no charge.


STRATFORD BRAKETTES FACE PRO LEAGUE ALL-STARS IN 9-INNING EXHIBITION WEDNESDAY IN MILWAUKEE

MILWAUKEE June 18- Two of the top softball teams in the United States will meet today at 2 o’clock (CDT) in a nine-inning exhibition game at Helfaer Field. The defending National ASA Champion Stratford Brakettes will provide the opposition for the National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars in a battle of unbeaten teams.

The Brakettes bring a 6-0 record into the game and have outscored the opposition 50-1 thus far as they have swept series from the Stratford Seahawks (13-0, 8-0), Topton VIPs (3-0, 4-0) and Long Island Angels (11-0, 11-1). The NPF all-stars are 3-0 with two wins over the Northern California all-stars (2-1, 7-2) and 8-0 over the Minnesota all-stars last weekend.

The pro league, which makes a comeback in 2004, will be playing a series of 17 exhibitions throughout the country this summer, including 12 in cities with major league baseball franchises. MLB is partially subsidizing the pro league’s operation next year.

Today’s game at the 2,000-seat softball complex is adjacent to Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brakettes will be the guests at the Brewers-St. Louis Cardinals game later in the evening.

Former Oklahoma State University All-America Amy Kyler will pitch for the professional team. Kyler is 2-0 after she three-hit the Minnesota all-stars and struck out 16 batters. She has yet to allow an earned run in 15 2/3 innings. Kyler faced the Brakettes last summer when she played for the teamsmith Nationals and came away with a 2-0 loss. In four seasons with the pros, Kyler has posted 24 victories.

Stratford Brakettes manager John Stratton will probably divide the pitching between Kaci Clark (2-0, 0.00 ERA) and Danielle Henderson (3-0, 0.00 ERA). Both are averaging double-figure strikeouts. Clark is the all-time leader in professional victories with 29 in her career.

Whether or not the Brakettes’ powerful offense will be able to handle Kyler’s right-handed slants remains to be seen. The Brakettes have belted 12 home runs in six games, led by Kellie Wilkerson with four and Karrie Rider and newcomer Heather Wright with three apiece. The Brakettes hit six in the twin-bill sweep over the Angels.

Following today's game, the Brakettes will open an 18-game homestand, beginning with Friday night’s 7:30 p.m. doubleheader against the Angels.

A late addition to the schedule is the June 23 (Monday) 7 p.m. doubleheader at DeLuca Field with the Dominican Republic national team that is host for the Pan American Games in August.


Stratford PAL Girl’s Softball Night Set for Saturday with the Brakettes

It will be Stratford PAL Girl’s Softball night Saturday, June 21st when the defending National ASA Champion Stratford Brakettes host the Adirondack Ice in a 7 o’clock doubleheader at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field.

All players and coaches in the PAL league will be admitted free of charge as guests of the Brakettes.

For every 50 PAL girls who attend, the Brakettes will offer one free session to their annual softball clinic which begins next Monday at DeLuca Field.

Gates to the field will open at 5:45 p.m. Saturday night.


STRATFORD BRAKETTES CAPTURE SIX STRAIGHT WINS WITH OUTSTANDING PITCHING AND HOME RUN POWER

STRATFORD June 16- The Stratford Brakettes finally got to play this past week and they made the most of the weather, when it wasn’t raining. Six games, six wins and 12 home runs were the result as the Brakettes opened their 2003 season.

Flexing their collective muscle, Manager John Stratton was pleased with what he saw. "Considering we hadn’t played a game in two weeks, we looked pretty sharp. The pitching was superb and the hitting couldn’t have been better. Let’s hope we can keep it going. The schedule doesn’t get any easier." Last year the Brakettes set a new single-season record with 44 home runs. They are one quarter of the way past that total in the first six games of this season.

The schedule includes a Wednesday (June 18) trip to Milwaukee for a nine-inning game against the National Pro Fastpitch League all-stars at Helfaer Field, which is adjacent to Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers. Following the game, the Brakettes begin a prolonged home stand with nine doubleheaders before they depart for the Canada Cup July 3.

Providing the opposition this weekend will be the Long Island Angels (Friday, June 20) in a 7:30 p.m. doubleheader at DeLuca Field with the Adirondack Ice coming to town Saturday (June 21) at 7 p.m. and the Stratford Seahawks on Sunday (June 22) at 6 p.m.

A late addition to the schedule is a Monday, June 23 doubleheader with the Dominican Republic National Team at 7 p.m. The Dominican Republic will host the Pan American Games championship August 1-15. Team USA is the defending champion.

After last Friday’s Northeast Seaboard Women’s Fastpitch League doubleheader in Allentown, PA was cancelled because of rain, the Brakettes ventured to Topton, PA Saturday to take on the unbeaten VIPs. Pitchers Kaci Clark and Danielle Henderson both hurled shutout victories as the Brakettes extended their winning streak over the VIPs to 10 in a row.

Clark scattered three hits and struck out 10 in the opener. Jen Smith tripled and scored on an error for a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Alicia Smith had a two-run triple in the fourth inning. Jen Smith and Frankie Spruce both hit safely twice.

Henderson followed with a one-hitter and eight strikeouts while Kellie Wilkerson went 3-for-3 with a home run in the first inning that hit the 265-foot sign in right field. Erica Sobel’s RBI single in the second made it a 2-0 game, while Wilkerson scored on a wild pitch in the sixth and Sara Jewett’s bases-loaded walk in the seventh accounted for the final run.

In Sunday’s sweep over the Long Island Angels at New York Tech in Old Westbury, the Brakettes crushed six home runs, including three by rookie Heather Wright.

Left-handed pitcher Leigh Ann Ellis of the University of South Florida made her Brakettes debut one to remember as she hurled a five-inning no-hitter with six strikeouts in an 11-0 mercy rule win. Henderson (3-0) was the winner in the nightcap with a three-hit, 10-strikeout performance as the Brakettes won 11-1 in five innings.

Wilkerson’s fourth home run of the year, a three-run shot in the second inning, ignited a six-run outburst. Sobel and Alicia Smith both added RBI singles. Keri Stratton and Jen Smith had run-delivering hits in the three-run second inning, while Frankie Spruce and Wright belted home runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.

Spruce was 3-for-3 with a double and home run, while Wilkerson had two hits.

In the nightcap, the Brakettes scored three times in the first inning as Germaine Fairchild, Jen Smith and Spruce drove in runs. Wright hit a two-run home run in the fourth and Fairchild added a two-run double. In the fifth inning, Sobel and Wright both homered.

Wright finished with four RBI, while Fairchild was 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI.

After having doubleheaders washed out on consecutive weekends, the Brakettes played the Seahawks in a June 11 doubleheader at DeLuca Field. Clark and Henderson turned in consecutive no-hitters as the Brakettes won 13-0 and 8-0.

Clark struck out 16 of the 22 batters she faced, allowing only a walk with two outs in the fifth. Henderson had nine strikeouts in her five-inning win. Karrie Rider led the onslaught with three home runs on the night, while Wilkerson added a pair. Rider had nine RBI in the doubleheader and Wilkerson four.


BRAKETTES BRIEFS- It will be Stratford PAL Girls Softball Night Saturday for the twin-bill against the Adirondack Ice. All PAL players and coaches will be admitted for free. . .There are still openings in all sessions of the Brakettes Softball Clinics, which begin June 23.


BRAKETTES STILL HAVE CLINIC OPENINGS

STRATFORD June 4- The defending National ASA Women’s Major Fastpitch Softball Champion Stratford Brakettes still have openings in all of their summer clinics. The team will conduct six clinics at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field and the Short Beach Recreation Complex.

Brakettes Manager John Stratton is the clinic director. Assisting Stratton are members of the coaching staff and several of the players. Stratton, now in his 26th year with the team, is regarded as one of the nation’s top pitching clinicians.

The clinic consists of two identical Beginning Pitching sessions, an Advanced Pitching session, a one-day Catching clinic, and Offense/Hitting and Defense/Fielding sessions. With the exception of catching, the other sessions are two days in duration. All sessions run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Beginning Pitching is set for June 23-24 (session #1) and June 26-27 (session #2). Advanced Pitching (session #3) is June 30-July 1. Catching (session #4) is July 2. Offense/Hitting (session #5) is July 15-16 and Defense/Fielding (session #6) is July 17-18. All clinics will be staged at DeLuca Field, except the Offense/Hitting, which is set for Short Beach.

Kaci Clark and Danielle Henderson, two of the top pitchers in the game today, will be on hand for the pitching sessions, while catchers Germaine Fairchild and Sara Jewett will handle the catching session. The remainder of the club will participate in the hitting and fielding sessions.

Registration fee for all sessions exception catching, is $65 per session. The catching fee is $35. Discounts are available for attending multiple sessions.

Additional information and a printable application form can be found here. Or you may call the Stratford Brakettes at (203) 378-7262, or write to Brakettes Softball, 185 Lordship Road, Stratford, CT 06615.


STRATFORD BRAKETTES TRY AGAIN SATURDAY TO OPEN 2003 SEASON AS THEY HOST N.Y. MAGIC

STRATFORD June 4- Rained out of last weekend’s scheduled games, the Stratford Brakettes will try again to open their 2003 season Saturday night (June 7) against the New York Magic in a 7 o’clock doubleheader at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The Brakettes also will be home Sunday night at 6 p.m. against the Stratford Seahawks in another doubleheader.

"We were looking forward to getting things going last week, but the rain put a damper on it," said Manager John Stratton. "Hopefully, the sun will be shining this weekend. We can’t wait to play."

This is a different type of season for Stratton as the majority of his players are out of college and have yet to play in a real game since last August 19 when the Brakettes beat the California Hurricanes 1-0 to capture their 24th National ASA Championship. "Practice is not the same as actual game conditions," reminded Stratton. "It may take us a little bit longer to get to where we want to be. However, we’ve got the talent to do almost anything we want."

Stratton will give the ball to 2000 Olympian Danielle Henderson (22-1, 0.34 ERA) for two starts this weekend. He hasn’t decided who will start the other games with Jen Smith (59-10 in her career), Robyn King (23-4) and Alicia Smith (15-1) the candidates. Team ace Kaci Clark, who was 29-0 with 365 strikeouts and a 0.12 ERA last year, is one of three Brakettes attending the tryout camp in Chula Vista, CA, for the USA National Team. The camp began Wednesday and concludes Saturday. Clark may be back in time for Sunday’s games. National Collegiate Player of the Year Cat Osterman, the All-America pitcher from the University of Texas, and first baseman/outfielder Kellie Wilkerson are also at the tryouts.

One of the interesting story lines for the weekend will be the appearance of touted 6-foot-2 pitcher Amanda Morin for the New York Magic. Morin recently capped a fine freshmen season at Florida Atlantic University where she was 23-11 with a 1.83 ERA and 152 strikeouts for Joan Joyce and Stratton. She ended the season with 15 straight wins, including two in the NCAA Regional Tournament in Gainesville, FL.

Morin was a two-time scholastic all-state selection and the 2002 New York Player of the Year at South Glens Falls High School. While her future may include a spot on the Brakettes’ roster, NCAA rules currently prohibit her from playing in the summer for her college coach.

Stratton will have plenty of offensive weapons available this weekend with King (.411, 40 RBI), catcher/outfielder Keri (McCallum) Stratton (.409, 50 runs), catcher/DH Germaine Fairchild (.395, 64 RBI) and third baseman Frankie Spruce (.393, 31 RBI) all looking sharp in last week’s workouts.

Newcomer Heather Wright of Tampa, FL, a Florida Atlantic graduate, will make her debut with the Brakettes. The other new player, left-handed pitcher Leigh Ann Ellis (34-11) of South Florida University, will make her debut next Friday in next Friday in Allentown, PA.

Following this weekend’s action and a six-game road trip to Pennsylvania, the Brakettes will travel to Milwaukee for a nine-inning exhibition game on June 18 with the National Pro Fastpitch League all-stars. The game will be played at Helfaer Field, the former site of the Milwaukee Braves’ County Stadium. The pro league is making a comeback in 2004, with a subsidy from Major League Baseball. The pro all-stars will be in Lowell, MA, in late July and they will host the Brakettes (July 31) and Connecticut Classics (July 29) in doubleheaders.

BRAKETTES BRIEFS- The Brakettes will have a booth at Stratford Day on Saturday. While they will have their 2003 season program book and new championship T-shirts for sale, the Brakettes will be giving away FREE tickets for five Sunday night doubleheaders during the season. . . The 2-0 Connecticut Classics will return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. against the Seahawks and Sunday at noon against the Magic. . .Two members of the Classics also had outstanding seasons at FAU. First baseman Pam Mazzarella led the Owls in hitting with a .378 average. She had 38 RBI and five home runs, while shortstop Jen Piazza led FAU in home runs with eight. She hit .226 with 27 RBI.


Brakettes Open Defense of National Title Saturday

STRATFORD May 29- For the first time in over a decade, the Stratford Brakettes will begin a softball season as the defending National Champions. The Brakettes open the 2003 season Saturday, May 31 at 7 p.m. in a doubleheader against the Allentown, PA, Patriots at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field.

Manager John Stratton's Brakettes come off an unbelievable 78-1 campaign, culminating with a 1-0 win over the California Hurricanes in the ASA Women's Major National championship game last August 19 at DeLuca Field. It was the Brakettes' first title since 1992 and their 24th overall.

In addition to the Patriots, the Brakettes are home again Sunday at 6 p.m. in a double-header with the Danbury Debs.

While the majority of last year's team has returned, the status of Collegiate Player of the Year Cat Osterman won't be determined until June 4-8 when tryouts for the US National Team are conducted in Chula Vista, CA. Osterman, who was 6-0 last summer, topped the 1,000-career strikeout total in her sophomore season at the University of Texas, where she led the Lady Longhorns to a third place finish in the College World Series.

"I'd be surprised and shocked if Cat didn't make Team USA. She has matured into one of the top pitchers in the game," said Stratton. "If she makes the national team, she will be with them the entire summer." Team USA will be participating in the Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic at the same time the Brakettes will be in Pekin, IL, defending their championship.

Despite the possible loss of Osterman, the Brakettes will have their top two hurlers from last year back in 5-foot-4 ex-professional MVP Kaci Clark and 2000 Olympian Danielle Henderson. Clark was 29-0 last year, including a two-hit, 13 strikeout effort in the title win. She authored 11 no-hitters and had 22 shutouts. Henderson carved out a 22-1 record with 6 no-hitters and one perfect game in addition to 15 shutouts. She has a 70-8 career record with the Brakettes. Clark and Henderson were the main architects of the team's microscopic 0.21 ERA arid 880 strikeouts.

Stratton has added another pitcher to the staff in left-hander Leigh Ann Ellis of Barboursville, WV, who recently concluded a 34-11 junior season at the University of South Florida. Her last victory was over Florida Atlantic University in the NCAA Regionals in Gainesville, FL. Stratton is the assistant coach for FAU, which is coached by Brakettes Hall of Famer Joan Joyce.

In addition to those three talented hurlers, the Brakettes have a bevy of pitching talent available in veteran performers Jen Smith (59-10 career), Robyn King (23-4) and Alicia Smith (15-1). Nikki Myers (15-0 last year), the FAU All-America, is attending graduate school this summer and will be available for only the Canada Cup and National Tournament.

Offensively, the Brakettes are well fortified, led by outfielder/first baseman Kellie Wilkerson (.560), utility player King (.411) and catcher/outfielder Keri (McCallum) Stratton (.409). Wilkerson played in only 30 games last year because of her involvement with Team USA and wasn't eligible for the batting trophy. Her numbers were 42 for 75 with 29 runs scored, 30 RBI and 20 extra base hits.

Germaine Fairchild, the Quinnipiac University head coach, returns from a monster season. The former pro player hit .395 and led the club in hits (79), runs scored (66) and RBI (64) and tied for the lead in doubles (14) with Wilkerson and in home runs (7) with Michelle Gates and Sara Jewett. Fairchild will be used behind the plate, play outfield and DH for the Brakettes.

Missouri assistant coach Karrie Rider (.348) returns at second base, while shortstop Lea Mishlan (.348) and third baseman Frankie Spruce (.393) are also back. Third-year Brakette Erica Sobel (.321) proved to be a capable replacement at any infield position last year as she collected 20 extra base hits and drove in 35 runs from the bottom of the batting order.

Manager Stratton will have outfielders aplenty with Jen Smith (.347, 46 RBI, 21 extra base hits), Alicia Smith (.379, 39 RBI), Jewett (.356, 46 RBI) and 11-year veteran Donna McLean (.342, 21 RBI). Joining them will be Tampa, FL native Heather Wright, a three-year all-conference pick at FAU, and a .362 hitter in 2002.

Assisting Stratton again will be team general manager Bob Baird, Patty Fernandes, Jeff Ellis, and Jay Stratton.

BRAKETTES BRIEFS -Saturday's opener is a Northeast Seaboard Women's Fastpitch League twin-bill. The Brakettes were a perfect 22-0 in the league last year, capturing both the regular season and tournament titles for the fifth straight season... The Connecticut Classics, who are sponsored by the Brakettes and will be competing in the 23-and-under division in 2003, open their season Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against the Danbury Debs at DeLuca Field. The Classics host the Patriots Sunday at 12 noon... Gates to DeLuca Field will open at 5:45 p.m. Saturday with tickets $4 for adults and $3 for students/senior citizens.


STRATFORD BRAKETTES ANNOUNCE SEASON TICKET SALES

STRATFORD, CT April, 2003- The defending National ASA champion Stratford Brakettes women's fastpitch softball team has announced that season booster club tickets are on sale.

The Brakettes Booster Club pass is good for admission to all regular-season Brakettes home games as well as those of the Connecticut Classics, who are sponsored by the Stratford Brakettes organization. In addition, booster club members also receive an official season program book and a ticket to the annual Brakettes/Classics Booster Club picnic.

The cost of a Brakettes Booster Club membership is $50. Checks should be made payable to Brakettes Softball and sent to Bob Baird, 185 Lordship Road, Stratford, CT 06615.

Entering their 57th consecutive season of play, the Brakettes begin the 2003 season on Saturday, May 31 against the Allentown, PA, Pates in a Northeast Seaboard Women's Fastpitch League doubleheader at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The Brakettes, who have called DeLuca Field home for the past 15 years, play host to the Danbury Debs on Sunday, June 1 in a 6 p.m. twin-bill.

Manager John Stratton, who led the team to a 78-1 record in 2002, returns his entire team in addition to a few newcomers. The Brakettes will be playing in the prestigious Canada Cup in Surrey, B.C., July 5-13 and they will be out to defend their national title in Pekin, IL, August 12-16.

For additional information on the Stratford Brakettes, call (203) 378-7262.