Wrap-Up

2010 Women’s Major Softball National Championship a Success

The 2nd Annual Women’s Major Softball National Championship kicked off on July 29th, 2010 at Frank Biondi Field in West Haven, CT. Eight teams convened at the site, looking to take home the 2010 Championship Trophy.

Headlining the field were the defending champion New York City Havoc, the winners in the inaugural event of 2009 by virtue of a 2-1 victory over the Stratford Breakers. The St. Louis Saints came half-way across the country to try to grab the hardware from the Havoc, while the host team Stratford Brakettes had just a short commute to West Haven, as they looked to add to their storied history.

The New York Freedom and New York Raiders also brought their lineups, mixed with veteran and collegiate stars to Connecticut. The Lyons (PA) Spirit added their cagey, veteran club and familiar faces to the mix.  A pair of energetic and youthful squads, the TC Tremors (Binghamton, NY) and CT Mirage Gold rounded out the tournament lineup.

The pool play portion of the tournament started at 8:00 am Thursday, with eight games scheduled on the day. The team’s order of finish in pool play determined seeding for bracket play. Play concluded around 10:00 PM, with the Stratford Brakettes (2-0) earning the top spot in Pool A, and the New York Freedom (2-0) taking the first seed in Pool B.

Bracket play began Friday morning at 8:30, with the highest-seeded team in Pool A facing the lowest-seed team in Pool B, and so on and so forth. Six games were on the agenda for Friday. In the winner’s bracket quarterfinals, the St. Louis Saints defeated the Lyons (PA) Spirit, 8-0, while the NY Freedom beat the NY Raiders, 7-3. The NYC Havoc topped the TC Tremors, 6-0, and the Brakettes escaped the CT Mirage Gold, 10-0.

There were no loser’s bracket games scheduled for Friday, assuring that no team would be eliminated before Saturday. With four quarterfinals completed, their winners matched up in the winner’s bracket semifinals.

The first contest pitted the Saints against the Freedom, with St. Louis working another run-rule victory, 9-0. The Brakettes gave the Havoc their first loss in bracket play over the last two years of the tournament, 6-0, to advance to a showdown with the Saints, scheduled for Saturday evening.

Six teams took on losses on Friday, four in the quarterfinals and two in the semis.

The first-round losers were pitted against each other first thing Saturday morning, thereby eliminating two squads before noon. The Raiders picked up a win over the Spirit, 8-0, sending the ladies of Lyons home early. The CT Mirage Gold edged the TC Tremors, 1-0, behind an impressive 13-strikeout showing by Kathleen Conway.

While the Tremors and Spirit each finished 0-2 in bracket play, both teams earned victories Thursday, giving all entered teams at least one victory for the tournament.  

The Spirit dropped the NY Raiders 7-5 in pool play, banging out 13 hits for the contest. They contributed seven hits and seven runs in the second inning, taking a 7-0 lead. They held off a strong rally by the Raiders to hang on for the win. Danielle Thacker had three hits, while Karen Bauer and Denise Henderson had two apiece. Danielle Kitchen earned the win in relief.

The Tremors picked up their win in pool play with a 4-3 upset of the NY Raiders. Kelly Lane went the distance and struck out seven to get the win, while Brooke Owen had three hits in the contest. Michelle Prong and Gabby Luety reached on first inning walks and scored, along with Owen. Becca Griswold scored the last run in the top of the seventh.

Despite their strong showings, the Spirit and Tremors finished tied for seventh place. Spirit manager Kris Check and long-time players Kathy Henderson and Denise Henderson were honored during the Opening Ceremony for their more than 75 years of dedication to the game of women’s fastpitch softball.

After the Spirit and Tremors were eliminated, two second-round loser’s bracket games took place. The loser’s of Friday night’s semifinals took on the victors from Saturday morning's loser’s bracket contests. The Havoc prevailed over the NY Raiders, 6-5, and the Freedom dropped the Mirage Gold, 5-0, as the recently relegated teams bested those who had already played on Saturday.

Despite being eliminated, the Raiders had a strong showing. Lauren Herzberg (shortstop) was named to the All-Tournament Team, as was first baseman Jaci Rahey (utility pick). Herzberg also won the Diane Schumacher Batting title with a .500 average (6-for-12) in bracket play. Right fielder Alycia Ryan took home the Allyson Rioux Defensive Award, in part due to a pair of impressive throws from the outfield to gun down runners on the basepaths.

Ashley Gall had the only hit for the Mirage Gold in their final game, as Freedom starter Jamie Pietrantoni earned the decision for the Freedom. Gall also had two hits in the Mirage Gold’s 1-0 win over the Tremors.

Kathleen Conway was among three pitchers to earn All-Tournament honors, as she had a no-hitter until one out in the seventh against the Tremors.

The Mirage Gold and Raiders finished the 2010 WMS Championship tied for 5th place.

Two more games remained on Saturday’s schedule, with the loser’s bracket semifinal followed by the winner’s bracket final.

In the lower bracket, the New York Freedom continued their strong play with a 1-0 victory to eliminate the NYC Havoc. The 2009 champions had the leadoff runner on in six of the seven innings, but could not score a run off Freedom starter Amanda Havdoglous, who struck out four. The Havoc also outhit the Freedom 7-4. Kristin Havdoglous provided all the offense the Freedom would need with a leadoff homer in the sixth inning.

Pinch-hitter Gina Gerone gave the Havoc hope in the seventh with a leadoff single, but Havdoglous retired the next three batters to close it out.

Nicole Adisano (second base) was named to the All-Tournament team, and was particularly impressive in the field.

The sixth and final game on Saturday highlighted the two remaining unbeaten teams, both perennial contenders. The St. Louis Saints and Stratford Brakettes had both advanced to the matchup with a pair of shutouts, but someone would have to give up a run eventually.

The Brakettes’ ace Rachele Fico would not let her team down, as she delivered the most impressive pitching performance in the tournament’s two-year history. She delivered a perfect game and struck out eight batters, completely silencing a potent Saints’ lineup.

Saints’ starter Amanda Zust was also impressive in defeat, as she retired 16 of 17 Brakettes at one point in the game. She limited the Brakettes to just three singles, but it was a pair of hits and an error in the first inning that proved to be the Saints’ undoing.

Carly Normandin led off the first with a single to right. She was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Ashley Waters, giving the Brakettes a runner in scoring position. Denis sent a base hit to left, pushing Normandin to third. The throw back to the infield sailed over the cutoff, allowing Normandin to score for a 1-0 edge. Denis went all the way to third on the error, bringing Jess Serio to the plate.

Serio sent a towering shot to right field, deep enough to let Denis tag and head home with the Brakettes’ second run.

Fico took care of the rest, as she was simply untouchable. She did not allow a ball out of the infield until the fifth inning.

The win advanced the Brakettes to the WMS Championship Game on Sunday at 12 noon.

The Saints dropped into Sunday morning’s loser’s bracket final against the New York Freedom.

The St. Louis Saints managed to get by the Freedom, 4-3, on Sunday morning to move into the WMS Championship Game.

The Freedom trailed 2-0 in the top of the third, as St. Louis scored a run in each of the first two innings. With two runners on base, Nikki Massoni clobbered a homer to put the Freedom on top, 3-2. Massoni also hit a solo shot against the Raiders on Friday, making her the 2010 Pat Dufficy Home Run Award winner, with two long balls in bracket play.

Saints’ rightfielder Zoe Sinner hit a game-tying homer in the fourth, and Ashley Hall singled home Jen Stahlhut with the go-ahead run in the sixth to clinch a spot against the Brakettes.

Massoni was also named an All-Tournament selection at catcher, while leftfielder Bree Nasti was also tabbed to the All-WMS squad as an outfielder. Nasti smashed a homer and scored three times against the Raiders on Friday in a 3-for-4 performance. She also had two doubles and a triple against the Mirage Gold in a loser’s bracket game on Saturday.

The 2010 WMS Championship concluded with the Brakettes defeating the Saints in the Championship Game on Sunday, 4-1, as Fico held off a late rally by St. Louis.

Fico earned both the Joan Joyce Most Outstanding Pitcher and Micki Stratton MVP Awards, by finishing 3-0 on bracket play, while allowing just one run in 19 innings of work.

After a scoreless first inning, the Brakettes got on the board in the second frame.

Jess Serio crushed a double to centerfield to lead off the inning, and was replaced by courtesy runner Christine DellaVecchia. Mandie Fishback then sacrificed DellaVecchia to third. Kristyn Sandberg was up next and lofted a flyball to left field, allowing DellaVecchia to tag from third and score the first run of the title matchup.

Brakettes’ rightfielder Denise Denis led off the fourth with a double and went to third on a passed ball. Serio drove in Denis with a single to push the lead to 2-0.

DellaVecchia was again entered as a courtesy runner for Serio as Fishback came to bat. Fishback reached on an error, which also sent DellaVecchia to second. Sandberg pushed both runners along with a sacrifice, giving the Brakettes runners at second and third.

Jess Mouse followed and delivered a two-run single to center to score DellaVecchia and Fishback, providing a 4-0 cushion for Fico and the Brakettes.

Brittany Fisher led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, and received a courtesy runner in Kelsey Schulte. With two outs, Saints’ centerfielder Amanda Clack drove in Schulte with a two-base hit of her own, providing St. Louis with its only run.

Fico preserved the win by getting Jen Stahlhut to pop up in foul territory down the left side. Mouse caught the bloop over her shoulder in front of her team’s dugout, and the Brakettes secured their first WMS National Championship.

Brakettes’ manager John Stratton was extremely proud of his club, which won 56 games in a row to close out the season. Stratton received a plaque on Thursday night to mark his 800th career win as Brakettes’ manager.

Former Brakette and West Haven High School graduate Edna Fraser threw out the first pitch on Friday, as she enjoyed honorary hosting duties with her former team in her hometown.

The top three teams were presented trophies by Brakettes’ GM and tournament director Bob Baird. The other five teams all received plaques commemorating their participation in the 2nd Annual WMS Championship.

The St. Louis Saints each received silver medals, while the Brakettes were handed gold medals.

Saints’ manager Ed Martz, who was honored during the 2009 WMS Championship for more than 50 years of dedication to the game, was again instrumental in legitimizing the tournament by bringing his stellar club east for the second year in a row.

The Brakettes placed five players on the All-Tournament team, including pitcher Rachele Fico, catcher Jess Serio, third baseman Jess Mouse, and outfielders Carly Normandin and Denise Denis.

The Saints saw two of their players earn All-WMS honors, with Amanda Zust one of three pitchers chosen, and first baseman Ashley Hall also making the squad.

The New York City Havoc also deserve praise as they fought valiantly to try to defend their 2009 WMS Title. While the Havoc finished fourth in this year’s tournament, we look forward to seeing more of this fine club for years to come.

The New York Freedom, managed by Dave Lamberson, finished third and won over a lot of fans in West Haven. The team’s gutsy style of play will be warmly welcomed back in 2011.

The 2nd Annual Women’s Major Softball National Championship was enjoyed by players and fans alike, and the 2011 event figures to include an increased field of teams and much more top-notch, women’s fastpitch softball.

Brakettes’ webmaster Harlan Gage feverishly updated the WMS website (and brakettes.com) throughout the tournament, while his wife, Kathy Gage, blessed every team with amazing high-resolution photos of every moment. Pat Sanders and Hypack (Technical sponsors of the Brakettes) printed posters for players and coaches at no charge, using the images captured by Kathy Gage. Kathy and Harlan were honored with the WMS Volunteerism Award during the opening Ceremony.

The Brakettes’ long-time director of field operations, Al Roy, was also honored during the Opening Ceremony for his 39 years of service to the Brakettes, and rejoiced in throwing out the first pitch.

The Brakettes’ P.A. announcer of 25 years, Hal Baird, provided the announcing for each game and the Opening Ceremony at Biondi Field.

Cliff LaRose served as the tournament’s Umpire-in-Chief, and scheduled all umpiring assignments for the weekend. Cliff's umpiring crew was made up of Al Rosenberg and Jeff Van Kirk of Connecticut, Peter Mosgofian and Todd Robbins of Massachusetts, and John T. Stoodley of Vermont.

Steve Pavlich served as the Official Scorer for the tournament, while Ilan Woll also scored several games.

Danny Volturno served as the scoreboard operator, while his son, Peter Volturno ran down every foul ball and returned them to play.

All 22 games from the 2010 Women’s Major Softball National Championship were video webcast by the Brakettes’ broadcast team, led by play-by-play announcer Rob Baird. Ilan Woll, Matt Pohlman and Pat Sanders also provided commentary, with Adam Iben and Anthony Stellato serving as Technical Directors for the broadcasts.

Special thanks also to Tall Paul and Eddie McAuley for their continued efforts and long hours in making the tournament possible, and also Allie Hermann, who ran the souvenir booth.

The New Haven (CT) Register provided excellent coverage of the 2010 WMS Championship, with articles available online at www.nhregister.com. Many thanks to Bill Bloxsom of the Stratford Star for his dedication to covering women’s fastpitch softball, and also to the Connecticut Post for their coverage of the event.

The Brakettes would also like to thank the town of West Haven and the workers at Frank Biondi Field for keeping the field in great shape. Led by West Haven High School's Sports Facilities Manager Chris Everone, the workers at Biondi were tremendous. Special thanks also go out to West Haven High School Athletic Director, Jon Capone.

Last, but certainly not least, immeasurable thanks go out to Bob Baird. Without his vision and tireless hard work, the tournament would never have happened. He remained connected to all aspects of the operation throughout the tournament, and would have given P.T. Barnum a run for his money. Bob thanks his daughter, Samantha, for her help with the 50-50 raffle, a nightly ritual (and moment of comic relief) at the tournament. Bob is already taking team applications for next year’s tournament, and hopes to field a 16-team WMS Championship next year.

Thanks to all the teams and the special people of the 2010 Women’s Major Softball National Championship. See you in 2011!!!

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