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Brakettes Newsletter - Winter 2023-2024 (pdf)

Stratton Inducted into USA Softball Hall of Fame

Nov 14 - Legendary Brakettes manager John Stratton was granted a long-deserved hero's welcome in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on October 28th, as he was inducted into the ASA/USA National Softball Hall of Fame.

Stratton, who recently turned 86, joined his wife, former Raybestos Brakette catcher Rosemary “Micki” (Macchietto) Stratton (1969), as the only husband and wife team to be inducted into the National Hall of Fame. Micki was the first of 24 Brakettes to be inducted into the Hall, while John became the third Brakettes manager (Vincent “Wee” Devitt in 1977 and Ralph Raymond in 1993) enshrined in Oklahoma City. (photo: John at Micki's exhibit (top) at the National Hall of Fame).

John was accompanied at the Hall of Fame Induction by his son, Jay (John Jr.) Stratton, who also led the Brakettes to a national ASA Women's Major National title. Jay co-managed the 2006 ASA champion Stratford Brakettes with Rich Roessner and served as his father's assistant coach for many years.

Coach Stratton gave a compelling acceptance speech to the delight of the 500+ people in attendance and received a thunderous ovation after closing out his address. He talked about his love for the game of softball and his players. Stratton also noted how much he misses those we've lost in recent years, including his wife, Micki, former Brakette/softball legend and Florida Atlantic University coach, Joan Joyce, and his longtime partner-in-softball, former Brakettes General Manager Bob Baird.

Current Brakettes GM Rob Baird (Bob's oldest son), Brakettes Assistant Coach Mark Dempsey and his wife, Barbara, also made the trip to Oklahoma City to honor Stratton. Fellow National Hall of Famer/Brakettes legend Diane “Schuie” Schumacher and Sharon Schmickley also attended in support of Stratton.

Schumacher's first year with the Brakettes was 1976, when Stratton replaced ailing manager Ralph Raymond and led the Brakettes to an unexpected ASA title with a young team. She said that Stratton's induction was like “the icing on the cake”, while reflecting on her former coach's lifelong career in softball. “I wanted to be here to properly honor John for his amazing contributions to the Brakettes and the game of softball. John is a tremendous coach, human being, and ambassador of the game… It's also remarkable to see him finally joining Micki in the Hall of Fame, as she was the very first Brakette to make it in”.

John was one of eight individuals in the 2023 Hall of Fame Class, which also saw the induction of the Sikorsky Aircraft Men's Slow Pitch Softball Team, also from Stratford. Both Stratton and members of the Sikorsky Team mentioned each other's successes in the game of softball and importance to Stratford, Connecticut. After the ceremony, Stratton mingled with some of the Sikorsky Aircraft players and other new inductees, taking pictures and sharing softball stories from yesteryear.

“I am just so very fortunate to have grown up in Stratford, Connecticut, and to have come to know of the Raybestos Brakettes and Raybestos Cardinals. If I had been born in Brooklyn, I wouldn't be here today,” said Stratton. “I am very lucky to have played and coached and lived softball for my whole life, to meet my wife Micki and later coach with my son Jay with the Brakettes, and now this… it is simply incredible.”

John Stratton
National Softball Hall of Fame

View Recording of
National Softball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Saturday, October 28, 2023


John's table in Oklahoma City at the October 28, 2023 USA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: Seated- Jay Stratton (left), John Stratton; Standing, from left- Rob Baird, Brakettes GM, Barbara and Mark Dempsey, Hall of Famer Diane Schumacher, and Sharon Schmickley


Braking News: The Off-Season

October 26 - The Stratford Brakettes recently completed their 77th season of women’s fastpitch softball with a third-place finish in the 2023 Women’s Major Softball (WMS) National Championship. First-year Manager Lauren Pitney’s club finished the season with a 22-8 record and looks to return a strong core for 2024.

The Central (New) Jersey Lightning clinched this year’s WMS title on August 6th at DeLuca Field with an 8-4 win over the Stripes & Strikes (PA), becoming just the fourth team to win the championship in the tournament’s 15-year history. The New York City Havoc won the inaugural title in 2009, while the St. Louis Saints captured the trophy in 2017. Stripes & Strikes have now finished runners-up the last two seasons.

While the Brakettes have won the other 12 WMS championships, there will be little time to rest this off-season in hopes of returning the WMS hardware to Stratford. The Lightning will be primed to defend their title in 2024, while Stripes & Strikes will be vying for a potential third-straight title game visit. The Junior Brakettes, as well as Rapids Softball (CT), Kaboom Softball (NJ), Maryland Chill, and Mid-Hudson (NY) Mustangs enjoyed strong showings in 2023 and hope to improve on their finishes.

The Brakettes’ franchise is still feeling the void of legendary GM Bob Baird, who passed away last December 31st of interstitial lung disease after a long battle with leukemia. Baird was honored by the team in Stratford on July 8th before the night’s doubleheader with the Massachusetts Drifters. Pre-recorded tributes by players and coaches were played over the PA, as well as speeches from Baird’s longtime partner-in-softball John Stratton, former Raybestos Cardinal Ken Bruno, and Bob’s son, Rob Baird, who succeeded his father as the Brakettes GM.

Big Bob was also honored this off-season by the Connecticut Scholastic and Collegiate Softball Hall of Fame, with their annual program at the Aquaturf in Southington on September 10th being dedicated in his memory.

Former Brakette star pitcher Rachele Fico (Stratford Brakettes 2008-2012, NPF Akron Racers/Chicago Bandits 2013-2019) was among those inducted that night into the CT Scholastic and Collegiate Softball Hall of Fame, as was fellow former Brakette pitcher Allyson Fournier (Stratford Brakettes 2014, NPF Pennsylvania Rebellion 2015). Former NPF Connecticut Brakettes Assistant Coach Julie Brzezinski (2006), and long-time umpire of Brakette games, Michael Giorgetti, were also inducted.
Rachele Fico, Allyson Fournier, Julie Brzezinski Jessica Dempsey and Cliff LaRose

The evening also served as a public welcoming for great friend of softball and former Brakettes Umpire-in-Chief Cliff LaRose, whose continued improvement from a life-threatening infection and subsequent leg amputation warmed the hearts of all in attendance. Cliff is awaiting a prosthetic and continues his rehabilitation in Hamden and prays for a return to DeLuca Field in 2024. Friends of Cliff are welcome to contact him at: clarose1@aol.com. Keep up the great work, Cliff!

The biggest event of the 2023-24 Brakettes off-season happens on Saturday, October 28th, as longtime Brakettes Manager John Stratton is being inducted into the National ASA/USA Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. The event is being livestreamed here, starting at 7:00 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for pictures from induction weekend! Coming soon…

Stratton also enjoyed a triumphant tribute at DeLuca Field by the Brakettes and company on June 24th. National ASA/International ISF Hall of Famer and former Brakette Diane “Schuie” Schumacher led the way with fond recollections of her playing years working with John. Former Raybestos Cardinal Ken Bruno and Brakettes GM Rob Baird also shared stories about Stratton and those whose lives he’s touched during his illustrious career.

Stratton guided the Brakettes to 17 National championships, including five ASA and 12 Women's Major Softball crowns. Stratton’s record as Brakettes Manager was 1,492-141 record (91.3 winning percentage), which included two perfect seasons… 2011 (63-0) and 2013 (68-0). Stratton and the Brakettes also enjoyed an unprecedented 168-game winning streak from 2010-2012.

The Junior Brakettes will again be managed by Mary Sciglimpaglia-Brainard in 2024 and assisted by Rob Sciglimpaglia. The coaching staff have received 13 commitments for the upcoming season and are looking to fill a few more spots. Contact: maryscig22@gmail.com for more information if you or someone you know is interested.

“Joan Joyce! The Musical!” recently wrapped up an October run of 20 shows at the Seven Angels Theater in Waterbury. It was the second theater to host the critically acclaimed musical, which celebrates the life and lasting impact of the trailblazing former Brakettes star. The play follows Joan’s career from her childhood to the Brakettes, to her pro softball and golf careers, and coaching at Florida Atlantic University.
Left photo above, left to right- Joan’s niece, Meghan Joyce Bolesta, plus John Stratton and former Raybestos Brakette catcher Barbara Clark (1970-1978) were included in a pre-show panel, along with the co-writer of the musical, Lauren Salatto-Rosenay. Right photo- Former Brakettes Peggy Kellers (left) and Linda Finelli were speakers at a recent performance.

The Brakettes Broadcast Crew, led by Will Gallagher and Moe Scioletti, took on a new challenge this past spring by webcasting all home Stratford High School softball games at brakettes.com. The SWC (South West Conference) softball playoffs were also hosted at DeLuca, with live webcast again provided by the Brakettes.

The Brakettes hope to increase local webcasts going forward on brakettes.com as part of a Stratford community outreach initiative and will provide the live broadcast for this Thanksgiving’s Stratford vs. Bunnell football game. Select Stratford High School home baseball games from Penders Field will also be carried by the Brakettes in 2024.

The Brakettes recently celebrated a new addition at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field… an amazing new scoreboard from Northeast Scoreboards (see article below). Both the Stratford Brakettes and Stratford H.S. Red Devils will benefit from the new scoreboard, which was purchased by the Stratford Brakettes.

The total cost of the scoreboard was over $27,000, including its physical installation and the removal of the old scoreboard.

We would like to thank several generous fans who have donated recently to help defray the costs of the scoreboard project, including former Brakette pitcher Brandice Balschmiter (2006-2008, 2010-2018) Billy Green, Edward Agvent, and Dave Schroder.

The Stratford Brakettes are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity, and all donations are fully tax-deductible.
To donate via Venmo: @Brakettes-Inc

Checks can be made out to “Brakettes Inc.” and sent to:

Brakettes Softball
185 Lordship Road
Stratford, CT 06615


Brakettes' New Scoreboard Installed at DeLuca!

Aug 28 -
The Stratford Brakettes recently kicked off their capital improvement project at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field with the purchase of a new scoreboard. The 12-hour installation was completed at night on Tuesday, August 22nd, under the glow of the field's new LED stadium lights, which were debuted this season by the Town of Stratford.

The new 8' by 25' scoreboard comes with a five-year parts warranty from Northeast Scoreboards and showcases the logos of both of DeLuca's home teams, the Stratford Brakettes and Stratford High School Red Devils.

Over the last two seasons, the previous scoreboard's usefulness slowly faded away with each new failing bulb and corroded wire. Given the scoreboard was of an older generation, it made finding replacement parts near impossible and repairs way too costly.

In the spring of 2023, the Brakettes sought and received permission from the Town of Stratford to buy the new scoreboard for DeLuca. Three months later, both the Brakettes and Red Devils can celebrate the attractive new addition!

Total scoreboard costs were over $27,000, including the new 2' by 25' Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field sign (with Brakettes and Stratford High logos), plus delivery by freight and installation. The Brakettes have taken on all costs except the electrical integration, which will be handled by the Town of Stratford.

Fans wishing to help defray the costs can donate to the Stratford Brakettes' general fund. The Brakettes are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and all donations are tax deductible.

Checks can be made out to “Brakettes Inc.” and mailed to:
Stratford Brakettes
185 Lordship Road
Stratford, CT 06615

To donate via Venmo:
@Brakettes-Inc



Congratulations Central Jersey Lightning!
2023 WMS Champions

Welcome to the 2023 WMS! Let's Play Ball….!

Aug 3 - Hello softball fans, and welcome to the 15th Annual Women's Major Softball National Tournament! This is the first year without the tournament's founder, the late great Brakettes General Manager Bob Baird. It was Bob's vision to make the WMS something special for the nation's top women's amateur softball teams. Baird did just that and gave us 14 magical years as WMS Tournament Director, along with his 35 years leading the Brakettes. The “Bobinator” left us prepared to continue to host the WMS for years to come.

Returning this year to defend their title will be the perennial power Stratford Brakettes, having won the last five WMS Championships. First-year manager Lauren Pitney leads a young club into the tournament with an 18-5 record, having won eight in a row and 14 out of 15 contests. The Brakettes are attempting to win their 13th WMS title, with only the New York City Havoc (inaugural 2009 tourney) and St. Louis Saints (2017) having also claimed WMS crowns.

The 2022 WMS runner-up Stripes & Strikes (PA) pushed the Brakettes to the brink of defeat in last year's tournament, coming out of the Losers Bracket to win the Championship Game, 4-2, and force the winner-take-all “IF” game. The Brakettes claimed the WMS glory with a 6-3 victory, but Stripes & Strikes won the only head-to-head matchup since, a 4-3 decision on June 10th in Lyons, PA. Coach Vince Trivelpiece and Stripes & Strikes will be appearing in their fifth WMS Tournament.

Kaboom Softball (NJ) made a big splash in the 2022 WMS, finishing third in the field. After dropping the Winners Bracket semis to Stripes & Strikes, the Kaboom eliminated both the Junior Brakettes and Select Brakettes en route to a rematch in the Losers Bracket Final with Stripes & Strikes. The Kaboom came up on the short end of that epic 3-2 final, but Coach Anthony Barbero has prepared them for a strong return in 2023, as they look to improve on their impressive first-year showing. The Kaboom have already made two trips to DeLuca Field in 2023 for regular season games.

The Maryland Chill come back for their third straight WMS Tournament, having won multiple bracket play games in both previous WMS Championships. Coach Bo Vicendese's club hopes to improve on their club-best fifth place finish from 2021. The Chill have also made annual pilgrimages to Stratford for weekend contests with the Brakettes and Junior Brakettes.

The Central Jersey Lightning make a return to the 2023 WMS, led by Coach Bo Mido. The club won a pair of games in the 2020 WMS Tournament and hopes to build on that finish. The Lightning had a strong showing at last week's NJ Heatwave Tournament, blasting through pool play with a 3-0 record, and outscoring opponents 18-0.

The Junior Brakettes again field a competitive team that can't be ignored. Coach Mary Sciglimpaglia's squad is one of just four to beat the Stratford Brakettes this season. This will be the fifth straight year the Juniors compete in the WMS, and they hope to again make it to WMS Sunday Softball, as they did with their third-place finish in 2020.

The Mid-Hudson Mustangs (NY) are one of three teams making their first appearance at the WMS. Coach Adam Zolotas has coached this club for six years through various age groups, and in 2023 the Mustangs play in their first Women's Major after years of youth softball tournaments. The Mustangs also made a trip to Stratford this summer to participate in the Bob Baird Memorial Round Robin.

Coach Bill Bedard leads the Hearts in Sync (MA) into DeLuca this week for their first WMS, although not their first trip to DeLuca Field. Hearts in Sync took on the Juniors in an early July doubleheader and feature several former AIC collegians and other regional stars.

Rapids Softball (CT) will also make their maiden voyage to Stratford to play in the 2023 WMS. Coach Chris Martin's team competes in the greater-Waterbury Joan Joyce league and hopes to host the Stratford Brakettes in Waterbury next year to celebrate the city's connection to softball history, Joan Joyce, and the Brakettes.

Many thanks to all the players and coaches, staff members and volunteers, friends and fans that help to make this 2023 WMS a reality!!

As our beloved Bob Baird would say… (Right after “where's the ice cream?”) … PLAY BALL!!!”.


Super Fans Faith and Michelina Buchino Help Launch Bob Baird Memorial Round Robin

July 22 - Faith and Michelina Buchino have been close to the Brakettes for decades… literally. With their family home only a softball’s throw away from the former Raybestos Memorial Field, their love affair with the Raybestos/Hi-Ho/Stratford Brakettes is a long one. Thankfully, the Buchinos have remained devoted fans even after the team’s move to DeLuca Hall of Fame Field in 1988. Faith and Michelina have been annual donors to the club for years, taking part in our Adopt-a-Brakette program, and they did so again in 2023.

The Brakettes will honor this dynamite mother-daughter team Saturday night before the 7:00 Stratford Brakettes contest. The Buchinos will throw out first pitches and take pictures with their beloved teams prior to the game.

The Stratford Brakettes and Junior Brakettes will be joined at DeLuca Field this weekend by the Newtown Rock (PA) and Mid-Hudson Mustangs (NY) to compete in the newly named Bob Baird Memorial Round Robin.

Saturday’s games will feature the Mid-Hudson Mustangs against the Newtown Rock at 3:00, followed by the Junior Brakettes playing the Mid-Hudson Mustangs at 5:00. The Stratford Brakettes will then take on the Rock at 7:00 and the Junior Brakettes at 9:00.

Sunday’s games will have an early start, with games beginning at 9:00 am. The Newtown Rock will play the Juniors and Stratford Brakettes at 9:00 and 11:00, respectively. After a game off, the Juniors will take on the Mustangs at 1:00, and then the Stratford Brakettes and Mustangs will close out the Round Robin at 3:00.

All games from the Bob Baird Memorial Round Robin will be live webcast at brakettes.com. Please click on the link to view a PDF of the entire weekend schedule.

Micki Stratton Tourney Shortened by Rain; Catanzarita Leads Brakettes

July 20 - Aliya Catanzarita smashed two clutch home runs, including a sixth-inning grand slam, as the Brakettes completed a 14-8 comeback against the Jersey Kaboom in the Micki Stratton Invitational on Saturday. Sunday’s games were cancelled due to rain, shortening the round robin held annually in memory of the Brakettes’ first ASA National Hall of Famer.

The Kaboom jumped up 2-0 in the top of the first, but Stratford answered quickly in the bottom of the inning. RBI singles by Kaitlyn Flood and Jana Sanden provided the spark, tying the game at 2-2.

Sophia DiCocco led off the second with a walk and scored on a sac fly to center by Sarah Rende, giving the Brakettes a 3-2 lead after two in the books.

Stratford’s lead was short-lived, as the Kaboom jumped back on top with two runs in the third. Jess Forte tripled with one out and scored on a single by Gore. Rachel Alecci drove in Gore with a sac fly to left field for a 4-3 edge.

The Kaboom picked up four more runs in the fourth, led by Reese Wilson’s RBI double. Hailee Sobieski singled in a run, and Alecci picked up her third RBI of the contest with a sac fly.

Down 8-3 entering the home fourth, the Brakettes plated four to pull within a run. Lindsey Hoag punctuated the rally with a three-run blast, her sixth homer of the season.

Flood led off the fifth with a single, putting the tying run on base for the Brakettes. With one out, Catanzarita sent a towering shot over the centerfield fence to seize the lead for Stratford once more.

The Brakettes added to the 9-8 lead and put it away in the sixth. Hoag and Lauren Rende both singled with one out, and a walk by Flood loaded the bases. Sanden was hit by a pitch, sending another run home with the bases still loaded.

Catanzarita then delivered the knockout punch with the grand slam, her seventh long ball of the season, closing out the scoring at 14-8.

Ali Dubois went the distance for the Brakettes to earn her second win of the season.

While the Brakettes’ win closed out play for the day, the Junior Brakettes opened the round robin with an 8-2 victory over the Connecticut Freedom.

Karissa Spring and Sarah Falcone both contributed RBI singles in the second inning to give the Juniors a 2-0 lead.

Tori Young and Olivia Young provided the Freedom an offensive spark in the top of the third with back-to-back solo shots, tying it up at 2-2.

Molly Lennon broke the tie with an RBI single in the third, and a two-run double by May Dawes stretched the margin to 5-2. Spring then doubled to drive in another run, and Cat Palmer sent another across with an RBI single for a 7-2 lead. Falcone reached on an error in the sixth and scored for an 8-2 tally.

Emily Rerick struck out five in four innings to earn the win, and Lauren Wasikowski pitched the last three frames, striking out six batters.

The Kaboom topped the Juniors 5-2 in the second matchup of the day, with Jess Forte leading off the game with a home run.

The Juniors tied it up at 1-1 in the third when Lennon doubled, and was then doubled home by Spring.

Olivia Huffman led off the fifth for the Kaboom with a single and scored on a sac fly by Sobieski to make it 2-1.

Forte smacked her second solo shot of the game with one out in the seventh, and Wilson nailed a two-run blast to stretch the lead to 5-1.

The Juniors scratched one run across in the seventh on an RBI single by Falcone, but fell short and dropped the decision, 5-2.

The Juniors were slated to play Tuesday, July 18th, against the CT Bombers 18U, but the games were rained out. The teams are working to schedule a makeup date.

The Stratford Brakettes and Juniors will both take part in the Bob Baird Memorial Round Robin at DeLuca Field this Saturday and Sunday, along with the Newtown Rock (PA) and Mid-Hudson Mustangs (NY), starting at 3:00 p.m. Saturday.

Saturday, July 15th
Micki Stratton Round Robin
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
KABOOM (NJ) 2 0 2 4 0 0 0 8 11 2
BRAKETTES 2 1 0 4 2 5 x 14 10 3
Batteries: Brakettes- Ali DuBois (W, 2-0) and Kaitlyn Flood; Kaboom- Mackenzie Masiernak (L) and Olivia Huffman
Homerun: Brakettes- Lindsey Hoag (6), Aliya Catanzarita 2, grand slam (7)

Bob Baird Tribute Night, July 8th
Bob's Family


Brakettes To Pay Tribute to Legendary
General Manager Bob Baird Saturday Night


July 6 - The Stratford Brakettes will pay homage to their late great General Manager Bob Baird on Saturday night at 7:00 at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. The Brakettes and Massachusetts Drifters will play their scheduled doubleheader immediately after the tribute, which will feature short speeches from longtime Brakettes Manager John Stratton and others.

Bob Baird served as the General Manager of the Brakettes for 35 years, following more than two decades as the Raybestos Brakettes’ local beat reporter for the Bridgeport Post and Telegram. Baird’s earliest sportswriting duties had him on assignment covering Bertha (Ragan) Tickey, Micki (Macchietto) Stratton, and Joan Joyce’s teams, and his lifelong career promoting the Brakettes began to take shape.

Baird’s tenure as Brakettes GM began in 1988 with him and longtime friend Frank DeLuca navigating a move for the team from the iconic Raybestos Memorial Field to Textron Lycoming Field, (now Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field) at 1000 Main Street. The move kept the most successful softball team in history together and in Stratford, but Baird’s work was just beginning.

In his first season pulling the strings, Baird and the (then Hi-Ho) Brakettes enjoyed a continuation of the dominance that the franchise had come to expect, winning the ASA Nationals in Pekin, IL over the Orange (CA) Majestics. Although they dropped the 1989 final to the Whittier (CA) Raiders, the (again) Raybestos Brakettes won the next three ASA National titles and finished runners-up once more in 1993 to the Redding Rebels. With four titles and two second place finishes in Baird’s first six years with the club, the Brakettes were thriving in their new surroundings.

Baird worked with ten National ASA Hall of Fame Brakettes in his years with the team, nine of which played during his first seven seasons. He also shared the stage with two National ASA Hall of Fame managers.

Recent Oklahoma City inductee John Stratton summed up the early years working with Bob… “from Kathy Arendsen and Barbara Reinalda to Dot Richardson, Pat Dufficy, Shelia Cornell, Lisa Fernandez… there was always an understanding that Bob was doing a lot of work behind the scenes. We didn’t even know half of it. They didn’t always agree with his decisions, but there was a respect he commanded and deserved from some of the game’s greatest players.”

However, Baird would soon need to lead the Brakettes through another transition, as the dawning of Olympic softball would decimate the team’s star-studded lineup with the creation of the US National Team. As Hall of Fame manager Ralph Raymond left to coach the Olympic team, Baird turned to his trusted softball partner-in-crime, John Stratton, to rebuild the roster and return the Brakettes to glory.

The second go-round of Raybestos sponsorship also faded away, and Stratton helped recruit Westport resident Dave “Doc” Carpenter as the team’s new primary sponsor, leading to the renaming of the team as the Stratford Brakettes in 1996. Major renovations to DeLuca Field also came in 2000, a few years after the Town of Stratford purchased the field, bringing a stadium feel to Brakettes games yet again.

With Baird and Stratton leading the team and Carpenter as the sponsor, the Brakettes ended a nine-year ASA winless streak in 2002 and captured five of the last six ASA titles during their time together. Baird realized another dream in 2006, as the professional Connecticut Brakettes competed in the now-defunct National Pro Fastpitch league for one season, while the Stratford Brakettes continued to compete with their amateur status. Despite a successful season and runner-up finish, the pro Brakettes folded after one season, leaving Baird to focus solely on the Stratford Brakettes.

The “Doc” years lasted through the 2007 season, with Carpenter’s passing that year marking the end of a magical era of Brakettes softball. The Brakettes won one last ASA title - in memory of “Doc” - that summer, but another period of financial uncertainty for the Brakettes was settling in.

Big Bob was also central in the recruitment of the next Brakettes’ sponsor, HYPACK software founder Pat Sanders. With HYPACK on board, Baird led the Brakettes away from the crumbling ASA Women’s Major tournament structure and created the Women’s Major Softball (WMS) National Championship in 2009.

One lasting combined effort by Sanders and Baird was their push to make the Brakettes a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity, a model that has served the team well ever since. After a decade of generous sponsorship under Sanders, which featured several successful trips to the Midwest and Las Vegas in search of the best competition, Baird sought to find new sponsor dollars to help pick up the tab.

Eventually, Baird oversaw the creation of a Junior Brakettes farm team in 2019, while even fielding a third “Select Brakettes” team in 2021 and 2022. The younger squads proved to be valuable developers of talent, and Bob surely loved rooting for the newfound Brakette teams.

One of Baird’s proudest and most impactful moments may have come during the summer of 2020, when the Brakettes played a shortened season due to the Covid-19 pandemic and were legitimately the only game in town (and anywhere else?). Not even a pandemic would stop Bob Baird from putting on Brakettes games for their beloved fans, and he was quick to point out that the Brakettes are the longest continuously operating (since 1947) women’s fastpitch softball team in the world.

The Brakettes won 12 of the 14 WMS titles under Baird’s watch, while attracting the best women’s amateur club teams to compete annually in Stratford, CT.

Baird’s decades-long pursuit of a Brakettes Museum and Hall of Fame finally saw progress in his last months. After Joan Joyce passed away in 2022, her $50,000 posthumous gift to the Brakettes was made known in a letter to Baird and Stratton. Though seriously ill, Baird felt immediate relief knowing that there would finally be a way forward to memorialize all the Brakettes’ greats.

Bob Baird’s presence continues to be felt in so many ways at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field, and one day, he too will be properly honored with a much-deserved spot in the Brakettes Museum and Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the CT ASA Hall of Fame in October 2017 for his lifetime of work with softball.

Although he missed the 2022 season while in treatment for acute myeloid leukemia, Bob watched every game online and followed his three Brakette teams’ progress throughout. Soon after beating leukemia for the second time in five years in August 2022, Bob was diagnosed with terminal lung disease in early December 2022. He passed away peacefully at home on New Year’s Eve, with his wife, Diana Joy Baird, and their loving family at his side. He is survived by his four sisters, six children, and 15 grandchildren.

The 15th annual WMS Tournament will be hosted by the Brakettes in Stratford from August 2nd-6th, 2023, and continues to serve as a testament to Baird’s relentless pursuit of softball excellence. In addition to the Stratford Brakettes and Junior Brakettes, the 2022 WMS runners-up Stripes & Strikes (PA) will return to this year’s tourney, as will the Maryland Chill, (New) Jersey Kaboom, Connecticut Freedom, while the Mid-Hudson (NY) Mustangs and several other newcomers will join the field.



  John Stratton Hall of Fame Tribute  
June 24th Webcast
Player Tribute Videos
 
GM Rob Baird

Diane Schumacher

John with Ken Bruno

National Hall of Famers Barbara Reinalda, Diane Schumacher, Willie Roze and John Stratton John with grandson Conner and son Jay

L-R, top row- Sophia DiCocco, Mac Stone-Folmar, Lauren Rende, Ali DuBois, Diane Seery, Linda Finelli, Willie Roze, Lisa Dennis, Barbara Reinalda, Diane Schumacher, Brandice Balschmiter, Marie Hamill, Kristine Botto-Drust, Jackie Pengel, Lauren Pitney, Grace Carrington, Kylie Bulinski, Lindsey Hoag
bottom row- Jana Sanden, Kendall LaMorte, Aliya Catanzarita, (Oakley Drust), Donna McLean, John Sratton, Denise Denis, Rose Reitmeyer, Kaitlyn Flood, Sarah Rende, Juliette Zito
missing from photo- Barbara Clark



John Stratton Tribute Night, Joan Joyce Golf Tourney Set for June 24th

June 16 - The Stratford Brakettes will host a night to celebrate the amazing career and accomplishments of longtime Stratford/Raybestos Brakettes Manager John Stratton on Saturday, June 24th. There will be a brief ceremony at 7:00 pm before the start of the Brakettes’ doubleheader against the Maryland Chill.

The evening is lining up to be one to remember, with many former Brakettes returning to DeLuca Field to honor him in person. Even more of Coach Stratton’s former players will in some way (spoiler alert!) contribute to John Stratton Tribute Night, as the Brakettes seek to honor one of the greatest Women’s Major Softball managers of all-time.

During his years leading the Brakettes, Stratton guided the franchise to 17 National championships, including five ASA and 12 Women's Major Softball crowns. Stratton’s record as Brakettes Manager was 1,492-141 record (91.3 winning percentage), which included two perfect seasons… 2011 (63-0) and 2013 (68-0). Stratton and the Brakettes also enjoyed an unprecedented 168-game winning streak from 2010-2012.

The ceremony will include short tributes from several former Brakettes, plus former Raybestos Cardinal and lifelong friend Ken Bruno, and new Brakettes General Manager Rob Baird.

Season ticket holders will receive free entry, while walkup tickets are available for $5 for bleacher seats, $6 for reserved seats with backrests, and $8 for box seats.

The 2023 Joan Joyce Memorial 'Pitch and Putt' Golf Tournament will also be held Saturday, June 24, 2023 at the Short Beach Par-3 Golf Course in Stratford, CT!!!

The ‘Pitch and Putt’ is a Four-Person Scramble, Shot Gun format with three flights scheduled for 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and 12 p.m.

Awards are presented to the winning team in each flight and the lowest scoring women's foursome. Breakfast and buffet lunch are included and there are raffles and giveaways.

Preferred time slots will fill up, so sign up today! For more details, directions, and to register by mail, download the Brochure/Application form.

The fee is $220 per foursome or $60 per individual registration. For additional information, or to make reservations, contact Rob Baird at (203) 521-7767, or via e-mail at rob.baird@xylem.com.

A native of Waterbury, CT, Joan played 17 years for the Raybestos Brakettes and was a 15-time ASA All-America with the Brakettes. She was the first and only head softball coach at Florida Atlantic University until her passing in 2022. In her 28-year career at FAU, she led the Owls to 12 conference titles.

Joan was also a 19-year member of the Ladies Professional Golf Tour (LPGA). She is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the lowest number of putts (17) in a single professional round for both men and women golfers.


Memory of Stratford Brakettes GM Bob Baird strong as son Rob plans for future

by Michael Fornabaio, sports reporter with Hearst CT Media Group

May 21, 2023

Bob Baird’s beloved Stratford Brakettes begin their 77th season in two weeks. The Baird family’s beloved patriarch has been gone for four and a half months, laid to rest just this week, after a couple of cancer battles and interstitial lung disease. More


Joan Joyce’s $50,000 Posthumous Donation Kickstarts Brakettes Museum Fund

May 17 - The legendary Joan Joyce always found a way to impose her will on the game, leading the Raybestos Brakettes to 11 ASA National Championships and one ISF World Championship. Sadly, Joan passed away on March 26, 2022, but only after she had enjoyed the greatest all-time sporting career of any female athlete.

Joan threw 105 no-hitters in her Raybestos career, including 33 perfect games, while striking out a franchise record 5,677 batters. Her 429 career wins with the Brakettes led the franchise when she retired and currently rank second all-time. She won a team-record 42 games in 1974 en route to the team’s National and World Championship titles, the latter of which was held in front of nearly 10,000 fans at Raybestos Memorial Field in Stratford, CT.

She also famously struck out all-time baseball greats Ted Williams and Hank Aaron in exhibitions and was also one of the greatest all-time Brakettes at the plate, as well.

Joyce won the Brakettes Batting Title six times and finished her career in Stratford with 940 hits (2nd all-time among Brakettes), 153 doubles (2nd all-time), 67 triples (2nd all-time), 457 runs scored (3rd all-time), and 529 RBI (3rd all-time). She held the franchise record in all these categories when she ended her Brakettes career.

Remarkably, Joan Joyce still found a way to drop jaws last summer, soon after the Stratford Brakettes claimed their 12th Women’s Major Softball title. Even after her death, Joan was again the ultimate game-changer…

A certified letter arrived at the Brakettes’ home office in August 2022, and longtime Brakettes Manager John Stratton visited his friend and softball partner, (since deceased) Brakettes GM Bob Baird, to open it. Together, they would read the letter and learn the details of Joan’s remarkable $50,000 posthumous donation to the Stratford Brakettes!

Once again, Joan’s tremendous gifts would make a generational difference.

The $50,000 check from Joan’s estate would soon become the foundation for the Brakettes Museum Fund, created to help build a Brakettes Museum/Hall of Fame at DeLuca Field in Stratford, CT. The Brakettes will now undertake public crowdsourcing efforts throughout the 2023 season and over the next year to increase the available funds for the building of the Brakettes Museum.

Joan’s sister Janis Joyce recently reflected on what the Brakettes meant to Joan and vice versa. “Joan loved the Brakettes and would do anything for them, obviously. My brother Joe and I look forward to coming to the groundbreaking for the Brakettes Museum when that time comes. We are honored to know that the Brakettes will use her gift in such a meaningful way”.

Completely floored by Joyce’s generosity, Stratton and Baird were also somehow not too surprised. They had witnessed her groundbreaking career for decades and understood her importance to the Brakettes and the game of softball as well as anyone.

“Joan was a special athlete. She dominated softball for 24 years,” said Stratton, who also served for ten years as Joan’s pitching coach at Florida Atlantic University. “She always took time, I don’t care who it was, she’d sit and talk with that person for an hour. She was always good to her (softball) kids, anything she could do to help them. She had a very positive attitude about everything.”

Joyce served as the only head softball coach at Florida Atlantic University for the first 28 years of the program, winning over 1,000 games, and coached the FAU women’s golf team for 18 seasons.

Joan was not just the Babe Ruth of softball, but also a pro golfer on the LPGA tour for almost 20 years. She still holds the record for fewest putts in a tournament round (17) of any PGA or LPGA golfer. She competed on the US National Junior Women’s Basketball team in the 1960’s, played pro volleyball, and bowled multiple 300 games.

“In my opinion, Joan Joyce was the greatest female athlete of all time… And yet Joan was a much better person than she ever was an athlete, and she was a heckuva athlete!”, said Baird at the time of Joan’s passing. “But this amazing gift is unbelievable. It gives us the chance to finally memorialize all the great Brakettes that came through Stratford, and a showcase for the all the team artifacts and photos, jerseys, trophies, and more. Once again, we just can’t thank Joan Joyce enough!”

Despite losing his own health battle on December 31, 2022, Baird was instrumental in arranging meetings with Town of Stratford officials to discuss possibilities for the Brakettes Museum, and led the team’s early research on the subject.

As the Brakettes are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit group, all donations to the team are fully tax deductible.

To donate to the Brakettes Museum Fund, checks may be sent to:

Brakettes Museum Fund
185 Lordship Road
Stratford, CT 06615

To donate using Venmo: @Brakettes-Inc



Stratford Brakettes Announce 2023 Season Plans

Jan 27 - The Stratford Brakettes will open the 2023 season on June 2nd with a doubleheader against the Junior Brakettes at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field in Stratford, CT. The Opening Day matchup will serve as a bittersweet start to the team’s 77th season, with the recent passing of longtime General Manager Bob Baird leaving quite a void for all.

Baird served as the Brakettes GM since 1988, and covered the (Raybestos) Brakettes as a sportswriter for the Bridgeport Post and Telegram going back to the late 1960’s. During his run as GM, the Brakettes won nine ASA National Titles and 12 WMS Championships. He also navigated the franchise through potential financial disaster, twice overcoming the loss of major sponsors. Bob Baird left the Brakettes in solid standing to continue to lead the women’s fastpitch softball landscape for years to come. The Brakettes would like to thank Bob for his lifetime of service to the team.

The Junior Brakettes will return to action in 2023, with some familiar faces coming back, and many new players ready to compete. The Juniors finished tied for fifth in the 2022 WMS Nationals.

Some top dates for the 2023 season will include the Brakettes hitting the road to Lyons, PA for the Cornfield Classic Tournament (June 10th-11th), the return of the Maryland Chill and (New Jersey) Kaboom to Stratford for weekend series in June, and the Annual Micki Stratton Invitational in July. The Connecticut Freedom, who defeated the Brakettes in the teams’ first ever meeting during the 2022 WMS Nationals, will also visit DeLuca Field for a pair of doubleheaders in July.

Another fan favorite, the Sixth Annual Joan Joyce Memorial "Pitch and Putt" Golf Tournament, will take place in late June at Short Beach.

The Brakettes will honor longtime Manager John Stratton on June 24th for his recent selection into the National USA (ASA) Softball Hall of Fame. The long overdue and well-deserved spot for Stratton in Oklahoma City is a testament to his legendary career as a coach and manager, and his extraordinary influence on the game of softball.

The Brakettes will also pay tribute to Bob Baird on July 8th at DeLuca Field, during the night’s doubleheader. The event’s proceeds will go to the Bob Baird Memorial Scholarship Fund (established by Bob’s wife Joy and the Baird family), to be awarded annually to a graduating Stratford High School senior with a strong connection to athletics.

The 15th Annual Women’s Major Softball National Championship will be held in Stratford August 2nd-6th, with games being held both at DeLuca and Short Beach Fields. All 2023 WMS tournament games at DeLuca Field will be live streamed.

All Stratford Brakettes and Junior Brakettes home games at DeLuca Field will also be live video webcast at brakettes.com.

Rob Baird           
Brakettes - Acting GM


Bob Baird, 1947-2022
Dec 31 - With great sadness we share the news that today we lost a very important member of the Brakettes organization - General Manager Bob Baird. Our thoughts are with Bob's wife Joy, sons Rob, Peter and Patrick, daughters Lucy Baird-Stoddard, Bridget and Samantha, and his grandchildren. RIP Bob. You will be missed by all who knew you.

CT Post article

CT News 12






Congratulations Manager John Stratton
on your selection to USA Softball's
National Hall of Fame,
class of 2023!

CT INSIDER.COM article



July 7, 2018


When you talk about softball dynasties,
there's only one name that comes to mind...
the BRAKETTES!     more ...

1981 Brakettes on 60 Minutes
from Stratford Brakettes on Vimeo.



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