BRAKETTES HOST CT HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STARS

June 18, 2014 - Coming off their closest games of the season, the Stratford Brakettes return to Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Thursday night to open a home stand starting with the Connecticut High School all-stars in a nine-inning contest that begins at 6:30 p.m. The Brakettes will entertain the Newtown, PA, Rock Gold Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. in a pair of doubleheaders.

After winning their first eight games in relative ease, including seven straight shutouts, the Brakettes had to work hard to sweep the Lyons, PA, Spirit on the road last Sunday at Lyons. They won the opener 1-0 before rallying for a 9-6 eight-inning victory. Down to their last out in the seventh, Jess Mouse singled in Mandy Fishback, who had a two-out double, to tie the score and the Brakettes tallied three runs in the eighth.

Allyson Fournier of South Windsor was the winning pitcher in both games. She tossed a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts in the opener and relieved starter Brandice Balschmiter (3-0) in the seventh inning of the nightcap to raise her record to 6-0. Fournier, a three-time All-America at Tufts University, has worked 34 innings without allowing a run and has struck out 66 batters to lead the pitching staff. Fournier will pitch Thursday night’s game as Balschmiter is not available and rookie Tatum Buckely (1-0) of Masuk High School graduates Thursday evening.

“Allyson has been outstanding thus far,” said Brakettes Manager John Stratton. “She has command of all her pitches and she has exhibited excellent control. She is a Division I talent playing at the Division III level.” Fournier was 28-1 this season in leading Tufts to its second straight NCAA D III Championship.D

Riding a 91-game consecutive win streak, the Brakettes pitching staff will be augmented in two weeks with the arrival of Emily Weiman of North Carolina State. She compiled a 10-0 record last year and was MVP in the USSSA World Series in Rockford, IL, and the fifth annual Women’s Major Softball National Championship tournament.

Denise Denis (.469) and Elise Fortier (.469) share the home run lead with four apiece. Fortier is the RBI leader at 18 and Denis is next with 12. Newcomers Quianna Diaz-Patterson of UMass and Bri Chiusano of Coastal Carolina have given the Brakettes two speedsters at the top of the lineup. The left-handed hitters are batting .438 and .387, respectively.

The high school all-stars will be coached by Foran High School’s Jeff Bevino. Local standouts in his lineup will be his daughter Fallon Bevino, Westhill’s Erica Gambino, St. Joseph’s Mikaela Mallozzi, Seymour’s Katie Petroski, Bunnell’s Lora Walsh and Darien’s Julia Domiziano. Samantha Lee of Woodland Regional and Talia Loda of East Haven will handle the pitching for the all-stars.

Entering this home stand the Brakettes have won 209 consecutive home games, dating back to a June, 2010 loss to the Newtown Rock Gold in the second game of the season opener.