BRAKETTES OPEN NATIONAL TOURNAMENT TITLE DEFENSE

August 6, 2014 - Now that all the bubbles have burst, Manager John Stratton says "it's a good time to start a bunch of new streaks." The Stratford Brakettes will try to do just that as they open their title defense in the sixth annual Women's Major Softball National Championship tournament at 1 p.m. Thursday at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field against the Queens Lady Rangers.

The Brakettes also play host to Team Connecticut at 6:30 p.m., following Opening Ceremonies at 5:45p.m.

A total of 10 teams will be competing in the four-day event that will also be played at the Short Beach Rec Complex. Each team will play two pool games Thurday before the start of bracket play Friday.

Stratton expects to have his team at nearly full strength by Friday after missing four starters earlier in the week. The Brakettes saw their 241-game home winning streak snapped by the St. Louis Saints Tuesday in the second game of a doubleheader by 5-3. The Brakettes won the opener 4-2.

Earlier in the week the Brakettes saw their 129-game consecutive win streak and perfect season record end in a three-game sweep at Toronto against Team Canada. They enter the WMS event with a 44-4 record.

Ten games will be played Thursday with five at each location.

Schedule for Thursday, August 7th is:

Session #1
1:00 p.m. Brakettes v. Queens Lady Rangers (DeLuca Field)
1:00 p.m. St.Louis Saints v. XPlosion (Short Beach)
3:00 p.m. Stratford Seahawks v. Lyons Spirit (DeLuca Field)
3:00 p.m. XPlosion v. CT Eliminators (Short Beach)

5:00-5:45 p.m. Team Social (Mandatory for Teams) (DeLuca Field)
5:45-6:15 p.m. Opening Ceremonies (Mandatory for Teams) (DeLuca Field)

Session #2
6:30 p.m. Brakettes v. Team Connecticut (DeLuca Field)
7:00 p.m. Mass Pride v. Stratford Breakers (Short Beach)
8:00 p.m. St. Louis Saints v. CT Eliminators (DeLuca Field)
8:30 p.m. Team Connecticut v. Queens Lady Rangers (Short Beach)
9:30 p.m. Winner- Seahawks/Spirit v. Winner- Pride/Breakers (DeLuca Field)
10:00 p.m. Loser- Seahawks/Spirit v. Loser- Pride/Breakers (Short Beach)