Denis Breaks Pat Dufficy's All-Time HR Mark as Brakettes Get Back on Track in WMS Pool Play

August 8, 2014 - Denise Denis tied and then surpassed Pat Dufficy's all-time Brakette home run record on Thursday, as she hit her 91st and 92nd career homers on the opening day of play in the 2014 Women's Major Softball National Championship. The Brakettes got back in the swing of things with a pair of commanding victories, knocking off the Queens Lady Rangers and Team CT by 8-0 and 7-0 scores.

The blasts were the 14th and 15th of the year for Denis, who has been hampered by a leg injury sustained on July 27th. Denis has relied on crutches to keep the weight off her leg since the injury, and was a surprise addition to the lineup on Thursday. She batted sixth in the order in the early game, instead of her usual #3 spot in the lineup.

Denis launched the record-breaking home run in the seventh inning of the nightcap, after coming in as a pinch-hitter. She slowly hobbled around the bases with a huge smile on her face after the deep fly over the fence in right, as she enjoyed a lengthy standing ovation from the fans in attendance.

Allyson Fournier picked up the win in the first game, which kicked off at 1:00 pm. She dominated the Queens Lady Rangers, striking out 16 in a six-inning one-hitter. Fournier improved to 22-2 on the season with the win.

Katie Derby went the distance for the Lady Rangers, with the Brakettes scoring two runs in the sixth to leave Queens on the field.

Tatum Buckley lined a solo shot in the bottom of the first to left field, giving Stratford the early 1-0 edge. The ball seemed to go through the home run fence about six inches from the top, not over it, but the call on the field stood after the umpires talked it over on the infield.

Katie Beth Andrews picked up the only hit for the Lady Rangers in the second inning, a leadoff single to right field.

The Brakettes scored three more in the second, as Amber Radomski started the rally with a base on balls. Cassie Ruscz sacrificed Radomski to second, and Shannon Smith delivered a bloop single to right to put runners at the corners. Buckley brought Radomski home with a grounder to short, which saw Smith get forced out at second.

Britt Lampert came up next and beat out a bunt single, racing to second when the throw sailed into foul territory. Buckley scored all the way from first on the play, extending the lead to 3-0. Lampert moved to third on a wild pitch, then scored the team's fourth run on a double to right by Kayla Lombardo.

Denis pushed the lead to 5-0 in the third with her record-tying homer, a towering blast to right field.

Radomski kept the momentum going with a single up the middle, advancing to second on a groundout. Smith contributed her second base hit of the game, scoring Radomski for a 6-0 lead.

After Derby held the Brakettes scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, the Brakettes posted two scores in the sixth to close the game out in run-rule fashion.

Buckley singled with one out and was driven in on a double by Lampert. Lombardo singled up the middle to plate Lampert, closing out the 8-0 win for the Brakettes.

Shannon Smith hurled the late game for the Brakettes, a 6:30 tilt with Team Connecticut. She came within an out of throwing a perfect game, as Kaira Ramon beat out an infield single with two outs in the seventh. Smith also struck out 16 batters in a dominating performance.

Stratford took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, when Elise Fortier led off with a single up the middle. Elena Bowman walked to put two on, and Buckley sacrificed both runners over. Mariel Schlaefer drove a fly ball to centerfield to score Fortier, who tagged up for the game's first run.

Team CT starter Sadie Apfel kept the Brakettes off the board for the next two innings, before being relieved in the fifth. She surrendered just the one run on three hits in four innings of work.

The Brakettes got back to work in the fifth inning, as Radomski walked with one out. Smith delivered another single to right field, pushing Radomski to third. Bri Chiusano, who returned from an elbow injury and started in center, singled to score Radomski for a 2-0 cushion.

After Lampert worked a walk to load the bases, Fortier forced in the next run with another base on balls.

Buckley smashed a homer to left to lead off the sixth, bringing the lead to 4-0.

Denis launched her record-breaking homer as she led off the seventh inning, providing the Brakette faithful in attendance with a reason to celebrate. Her high-arching home run sailed high over the fence in right, leaving Denis to complete her slower than usual circuit around the bases.

Lampert followed with a walk and stole second, before Lombardo hit a two-run shot to center, closing out the scoring at 7-0.

By virtue of their pool play sweep on Thursday, the Brakettes secured the top seed in Pool A and will play in the primetime 7:00 slot on Friday night's WMS quarterfinals at DeLuca Field, against the winner of a 3:00 play-in game between the Stratford Breakers and the Connecticut Xplosion.

All WMS Championship games at DeLuca Field will be live video webcast on www.brakettes.com.