Brakettes Bats Explode En Route to WMS Title

August 10, 2014 - The Brakettes won their fifth-straight WMS National Championship on Sunday at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field in Stratford, CT, riding a 12-run second inning outburst to a rout of the St. Louis Saints. Tournament MVP Elena Bowman and Tatum Buckley homered for the Brakettes, while Brandice Balschmiter picked up the victory and the WMS Most Outstanding Pitcher Award.

Bowman started the big second inning with a solo shot, giving the Brakettes a 1-0 edge. With one out, Denise Denis walked and was pinch-run for by Mariel Schlaefer, who stole second base. Jess Mouse pushed Schlaefer to third with a single, putting runners at the corners.

Buckley drove in Schlaefer for a 2-0 advantage, then scored along with Mouse on a double by Bri Chiusano. The two-base hit gave the Brakettes a 4-0 lead.

Britt Lampert followed and worked a walk to put two on. Elise Fortier doubled to score Chiusano, stretching the margin to 5-0. Lampert went to third on the play. Bowman walked to load the bases, continuing the frame with two outs.

Mandie Fishback delivered another double for the Brakettes, plating two more runs for a 7-0 lead. Schlaefer and Mouse both offered up singles, with Bowman and Fishback scoring for a commanding 9-0 tally.

Buckley closed out the scoring at 12-0 with a three-run homer, her fifth of the season.

Stratford sent 17 batters to the plate in the inning, scoring 12 runs on 11 hits.

The Brakettes finished 50-4 on the season, as they claimed their fifth-straight Women's Major Softball National Championship. They have beaten the Saints in four of those finals (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014), with the other title game win coming against the Connecticut Charmers in the 2013 tournament.

Brandice Balschmiter won the Joan Joyce Award as the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the tourney, winning three times in bracket play, while not allowing a run.

Elena Bowman was given the Micki Stratton Award as MVP of the WMS, and also the Pat Dufficy Award (WMS Home Run Champion) for her three-homer performance in elimination games.

Denise Denis claimed the batting crown (Diane Schumacher Award) for a.625 batting average in WMS bracket play.

Balschmiter (Pitcher), Bowman (Catcher) and Denis (Utility) were joined on the All-WMS Tournament Team by Tatum Buckley (2nd Base) and Elise Fortier (Outfield).

The five All-WMS picks was the most of any team, while the St. Louis Saints featured four players on the squad. Taylor Lockwood (Pitcher), Megan Stone (1st Base), Morgan Allee (Shortstop) and Kelly Kapp (Outfield) were selected for St. Louis.

The other All-WMS picks were handed out to Brenna Martini (3rd Base-Stratford Seahawks), Elaine Bedell (Outfield-Lyons Spirit), Bridget Lemire (Utility-Mass Pride), Katie Flynn (Utility-Stratford Seahawks), and Alyson Chiaramonte (Pitcher-Stratford Seahawks).