WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from Jen Carlo. June 18, 2005: Leah Nelson, the Juggernaut's new long tall hitter from Stanford, knocked in the winning run in the fifth inning in the third straight pitching classic between the Stratford Brakettes and the New York Juggernaut Saturday at Hofstra University Softball Stadium in Hempstead. 

Peaches James, the NPF leader in strikeouts, recorded eight Brakette fans tonight to shut down the Stratford offense, picking up her fourth win of the season with a 2-0 shutout.  The Juggernaut offense was led by Leah Nelson and Jackie Pasquerella, both going 2-for-3 with an RBI.  Ryan Realmuto and Carri Leto also added two hits for New York. 

PEACHES JAMES FINISHES THEM OFF. SHE'S 1/2 OF THE BEST NUMBER 1 & 2 STARTING "RO"  IN NEW YORK BALL (THE OTHER IS JODI COX) IN THE CIRCLE FOR THE NAUTS. IF BRIAN CASHMAN PICKED THEM UP THE YANKEES WOULD BE IN FIRST IN A WEEK. Photo, Courtesy NY Juggernaut

The game was a pitcher’s duel until the fifth inning. 

Realmuto led off the bottom of the inning with a single to centerfield before being lifted by pinch runner, Kaleo Eldredge.  Kim Ogee followed with a sacrifice to advance Eldredge to second base.  With two outs, Stratford starter Leslie Malerich gave up a walk to Trena Peel, then an infield single to Carri Leto. 

With bases loaded, Leah Nelson recorded her first RBI of the season as she singled home Eldredge.  Peel got caught in a run down on the throw home by the Brakettes centerfielder and, after putting up a good fight, was eventually tagged out by the second baseman to end the inning.

Jackie Pasquerella, Long Island's "Spiderwoman" Continued her great start at the plate in her second Naut season, driving in the insurance run in the sixth.  The Spiderwoman is 9 for 25 to start season, hitting .310, about 75 points over her average last season. Photo, Courtesy NY Juggernaut

 The Juggernaut added an insurance run in the sixth inning.  Chelsea Spencer reached on a Stratford error.  Back-to-back singles by Alicia Smith and Realmuto loaded the bases for New York.  Jackie Pasquerella put another run on the board, registering an RBI single to score Spencer from third.

The Brakettes offense was unable to string together enough hits to produce any runs off James.  She dominated the lineup, throwing just 92 pitches, 62 of which were strikes. 

Nauticals

New York and Stratford finish up their four game series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.  Bring your father out to the ballpark to celebrate Father’s Day with a great game of professional fastpitch softball.  For more information or tickets, please call 631-385-1634 or visit the Juggernaut online at www.nynjjuggernaut.com. Jugs Box Scores and Statistics are also on the site with game summaries.

You can follow the Juggernauts play-by-play worldwide on Radio Hofstra, www.whru.org beginning 15 minutes before every home gametime.

FINAL SCORE                                  R  H  E

Stratford Brakettes……..000 000 0 - 0   4   1

NY Juggernaut…………000 011 X -2   9   0

 WP-Peaches James (4-2)

LP-Leslie Malerich

NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH LEAGUE STANDINGS

JUNE 19, 2005

                                                                                                                           w           L    PCT    GB

Akron Racers                                                                     10 1 .909      ------- Chicago Bandits 9 2 .818        1 New York Juggernaut 9 2 .818         1 New England Riptide 6 3 .667         3 Texas Thunder 4 2 .667         6-1/2 Arizona Heat 9 5 .643          5 Saturday Evening's Games New York Juggernaut  2 Straftford 0 Chicago 1 China 0 Akron 13 Peoria 0 Arizona 5, Venezuela 2 New England 2 California Sunbirds 0