WPCNR PRESS BOX. August 26, 2006: The National Pro Fastpitch Championship Series gets underway at 1 P.M. in Stratford Connecticut today with the opener of the big league fastpitch series. The second place Connecticut Brakettes meet the third place Akron Racers (the defending Champs) at 7 P.M. at DeLuca Field. (Off Exit 30, I-95), while the first place Chicago Bandits meet the New England Riptide in the opener at 1 P.M. at DeLuca. Sarah Pauly (13-5) is scheduled to pitch for Connecticut (27-15), with Radara McHugh likely for Akron (29-17). An in-depth preview of the series is on the Brakette website at www.ctbrakettes.com.
The Brakettes will be lead by the Olympic Champion, Kelly Kretschman, who hit .400 this season, homerun queen shortstop Jessica Merchant from the University of Michigan, who lead the league with 11 homers, firstbaser Kellie Wilkerson, and second baser Stephanie Best. Germaine Fairchild is the steady catcher
G Breaks Open the Nightcap. Germaine Fairchild heads for third after belting a 3-run dinger in the last of the second against the Philadelphia Force Tuesday evening at Allentown, PA, in the nightcap of a doubleheader for a 7-0 lead. G also drove in 2 runs in the 'Kettes 3 run first, with 5 RBIs on the night. The Brakettes won the nightcap to complete their first season in the NPF successfully, finishing a mere 2 games out of first behind the Bandits. If the Brakettes win this evening they face the winner of the New Engalnd-Chicago opener at 6 P.M. in Straftford Sunday for the NPF Championship. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
CATCHING LIGHTNING: Brakette Ace Sarah Pauly guns out Carrie Leto of the Force in late inning action in the nightcap Tuesday evening. Second Baser Stephanie Best takes the throw at first as Kellie Wilkerson watches the bang-bang play. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
The Casey Stendgel of Softball, John Stratton, coming to eet his club after the final win of the regular season. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
Manager John Stratton of the Brakettes said Tuesday night, he thought he would pitch Pauly back-to-back in both games this weekend, should the Bandits get by Akron tonight, with Nikki Meyers (with the best "do" in fastpitch), who beat the Bandits in Chicago two weeks ago at the ready.
Sarah Pauly Finetuning in the 7th Against the Force Tuesday evening. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
"If Sarah Pauly's pitching as good as she is right now and we're hitting the ball, we should be o.k. " Asked if he'd pitch Pauly back-to-back, he said, "That may be the case, she can come back after a day. She's going to get a week's rest. She'll pitch the first one and if need be, can pitch the second. Nikki Meyers is throwing beautiful ball. She doesn't strike out as many (as Pauly) but she makes them hit ground balls and keeps the ball down. Both of them are good checkers. We'll see what happens, we'll see how (Sarah) feels after the first game. We're looking forward to it."
