BRAKETTES DEFEAT RACERS 1-0, ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

August 27, 2006 - The Connecticut Brakettes rode the dominant pitching of Sarah Pauly to a 1-0, extra-inning victory over the defending champion Akron Racers Saturday night at Frank DeLuca HOF Field in Stratford, CT., to advance to the NPF Championship game to be played Sunday night at 6:00 PM. Germaine Fairchild's single in the eighth inning drove in Kellie Wilkerson from second base, sending the Brakettes into the final in just their first season of professional softball.

On the same day that Pauly was named the most outstanding pitcher in the NPF, the Brakette hurler struck out 14, while allowing just two hits. She gave up two walks, one intentional, and both to slugger Oli Keohohou. Sarah worked in commanding fashion throughout the evening, and was at her best when the stakes were highest. In the sixth inning, 2004 league MVP Iyhia McMichael led off with a single. She was sacrificed over by Amber Hall, but never stopped at second base, and advanced all the way to third as the Brakettes left the base unguarded. With just one out, Pauly struck out Caitln Benyi, who had doubled in the first inning. Brakette manager John Stratton elected to intentionally walk Keohohou, and pitch to Stephanie Pomes. With runners at first and third, Pauly reached back and delivered with another strikeout, shutting down the Racers' greatest scoring threat.

The Brakettes' eighth inning started with Wilkerson walking off of relief pitcher Brandee McArthur. McArthur came in for Radara McHugh, who also pitched extremely well, holding the home team to just three hits in seven innings, striking out five and walking four. Jessica Merchant then lined her second single of the night, slicing it to right field to bring up Fairchild, who delivered the game-winning hit.

The Brakettes will play the New England Riptide at 6 PM EDT on Sunday, with a first-time NPF champion to be crowned. The Riptide finished runner-up to the New York Juggernaut in the inaugural 2004 NPF season.