Poor Early Defense Leads to Lopsided Loss
July 8, 2006 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Rockford Thunder News Release
LEAGUE CITY, Texas - The Connecticut Brakettes of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) earned a series split with the Texas Thunder on Saturday night by knocking off the home team 7-1 at Big League Dreams in League City.
After the first inning the Thunder trailed 2-0 and by the end of the second inning it was 6-0 in favor of the visiting Brakettes. Connecticut did swing the bats well in the game collecting 10 hits, but they also capitalized on all of the Texas miscues. The Thunder committed four errors in a game for the third time this season leading to the loss.
Besides the poor fielding in the game the real story may have been the work of league veteran Kaci Clark. Clark entered the week 0-2 with a seven-plus ERA in the circle, but she evened her record at 2-2 with two complete game wins. She allowed only one run over 14 innings of work in her two starts.
Rookie pitcher Krystal Lewallen took the loss for the Thunder to drop to 1-2 on the season. The youngster failed to make it out of the second inning before giving way to Christa Williams. Lewallen allowed four hits and five total runs in the game (four earned) as she lasted one inning, officially.
Williams, who pitched in the three of the four games in the series, went the next five innings and allowed five hits and two runs (one earned). She did, however, strike out seven in the game to increase her league-leading total to 83.
The offensive heroes in the game for Connecticut were Kelly Kretschman and Kellie Wilkerson. Kretschman, hitting out of the leadoff spot, was 3-for-4 in the game with two runs scored and an RBI. Wilkerson finished the night 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Saturday night's game was the final game between the two teams in Texas. The teams will match up in Stratford, Conn. for a four-game series beginning on Thursday night. All four games in Connecticut will be available live on the internet at www.ctbrakettes.com.
The Thunder will not return to Big League Dreams until the 19th of July when they host the Akron Racers for a four-game set. Team USA will then visit Texas for a four-game series beginning on Friday, July 28.
National Pro Fastpitch Stories from July 8, 2006
- Heat Blank Dominican Republic, Win Third Straight - Arizona Heat
- Poor Early Defense Leads to Lopsided Loss - Rockford Thunder
- Riptide victorious - New England Riptide
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