Stratford Brakettes gearing up for an Action Packed 2024 Season

The Stratford Brakettes winter meetings are continuing with the plans for a big 2024 season right here in the Town of Stratford. The Brakettes play their home games at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field located on lower Main St. DeLuca Field has been the Brakettes home for the past 34 seasons.. The stadium is capable of holding over 2,000 fans.
Over the course of the last few seasons the Town has invested several hundred thousand dollars in keeping the facility the premier place to play softball in the State of Connecticut.
The Town and the Brakettes have enjoyed a fine working relationship, the latest was the purchase of the newly installed scoreboard.
During the winter meetings ideas have been discussed to further enhance the fan experience that this town has enjoyed since 1947.
General Manager Rob Baird and the Brakette brain trust have been securing a pool of talent during the off season to fill both a Stratford Brakette roster and a Junior Brakette roster.
Always hovering around the world of the Brakettes and monitoring the operations is newly inducted National Softball Hall of Famer, Mr. John Stratton. Stratton has been with the organization since its inception, rising from a batboy at the age of 10 to Managing the team for many years.
The Junior team has often seen their players rise through the ranks to achieve a spot on the top club.
The Junior Brakettes also call DeLuca Hall of Fame field home. They have numerous local high school softball stars on their roster and also bolster their roster with those playing in college as freshman or sophomores.
Also talked about was having outside organizations having their own fundraising opportunities alongside the Brakettes all the while enjoying an afternoon or evening out at the ballpark.
Both teams have discussed combining efforts to hold a summer fastpitch softball camp for the youngsters in town.

The Stratford / Raybestos Brakettes Softball Hall of Fame Museum continues to be an ongoing mission of the organization with the hopes of securing a ground breaking opening in the near future.
Of course the annual Joan Joyce Golf Tournament came up in conversations along with the ability to help sponsor the Brakettes and advertise local businesses at DeLuca and on the Brakettes website.
The Brakettes will also be honoring the Milford Little League fastpitch softball team who had quite a run last season.
The Sikorsky slow pitch softball teams of the 60’, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s will also have their day at DeLuca with the Brakettes. They were also inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame in the fall of 2023.
The big headliner will be the 50th celebration of the Raybestos Brakettes World Championship title won right here in Stratford in 1974.

The Town of Stratford was certainly the place to be in the summer of 1974 when the world’s countries and their national champions descended upon Stratford to play for the title at Raybestos Memorial Field in a weeks long series. Over 10,000 watched that Championship game.
Details of the winter meetings were captured below in a press release supplied by GM Rob Baird and provides a hint of the coming and goings since the end of last season in addition to the storied history of the Stratford Brakettes and the former Raybestos Brakettes.

********* Stratford Brakettes Press Release *********

In 2023, the Stratford Brakettes completed their 77th consecutive season of women’s fastpitch softball with a third-place finish in the 2023 Women’s Major Softball (WMS) Nationals. Rookie Manager Lauren Pitney’s club finished the year with a 22-8 record and looks to return a strong core for 2024.
The Central Jersey Lightning clinched the 2023 WMS title on August 6th with an 8-4 win over Stripes & Strikes (PA), becoming just the fourth team to win the crown in the tournament’s 15-year history. The NYC Havoc won the inaugural 2009 WMS, while the St. Louis Saints took the 2017 title.
The Brakettes have won the other 12 WMS titles, but the Lightning are primed to defend their title, and Stripes & Strikes will again return strong.
The Junior Brakettes will again be managed by Mary Sciglimpaglia-Brainard and assisted by Rob Sciglimpaglia. The coaches have received 14 commitments and will again compete in the WMS.

Legendary Brakettes manager John Stratton was recently given a long-deserved hero’s welcome on October 28th in Oklahoma City, as he was inducted into the USA National Softball Hall of Fame.
Stratton, who recently turned 86, joined his wife, former Raybestos Brakette catcher Rosemary “Micki” (Macchietto) Stratton (1969), as the only husband and wife team to be inducted into the National Hall of Fame. Micki was the first of 24 Brakettes to be inducted into the Hall, while John became the third Brakettes manager (Vincent “Wee” Devitt in 1977 and Ralph Raymond in 1993) enshrined in Oklahoma City.
John was accompanied at the Hall of Fame Induction by his son, Jay (John Jr.) Stratton, who also led the Brakettes to a national ASA Women’s Major National title. Jay co-managed the 2006 ASA champion Brakettes with Rich Roessner and served as John’s assistant for many years.

Coach Stratton gave a compelling acceptance speech to the delight of the 500+ people in attendance and received a thunderous ovation. He talked about his love for softball and his players, and noted how much he misses those we’ve lost in recent years, including his wife, Micki, plus former Brakette and softball legend, Joan Joyce, and his longtime partner, former Brakettes GM Bob Baird.

Current Brakettes GM Rob Baird (Bob’s oldest son), Brakettes Assistant Coach Mark Dempsey and his wife, Barbara, also made the trip to Oklahoma City to honor Stratton. Fellow National Hall of Famer/Brakettes legend Diane “Schuie” Schumacher and Sharon Schmickley also attended in support of Stratton.
Schumacher’s first year with the Brakettes was 1976, when Stratton replaced ailing manager Ralph Raymond and led a young Brakettes team to an unexpected ASA title. She said Stratton’s induction was like “the icing on the cake” for her former coach. “I’m so pleased to be here to honor John for his contributions to the Brakettes and the game of softball. John is a tremendous coach, human being, and ambassador of the game… It’s remarkable to see him join Micki in the Hall of Fame, as she was the very first Brakette to go in”.

Stratton guided the Brakettes to 17 National titles, including five ASA and 12 Women's Major Softball crowns. Stratton’s record as Brakettes Manager was 1,492-141 (91.3 %), including two perfect seasons… 2011 (63-0) and 2013 (68-0). Stratton and the Brakettes also enjoyed an unprecedented 168-game winning streak from 2010-2012.

John was one of eight individuals in the 2023 Hall of Fame Class, which also saw the induction of Stratford’s Sikorsky Aircraft Men’s Slow Pitch Team. After the ceremony, Stratton mingled with the Sikorsky Aircraft players and other new inductees, taking pictures, and sharing old softball stories.
“I am just so very fortunate to have grown up in Stratford, and with the Raybestos Brakettes and Cardinals. If I was born in Brooklyn, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Stratton. “I am very lucky to have played, coached and lived softball my whole life, to meet my wife Micki and later coach with my son with the Brakettes, and now this… it's incredible.”

The Brakettes’ franchise is still feeling the void of legendary GM Bob Baird, who passed away Dec. 31st, 2022. Baird was honored by the team in Stratford on July 8th before the night’s games with the Mass Drifters. Pre-recorded tributes by players and coaches were played over the PA, with speeches delivered by John Stratton, former Raybestos Cardinal Ken Bruno, and Rob Baird.
Big Bob was also honored this off-season by the CT Scholastic and Collegiate Softball Hall of Fame, with their annual program in Southington on September 10th being dedicated in his memory.
Former Brakette star pitcher Rachele Fico (Stratford Brakettes 2008-2012, NPF Akron Racers/Chicago Bandits 2013-2019) was among those inducted, as was former Brakette ace Allyson Fournier (Stratford Brakettes 2014, NPF PA Rebellion 2015), former NPF Connecticut Brakettes Asst. Coach Julie Brzezinski (2006), and umpire, Michael Giorgetti.

The evening also served as a public welcoming for a great friend of the Brakettes, former Umpire-in-Chief Cliff LaRose, whose amazing recovery from a life-threatening infection and subsequent leg amputation continues to inspire all he knows. Cliff awaits a prosthetic and continues his rehabilitation in Hamden and hopes to return to DeLuca Field in 2024. Friends are encouraged to contact him at clarose1@aol.com. Keep up the great work, Cliff!

“Joan Joyce! The Musical!” recently wrapped up an October run at Waterbury’s Seven Angels Theater. The critically acclaimed musical celebrates the life and impact of the trailblazing former Brakettes star. The play follows Joan’s career from her childhood to the Brakettes, to her pro softball and golf careers, and coaching at Florida Atlantic University.

On the play’s final night, Joan’s niece, Meghan Joyce Bolesta, plus John Stratton and former Raybestos Brakette catcher Barbara Clark (1970-1978) were included in a pre-show discussion panel. Other former Brakettes were featured as pre-show speakers throughout the musical’s run.
The Brakettes Broadcast Crew, led by Will Gallagher and Moe Scioletti, webcasted all home Stratford High softball games at www.brakettes.com. The South West Conference (SWC) playoffs were also at DeLuca, with webcasts provided by the Brakettes.

The Brakettes hope to increase local webcasts going forward on www.brakettes.com and provided the live broadcast for 2023’s Thanksgiving Stratford vs. Bunnell football game. Select Stratford High School home baseball games from Penders Field will also be carried by the Brakettes in 2024.

The Brakettes recently celebrated the installation of a new scoreboard at DeLuca Field. Both the Stratford Brakettes and Stratford H.S. Red Devils will benefit from the new Northeast Scoreboard, which was purchased fully by the Brakettes.

The total cost of the scoreboard was over $27,000, including its physical installation and the removal of the old scoreboard. We would like to thank several generous fans who donated recently to help defray the costs of the scoreboard project, including former Brakettes Brandice Balschmiter (2006-2008, 2010-2018), Diane Seery (1976), as well as Karen Ormiston, Billy Green, Edward Agvent, and Dave Schroder.

The Stratford Brakettes are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, and all donations are fully tax-deductible.
To donate via Venmo: @Brakettes-Inc
Checks can be made out to “Brakettes Inc.” and sent to:
Brakettes Softball
185 Lordship Road
Stratford, CT 06615