University of Massachusets Athletics
Plourde Leads Breakers Over Brakettes
August 10, 2009 | Softball
Aug. 10, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - The Stratford Brakettes' quest for the 2009 Women's Major Softball Championship came to an abrupt halt Sunday morning, as the Stratford Breakers' Sarah Plourde pitched a three-hitter in a 1-0 upset at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field in Stratford, Conn. The game was a clash of UMass softball players as Plourde's Breakers squared off with a Brakette's team that teammates Carly Normandin and Bailey Sanders, as well as UMass alum Denise Denis, all play for.
Plourde, who will be a sophomore in the fall, struck out four Brakettes in her first impressive performance of the day. She followed the upset win of the Brakettes with an equally-strong outing against the St. Louis Saints, giving up four hits and a lone run against the perennial contenders from Missouri.
Plourde'sbiggest threat in the game came thanks to her UMass teammates, when Sanders singled with two outs. A base hit by Normandin moved the potential tying run into scoring position. Plourde responded to the rally, and induced a grounder by Bright to retire the side.
The Breakers went on to lose in ten innings to the NYC Havoc in the championship game, finishing as runner-ups. Plourde was named the MVP of the tournament, winning the Mickey Stratton Award, despite falling short of the title.
Denis and Normandin were also named to the All-Tournament team as outfielders.
Denis finished the season with 15 home runs, tying her with Pat Dufficy and Germaine Fairchild for the most homers in a single season by a Brakette.
The Brakettes, who have a long tradition of utilizing UMass talent, finished the season 49-7.
