Assistant Softball Coach Alyson Chiaramonte to Pitch in "Battle of the Sexes" Game

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) assistant softball coach Alyson Chiaramonte has been tabbed to pitch in a "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition game between the Bridgeport Bluefish baseball team and the Stratford Brakettes softball team on Monday, July 14.

"I'm really excited to be a part of this historic game," said Chiaramonte. "I'm obviously rooting for the girls. (laughs)"

Chiaramonte, a four-time United States Collegiate Athletic Association All-American, will pitch for the Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. 

"I'll be meeting the team for the first time on the day of the game. I think they will struggle with the Brakettes pitching. For some reason baseball players think hitting a softball is 'easier' so I think it's going to be interesting."

The Brakettes are one of the longest running competitive softball teams in the United States in their 68th year of competition and feature some of the best collegiate and post-collegiate players in the nation. They own 28 Amateur Softball Association national championships and ride an active, 113-game winning streak since 2012.

After completing her collegiate playing career in 2012, Chiaramonte continued to compete as a member of the Stratford Seahawks amateur softball team and has faced the Brakettes before.

"Sometimes when I play against them I feel like no matter where I throw the ball they hit it. The Brakettes lineup is one of the best lineups I have ever faced so every time I play them I try to have a different approach. They are a great team and if you don't mix it up against them they will make it hurt."

The exhibition will be a nine-inning game under fast-pitch softball rules played at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, the home of the Bluefish, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The distances will be set at standard softball length with the base paths set at 60 feet, the pitching rubber at 43 feet and the outfield fence at 210 feet.

A Lady Bear from 2009-2012 and the only four-time USCAA All-American in St. Joseph's history in any sport, Chiaramonte rewrote the St. Joseph's record book and owns all but one SJC career pitching record. She compiled 65 wins in the circle with nine no-hitters and five perfect games and averaged nearly nine strikeouts per seven-innings.

Chiaramonte will enter her third year as assistant coach of the Lady Bears softball team this season.

Asked if she feels any nerves playing in the spectacle, "Not really. I'm excited. I'm just going to go out and do what I've been doing my whole life. I love this game. I'm just happy to be a part of something like this."

Game time for the "Battle of the Sexes" is 7 p.m., and tickets can be purchased by visiting www.bridgeportbluefish.com or calling (203) 210-BLUE.

More:
via ctpost.com
via Brakettes Softball
via Bridgeport Bluefish