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FALCONS BLAST BRESKIS, 13-4

By CHUCK BURGHARDT, Sports Editor

FALCON FIELD - Four feet and look out! It appears to be a whole different game in the Women's Professional Softball League. At least that was the main topic of converstion following the defending Connecticut Falcons 13-4 opening day drubbing of the Buffalo Breskis before 2,162 here, Thursday night.

"I was more nervous than any other opening game," said Falcon starter and winner Joan Joyce (1-0). The WPS superstar had just arrived in Meriden a little after 2 o'clock this afternoon after throwing out the first ball at the Womens College World Series in Omaha, Neb., earlier this week. She was more than a little tired but added, "There was more pressure because of the 44 feet. I wasn't sure what was going to happen." The league moved the mound back four feet over the winter.

What happend was the Breskis touched Joyce for 10 hits and four runs, inclduing a four for four performance by rightfielder Connie Peterson. "I've been with Joan 20 years and I never saw anyone go four for four against her," said Falcons coach Brenda Riley.

But the Falcons treatment of Buffalo starter Helen Nikiel was even ruder as they pounded out 14 hits, breaking open a tight 3-0 ballgame with 10 runs in their last two appearances at the plate.

Joyce Compton and Irea Shea led the slugging parade with two hits apiece and five RBI's, three by Compton. Shea scored three runs, Compton tallied twice while Lu Gecewicz slashed out three hits on the night.

It was Compton, however, that excited the crowd, with a long home run to right-center in the seventh to score Shea, who had just singled in a run, ahead of her. When asked if she was swinging for the fences, the lefty slugger replied, "Seriously no. I was just trying to connect with it. I try not to swing hard but take my normal swing."

...... But for one game at least the bussing still centers around those four little, big feet.