In anticipation of early arriving spectators for the Stratford Brakettes’ game against Team USA Softball, portions of DeLuca Field will be open Sunday from 2-4:30 p.m. before fans will be asked to exit the park in preparation for the official opening.

The DeLuca Field refreshment stand, Brakettes and Team USA souvenir booths, and the rest rooms will be open. The bleachers will be partitioned off and no fans will be allowed in the seating area until the gates officially open at 5 p.m.

Fans with reserved seating will enter via the main entrance, adjacent to the ticket booth. General admission fans will enter via the back gate on the first base side of the field.

Four years ago fans attending the Team USA-Stratford Brakettes softball games arrived up to five hours before game time.

Why so early? Try merchandise.

One of the coveted souvenirs is the Team USA program book which is a must for the softball fan. The full color program has in-depth coverage of the entire Olympic Team roster and coaching staff, which includes former Brakettes Cat Osterman and Kelly Kretschman, along with USA alternate Lisa Fernandes, and Coach Karen (Sanchelli) Johns. This will be the last USA Olympic softball team until 2016 at the earliest.

The 9-inning affair is expected to begin at 7 p.m.

It could make for a long day for diehard softball fans. Following the game there will be a 20-minute cooling off and interview period for the players before they will sign autographs for 45 minutes.