Key West rebounds, wins by seven-run rule

After taking a drubbing at the hands of Dubuque in the EIHL championship game Wednesday night, Thursday night's 7-0 victory over Balltown at the Peosta Tournament provided sweet relief. The Ramblers delivered at the plate and Clarke shortstop/pitcher Ryan Kelly threw five shut out innings on the mound.

Key West jumped on top early with two runs in the bottom half of the first. It started with consecutive walks by Tyler Sincock and Roberto Rivera. Dan Spain's ground out moved the runners to second and third before Justin Kuhle followed with an RBI grounder and Chris Briggs singled home a run.

The Ramblers added a run in the third with Rivera's RBI single to make it 3-0. A big fifth inning resulted in a seven-run rule victory. Spain started it with a lead off walk and Kuhle and Briggs both singled to load the bases. Andrew Redman forced home a run with a walk, Alex McKinlay chopped a two-run single over first base and Jeff Bushman lined a single to left center to end the game.

Kelly pitched masterfully on the mound. He got credit for a five-inning complete game, allowing only two hits and three walks while striking out four.

Key West now sits at 30-17 overall, one win shy of the team's single-season record of 31, set in 2008. Thursday's win over Balltown also counted as a Prairie League win. The Ramblers finished 13-3 in the Prairie League.

The Ramblers now advance to the quarterfinals of the Peosta Tournament. They play Friday at 8:30 p.m. versus Cascade, a re-match of Wednesday's 10-6 Key West win in the EIHL semifinal playoff game.