Season in review

Although the 2010 Ramblers failed to reach the team record of 31 wins, set back in 2008, they did break team records for league victories in both the EIHL and the Prairie League. They went 13-3 in the Prairie League and 11-5 in the EIHL.

Those records were good enough to send Key West back to the playoffs in both leagues for a fourth straight season, staking Key West's claim as one of the top semi-pro teams in the area. The Ramblers reached the championship of the EIHL playoffs by beating Cascade 10-6, before losing to Dubuque in the final game. In the Prairie League playoffs, Key West lost a heartbreaker to Bernard, 4-2.

Pitcher Ben Cottrell was a huge reason for Key West's success in 2010. He filled the void left by Ned Schauff, who pitched in only one game in 2010. Cottrell tied Schauff's team single-season wins record with 10. He also posted a 3.07 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 73.1 innings of work. Without Cottrell, the Ramblers may have struggled to get back to the playoffs.

Also providing a big boost were several Ramblers new to the team in 2010. Clarke University players Jared Munson, Chris Briggs, Cory Davidson and Chris Brewer all made significant contributions. Briggs set new team single-season records for home runs (7), RBI (35) and total bases (78). Meanwhile, Munson batted a team best .404 and broke the team single-season on base percentage record with a mark of .507.

In addition, several familiar faces enjoyed solid seasons. Tim Carty, in his seventh season with Key West, hit .314 with a career-high five homers. Dan Spain, a fourth-year Rambler, batted .381 with two home runs, 28 RBI and a team single-season record of 18 stolen bases.

Tyler Sincock registered a .380 on base percentage as Key West's leadoff man. Jeff Bushman caught fire at the end of the season and finished with a .282 batting average.

Loras College pitchers Cole Boge and Greg Farrey combined to throw 113.1 innings. Boge's 4.79 ERA was inflated by a couple of particularly bad outings. Farrey at times struggled with control, but gave the Ramblers many quality outings.

One area Key West improved upon greatly from the previous season, was in its play in tournament games. The Ramblers won six tournament games in 2010, including two at the Rickardsville Tournament (over Epworth and East Dubuque). The victory over Cascade in the EIHL playoffs marked the high-point of the season, as Cascade had been in the midst of three-straight tournament titles.

All in all, Key West had a season to remember in 2010. It renewed its key pipeline with Clarke University by bringing in talented college players. A lack of pitching depth led to defeats in big games down the stretch, such as in the EIHL and Prairie League Playoffs and the Peosta Tournament, and was all that kept the Ramblers from setting a new franchise record for wins.

In 2011, the Ramblers look to be as strong as ever. A full season of Andrew Redman, as well as another addition or two to the current roster, could put Key West on a level playing field with the top teams in Eastern Iowa.