Doty, Dubuque halt Rambler winning streak

Behind a dominant performance from starting pitcher Ryan Doty, the Dubuque Blues handed the Ramblers their first loss of the season on Saturday night in the first round of the Bellevue Tournament. Doty, a Wartburg College product, effectively changed speeds with his fastball and relied often on a wicked slider in out-dueling Key West pitcher Andrew Redman in a 2-1 decision.

Doty struck out 13 Key West hitters and allowed only a first-inning run. After beginning the game by getting Jared Munson to ground out and coaxing a Dan Spain strikeout, Doty surrendered a two-out walk to Tim Carty. Following a Michael Jimenez single up the middle, Chris Briggs’ line drive base hit under the glove of the shortstop drove home the lone Rambler run. Key West (7-1) would get just two more hits in the final six innings – both by Briggs.

Yet Doty was only slightly better than Redman, who gave up only one earned run in a six-inning complete game performance. Redman struck out seven and allowed just four hits and two walks. His only mistake was a 1-1 pitch that Doty lined to right field for a game-deciding RBI double in the bottom of the fifth.

The Ramblers tried to mount a rally in the seventh when Matt Knabel reached on an error on the shortstop to begin the inning. Cory Davidson proceeded with a hotshot up the middle, but was robbed by second baseman Chris Johnson who made a diving stab and forced out Knabel at second. Doty then struck out Munson and Spain to end the game.

Dubuque advances to take on Dyersville in the second round of the Bellevue Tournament. The Ramblers return to action Thursday when they travel to Farley Park for a 7 p.m. Prairie League match up.

Farley Tournament Set: The Ramblers will again battle Dubuque in first round tournament action. The Farley Tournament pits Key West against Dubuque on June 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Cottrell to re-join Bucks

Ben Cottrell has once again garnered a stint with the Waterloo Bucks of the Northwoods League, which showcases collegiate baseball players. Cottrell will join the Bucks on Monday for an undetermined period of time and will likely resume pitching for the Ramblers later this summer.

Cottrell made his debut with Waterloo on Aug. 6 of last year. In that outing Cottrell got a no-decision after throwing six innings against the Battle Creek Bombers. He gave up three hits, three walks, three runs (two earned) and struck out two. Cottrell went on to make one more start for the Bucks last season, going five innings and again getting a no-decision.

Cottrell was the Ramblers' best starter in 2010, leading the team with 10 victories while posting a 3.07 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 73.1 innings of work. The Loras College standout recorded a 4-1 record to go with a 2.23 ERA in 40.1 innings as a Duhawk this past season.

Scheduling Notes

Please note two changes to the schedule. Tuesday's scheduled game with Worthington has been moved to July 19. That game will remain at 7 p.m. in Peosta. Also, the Prairie League home game with East Dubuque, originally listed as "TBA" on the schedule, has been set for Aug. 6 at 1 p.m. at Table Mound Field.

The complete Key West schedule can be viewed HERE or by clicking on the "2011 Team Schedule" link at the top right of the blog.

Bellevue Tournament Bracket

This year's annual Bellevue Tournament is set to begin Wednesday at 7 p.m. - if weather allows. The Ramblers are scheduled to play their first game of the tourney on Saturday at 6 p.m. versus Dubuque. The complete tournament bracket is above. Click the image to enlarge.

Rain washes away Tuesday night contest

Only Mother Nature could halt the Ramblers quest for their eighth straight victory, or so it seemed Tuesday night. Key West led Dyersville 2-0 at Peosta in the bottom of the third when strong rains swamped A.J. Spiegel Park and forced the game to be postponed.

Michael Jimenez had driven home the game's first run in the first with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Dan Spain, who had reached on a double. The Ramblers got their second run after Matt Knabel's grounder eluded the third baseman, allowing Cory Davidson to trot home in the second. Andrew Redman completed three shut out innings on the mound in what would have gone down as his first start of the season.

The game with Dyersville will be re-scheduled for a later date. Next up for the Ramblers is Dubuque on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Bellevue Tournament.

Ramblers rally for 10-7 win

The Ramblers found themselves in unfamiliar territory Sunday afternoon, facing a 6-0 deficit as they came to bat in the bottom of the first. But Key West was not about to let Peosta blemish its perfect record.

The Ramblers (7-0) responded with six runs of their own in the first frame in route to a 10-7 Prairie League victory. Jared Munson led off the first with a double, Dan Spain followed with a walk and Michael Jimenez knocked in the first Key West run with a RBI single. Justin Kuhle drove in Spain with a RBI ground out and Alex McKinlay added a RBI single three batters later. Cole Boge then plated a pair of runs with a triple to right field.

Key West went on to score one run each in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Five Ramblers notched multiple hits, including Chris Briggs (3-for-5), Spain (2-for-3), Boge (2-for-4), Jimenez (2-for-4) and Munson (2-for-4). Of the Ramblers' 13 hits, six went for extra bases.

On the mound, Greg Farrey came up big in relief of starter Ethan Carlson, who struggled with his control and was pulled in the first inning. Farrey recorded the win after throwing 4.2 innings of scoreless baseball. Sean O'Connor pitched the final four innings to pick up his first save.

Play resumes Tuesday when the Ramblers entertain Dyersville at 7 p.m. at Peosta. It will be Key West's EIHL home opener.

CHAMPS!

The Ramblers captured the EIHL Tournament championship Saturday night with a 7-1 victory over Farley. Pitcher Curt Dixon got the win in his Key West debut on the mound and outfielder Cory Davidson stayed white hot.

Davidson's inside-the-park three run homer in the sixth inning broke open a 5-1 lead and gave Dixon more than enough breathing room. Davidson lined the 3-2 pitch to left field and the ball rolled all the way to the wall after the left fielder came up empty on a diving attempt. Davidson went 3-for-4 with four RBIs on the night and finished the tournament 8-for-10, making him Key West's unofficial tournament MVP.

Dixon, making his first start in about eight months, gave up only one run, seven hits and three walks while striking out five in six innings of work. Dixon mixed in an array of pitches and appeared to get more comfortable as the game went along. He finished with a pitch count of 97.

The Ramblers (6-0) got on the board first after Tim Carty's first-inning double drove in Tyler Sincock, who doubled to lead off the game. Chris Briggs added a two-out RBI single two batters later. Davidson and Dan Spain also added RBI singles of their own to cap the scoring.

Farley got its only run in the second inning when Bryan Gisel homered to left. Brian Miller, who went 2-for-4, was the only Farley player to tally multiple hits.

Key West returns to Prairie League play on Sunday when it hosts Peosta at Table Mound Field. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.

Ramblers hold off Cascade, advance to EIHL championship

After racing out to a 10-0 lead, the Ramblers appeared to be on their way to an easy victory over Cascade on Friday night. But Key West (5-0) could not breath easy until Cascade's Marty Sutherland grounded to third to end the game in the bottom of the seventh with runners at first and second. The Ramblers held on for a 10-9 victory in the EIHL Tournament semifinal match up.

Key West exploded for nine runs in the third inning as it sent 12 batters to the plate in the frame. The Ramblers chased starting pitcher Pat Weber from the game with two outs in the inning. The Ramblers tagged Weber for four straight singles to start the inning. He was lifted after shortstop Dan Spain singled for the second time in the inning, driving in a run.

Right fielder Cory Davidson was a perfect 4-for-4 for Key West. Davidson tripled, scored a run, knocked in a run and stole a base. Spain went 3-for-4 with three runs and three stolen bases, while Michael Jimenez cracked two hits in three at-bats. Jimenez's three-run double proved to be the biggest blow in the nine-run third inning.

But Cascade responded with a huge seven-run fourth inning to get back in the game. The Reds pounded out five hits and were aided by an error in the inning. Key West starter Sean O'Connor finally got out of the inning with a strikeout of Cal Rahe. O'Connor gave up seven runs (three earned) in four innings and upped his record to 2-0.

Spain relieved O'Connor in the fifth and gutted out the final three innings to record the save. After hitting a batter and giving up a single to start the seventh, Spain struck out the next two batters and coaxed Sutherland into a game-ending fielders choice.

The win puts the Ramblers in Saturday's championship game at 7:30 p.m. versus Farley, which defeated Dubuque 4-3 in the late game on Friday. Key West will give the ball to Curt Dixon, who will make his first ever start as a Rambler.

Ramblers continue offensive surge in win over Monticello

The Key West Ramblers cranked out 14 hits on the way to an 11-3 road victory over Monticello on Thursday. Four different Ramblers collected three hits each in the blowout EIHL win.

Chris Briggs, Cory Davidson, Tyler Sincock and Cam Stewart all went 3-for-5 as the Ramblers improved to 4-0 on the season. Key West put up three runs in the second inning, four in the third, two in the fourth and one each in the sixth and seventh. Briggs added four runs scored and two stolen bases to his stat line.

Ben Cottrell made his season debut on the mound, going six strong innings. Cottrell retired the first nine batters of the game and did not allow a hit until a sixth inning single by Nick Miller with one out. Cottrell gave up three runs (two earned) in six innings. He struck out eight and walked four. Ethan Carlson pitched three scoreless innings to get the save.

Key West now turns its attention to the semifinals of the EIHL Tournament. The Ramblers take on Cascade at 7 p.m. on Friday when Sean O'Connor will make his second start with Key West. The winner advances to the championship game at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. The loser will play in the consolation game at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

2011 Team Statistics

To view complete Key West team and individual hitting and pitching statistics, click HERE.

O'Connor dazzles in Rambler debut

Sean O'Connor shined brightly in his first start on the mound with Key West. The Oregon native tossed five innings of one-hit, shut out baseball as the Ramblers again overpowered the opposition in a run-rule victory Sunday night. Key West (3-0) blanked Dyersville 8-0 in the first round of the EIHL playoffs.

At the plate, first baseman Chris Briggs cracked two hits, including a back-breaking three-run homer in the fourth inning that greeted Dyersville reliever Spencer Radabough and pushed the Key West advantage to 8-0.

Designated hitter Mike Jimenez stayed hot with a 2-for-3 night. Jimenez knocked home a pair of runs and scored once. Shortstop Dan Spain also turned in yet another multiple hit game, going 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run. Center fielder Jared Munson added a two-run single in the second.

With the win, the Ramblers advance to play Cascade in the semifinal round of the tournament. That game will take place Friday at 7 p.m. in Dyersville.

Jimenez goes deep thrice as Ramblers roll

Michael Jimenez (right) is congratulated by teammates after smacking his third home run of the game in Sunday's 18-1 victory over Placid.

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Michael Jimenez became the first Key West Rambler to homer three times in one game as Key West routed Placid 18-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Jimenez connected on solo shots to left field in both the bottom of the first and in the bottom of the second. He then capped off his four-hit, six RBI game with a grand slam to deep left center in the sixth.

Tim Carty started the home run parade in the first with a long two-run blast to left field. Jimenez's home run immediately after marked the first back-to-back homer occurrence in Rambler history. Two batters later, catcher Matt Knabel crushed a two-run homer of his own to left center. Key West sent 12 hitters to the plate in an eight-run first inning.

The Ramblers (2-0) totaled 21 hits in the seven-inning, run-rule shortened affair. Six players collected multiple hits, including Jimenez (4-for-5), Dan Spain (4-for-5), Toby Decker (3-for-5), Knabel (3-for-5), Cory Davidson (2-for-5) and Jared Munson (2-for-5).

On the mound, Cole Boge went 4.1 innings to get the win in his first start of the season. Boge allowed one run (none earned) and struck out five while surrendering only two hits. Ethan Carlson pitched the final 2.2 innings in relief. He struck out four and gave up just a two-out walk in the sixth.

The Ramblers will play a second game today at 6 p.m. versus Dyersville at Jenk Field as part of the EIHL Tournament.

Tonight's tournament game re-scheduled for Sunday

Tonight's EIHL Tournament contest between Key West and Dyersville has been re-scheduled due to wet conditions at Jenk Field. The two teams will instead meet Sunday at 6 p.m. in a first round tournament match up at Dyersville.

Sunday's 1:30 p.m. Prairie League game versus Placid at Table Mound Field will be played as scheduled.

In Friday night's EIHL Tournament action, Cascade prevailed over Monticello and Dubuque defeated Rickardsville. The winner of Key West and Dyersville will advance to take on Cascade on May 20 at 7 p.m. Dubuque will draw the winner between Farley and Worthington.

EIHL Tournament Schedule

The Ramblers begin play in this year's Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League Tournament on Saturday at 6 p.m. versus Dyersville. Dyersville's Jenk Field will be the site for all tournament games.

Here is a look at the EIHL Tournament schedule:

May 13

Cascade vs. Monticello, 7 p.m.

Dubuque vs. Rickardsville, 7 p.m.

May 14

Key West vs. Dyersville, 6 p.m.

Farley vs. Worthington, 7:30 p.m.

May 20

Key West/Dyersville vs. Cascade/Monticello, 7 p.m.

Farley/Worthington vs. Dubuque/Rickardsville, 8:30 p.m.

May 21

Consolation, 6 p.m.

Championship, 7:30 p.m.

Ramblers cruise in season opener

Three Key West pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts in a seven-inning 15-0 victory over Bankston in the Ramblers' season opener at Table Mound Field on Sunday.

Key West starting pitcher Ryan Kelly threw four hitless innings, striking out 11 of the 13 batters he faced in picking up the win. Relievers Ethan Carlson and Sean O'Connor pitched the final three innings. Carlson struck out five and allowed just one hit in two innings of work, while O'Connor struck out all three hitters he faced.

At the plate, Dan Spain picked up where he left off last season with three hits in four at bats. Toby Decker and Tyler Sincock both went 2-for-4 with a double. The Ramblers tallied 11 hits, five walks and took five hit-by-pitches on the day.

Bankston got its only hit in the fifth inning when Andy Ross doubled to center field. Bankston hitters reached base just three times the entire afternoon.

The Ramblers (1-0) now look forward to a 6 p.m. contest on Saturday at Dyersville as part of the EIHL Tournament.

How the Ramblers are doing in college baseball

2011 statistics for Ramblers currently competing in college baseball:

-Cole Boge (Loras): 2.36 ERA, 2-3 W-L, 34.1 IP, 17 K, 37 H, 5 BB, 10 G

-Ben Cottrell (Loras): 2.30 ERA, 2-1 W-L, 31.1 IP, 21 K, 30 H, 8 BB, 9 G

-Cory Davidson (Clarke): .250 BA, 1 HR, 9 RBI, .339 OBP, .333 SLG, 3 2B, 31 GP

-Greg Farrey (Loras): 9.82 ERA, 0-0 W-L, 3.2 IP, 2 K, 6 H, 2 G

-Jared Munson (Clarke): .315 BA, 0 HR, 22 RBI, .393 OBP, .371 SLG, 6 2B, 16 SB, 38 GP

-Sean O'Connor (Clarke): 1.69 ERA, 4-2 W-L, 26.2 IP, 2o K, 17 H, 3 BB, 3 SV, 16 G

-Andrew Redman (Iowa Central): 1.57 ERA, 5-1 W-L, 46 IP, 45 K, 39 H, 15 BB, 8 G

-Roberto Rivero (Clarke): .343 BA, 0 HR, 25 RBI, .403 OBP, .396 SLG, 5 2B, 38 GP