Saturday, May 21, 2011

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.

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