Briggs leads the way to title

Above: The Ramblers pose for cameras after Saturday's tournament championship.

First row (standing, from left to right): Justin Kuhle, Tim Carty, Tyler Sincock, John Knabel, Sean O'Connor, Paul Carty, Curt Dixon, Dan Spain, Matt Knabel, Cory Davidson.

Second row: Ethan Carlson, Jared Munson, Michael Jimenez, Cam Stewart, Chris Briggs.

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No team faced a more difficult road to the Farley Tournament championship than the Key West Ramblers, who cut through Dubuque, Bellevue, Cascade and Epworth to capture their first ever Farley Tournament title. Saturday's 10-2 victory over Epworth in the championship capped off a banner week in which the Ramblers laid an early claim as the area's top team.

Chris Briggs, whose batting average currently hovers near .500 and has yet to cool off this season, was tabbed the Leon Kramer Tournament MVP after another stellar effort on Saturday. Briggs went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs in the victory over Epworth. Curt Dixon, making his third start on the mound this season, tossed a seven-inning complete game, striking out nine to go with just six hits and one earned run allowed.

The Ramblers (14-1) got on the board first in the top of the second when Cory Davidson blasted a solo home run with one out. After Epworth answered with a run in the bottom of the second, Key West regained the lead with a two-run single by Briggs to make the score 3-1.

Epworth later got its final run in the fifth inning to make it a 3-2 game. But a run-scoring single by Justin Kuhle and a two-run single by Cam Stewart in the sixth pushed the margin to 6-2, more than enough support for Dixon.

The seventh inning saw Key West explode for four more runs to end all doubt. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Tim Carty and Briggs made it 8-2. Two batters later Davidson added an RBI single and the final tally was aided by an error.

The victory left the Ramblers buzzing about their incredible start to the season. Tim Carty had this to say in today's Telegraph Herald article:

"It feels so good. Eight years ago we even got scheduled to play against the host team," Carty said. "We'd always go out in the first round and come back and watch the later rounds. Now to be out there playing in the championship game is great. We added some great players along the way.

"It means a lot when you get the same guys every night. You really build such a great chemistry with the same group of guys. Sometimes I think that means a little more than talent. Especially in baseball."

To read the entire TH story, click HERE (subscription required).

The Ramblers are back in action Sunday at Epworth at 1 p.m. in a Prairie League contest.