Young outfield highlights 10-3 win over Placid

An all-high school outfield contributed heavily to a 17-hit, 10-3 victory over Placid Sunday afternoon at Table Mound Field in Key West. Deon Ploessl (2-for-5), Chad Crabill (2-for-4) and Kenny Capesius (1-for-3) comprised the Rambler outfield on Sunday, representing all three local high schools while combining for five of the team's 17 hits.

Ploessl led off the game with a bloop double and scored on a Dan Spain RBI single. Ben Cottrell then singled and knocked home Spain after he stole second as the Rambler hit parade got started early. Ploessl cracked an RBI single in the second and Cottrell guided a two-run double to right field to make the score 5-0 in the middle of the second.

Placid's Travis McDermott got the Pirates on the board with a two-run homer in the bottom half of the second. But Placid would get no closer than three runs the rest of the game as the Ramblers continued to tack onto the lead with one run each in the third- and fourth-innings and three in the sixth.

Spain (3-for-5), Cottrell (2-for-3), Chris Briggs (2-for-4), Matt Knabel (2-for-4) and Justin Kuhle (2-f0r-4) added to the Key West attack to give the Ramblers seven hitters with at least two hits on the day. With the victory, the Ramblers moved to 27-7 overall, marking the first time in team history that Key West has been 20 games over .500.

Sean O'Connor made his ninth start of the season and improved his record to 8-1. O'Connor went all seven innings and struck out nine hitters. He allowed seven hits and four walks.

Up next for Key West is Cascade at Peosta in a 7 p.m. EIHL contest.

Spain, bats bust loose

After struggling to score runs over the past two weeks, the Ramblers finally busted out with a scoring outburst in Tuesday night's 11-1, 10-run rule home victory over Monticello. Dan Spain reverted back to the form he showed early in the season, recording three hits and a pair of runs.

But Spain was far from the only contributor to the onslaught. Key West (25-7) exploded for six runs in the third, virtually putting the game away right there. Matt Knabel smacked a two-run single and Ben Cottrell (bases-loaded walk) and Kenny Capesius (RBI single) each posted an RBI in the frame. The Ramblers led 7-0 at the end of the inning.

A three-run fourth added even more cushion. After Tanner Denlinger walked and Spain singled to lead-off the fourth, Chris Briggs cracked a two-run triple. Two batters later, Briggs crossed home-plate after a Cody Leach groundout to short. Denlinger pushed the tally to 11-1 in the fifth with an RBI single.

Cottrell was brilliant on the mound again for the Ramblers. He tossed six innings, allowing just four hits and one run. He also struck out five and did not issue a single walk as he improved to 3-1. Cam Stewart made his first appearance on the mound as he relieved Cottrell in the seventh. Stewart recorded a 1-2-3 inning to put the wraps on the team's 25th win of the season.

Spain (3-for-4), Denlinger (2-for-3) and Leach (2-for-3) posted multiple hits for Key West. Eight of the Ramblers' nine starters collected at least one hit as part of the Ramblers' 12-hit attack.

The Ramblers get back to action Sunday when they play rival Dubuque in a 1:30 p.m. Prairie League game at Table Mound Field in Key West.

Bellevue hands O'Connor his first loss

The Ramblers continued to struggle at the plate as they fell, 5-1, to Bellevue in the first round of the Cascade Tournament on Monday night. Bellevue starting pitcher Justin Eissens held Key West (24-7) to only five hits on his way to earning the victory.

Sean O'Connor, making his eighth start on the mound for Key West, took his first loss of the season after winning his first seven decisions. O'Connor lacked sharpness as he walked five and hit a batter in a six-inning, complete-game effort. He gave up seven hits and struck out two.

Bellevue got its first run in the second-inning by way of an error. Eissens knocked home a pair of runs with a two-run single in the third to make it 3-0. After a balk by O'Connor plated the fourth run, Brett Boeckenstadt capped Bellevue's scoring with an RBI single.

Matt Knabel's groundball to first, which was misplayed, allowed Tim Carty to score the only Key West run in the sixth. Carty had reached with a double to begin the inning. It would be the Ramblers' only extra base-hit on the night.

The Ramblers are back in action Tuesday at 7 p.m. when they take on Monticello in an EIHL game in Peosta.

Pair of make-up dates announced

Two Rambler make-up dates were announced Thursday. The team will play this Sunday at Bernard at 2 p.m. in Prairie League action. They will also take the field Aug. 9 at Dubuque (Petrakis) at 7 p.m. in an EIHL contest. The complete schedule can be found by clicking the "2011 Team Schedule" link at the top-right.

Ramblers struggle to 5-4 win over Worthington

Worthington nearly took advantage of the Ramblers' current stretch of cold hitting on Tuesday night, but came up just short in the steamy, 5-4 seven-inning EIHL battle in Peosta. A late sixth-inning run edged the Ramblers back in front and allowed the team to improve to 24-6 overall.

While many Key West hitters have gone cold of late, catcher Matt Knabel continues to heat up just like the Eastern Iowa weather. Knabel's two-run single in the first capped a four-run first inning for Key West. The Ramblers led 4-0 after the first frame and appeared to be on their way to an easy victory with Sean O'Connor on the mound.

But Worthington had other ideas. O'Connor, who came in holding opposing batters to a .172 average, was tagged with a season-high 10 hits. He also gave up three runs (two earned), but did strike out seven against only two walks.

Worthington chipped off the lead by getting one run each in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings to complete its comeback from a 4-0 deficit. Worthington pushed across the tying run in the sixth after a third strike alluded Knabel and allowed J.J. Connolly to score. The Ramblers responded quickly by regaining the lead when Cam Stewart drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases still loaded and only one out, Tyler Sincock flew out and Dan Spain grounded out to end the threat.

Curt Dixon, who threw the final two innings in relief, made the one run stand up and pushed his own mark to 4-0. Dixon flashed dominating stuff as he struck out six Worthington hitters.

Knabel and Cory Davidson were the only Ramblers to manage multiple hits. Knabel went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Davidson cracked two hits in three at-bats and collected an RBI and a run. Nate Ramler played his first game as a Rambler and went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

The Ramblers are off until Saturday when they will challenge Bellevue in the first round of the Cascade Tournament at 5 p.m.

Knabel keys comeback win over Balltown

Exactly two weeks ago the Ramblers, led by Matt Knabel's go-ahead two-run single, put together a miraculous seventh-inning rally to erase a late four-run deficit at Balltown and win, 8-7. Sunday's 6-5 home victory over Balltown at Table Mound followed a similar plot-line. However, in this contest Key West (23-6) took the lead an inning earlier.

Cory Davidson's sixth-inning sacrifice fly brought home Tyler Sincock to give Key West a 6-5 lead after trailing 5-0 as late as the bottom of the fifth. But it was Knabel's big hit once again that turned the game around. His bases-loaded triple in the fifth got the Ramblers within one run and facilitated yet another nail-biting win in what was a seven-inning game.

Sean O'Connor, making his first appearance on the mound since June 25, relieved starter Greg Farrey in the sixth inning and moved to 7-0 on the season. O'Connor retired all six batters he faced in his two innings of work, showing off nasty stuff opposing Eastern Iowa hitters have become accustomed to this season.

Farrey tossed five innings, again struggling with wildness in the first inning before settling in. He gave up all five Balltown runs, but just two of them were earned. Farrey allowed four hits and struck out three.

Down 5-0 at the start of the bottom of the fifth, the Ramblers' patient approach paid off. Alex Miklo, Chris Briggs and Cory Davidson (bases-loaded walk) all walked and Tim Carty sandwiched in a single as Key West got on the board with the score at 5-1. After Justin Kuhle popped out, Knabel smacked a three-run triple. Knabel was then thrown out at the plate attempting to score on Kenny Capesius' fly ball to right.

Key West again loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth after Cam Stewart singled, Tyler Sincock reached on catcher's interference and Miklo singled again. Chris Briggs came through with an RBI single and Davidson poked the game-winning sacrifice fly to right field.

O'Connor dominated the top of the seventh and the Ramblers celebrated their ninth one-run win of the season. Six of the team's last seven wins have come by a single run. Overall, the Ramblers have won four straight.

Knabel (2-for-2, triple, double, walk) and Miklo (2-for-3) each picked up two hits for Key West. Balltown managed only four hits as a team.

Next up for the Ramblers is a double-dose of Worthington. The two teams will meet Tuesday for a 7 p.m. duel in Peosta and on Thursday for a 7 p.m. match up at Worthington.

Ramblers eek out two more one-run victories

The Ramblers began the 2011 campaign by clubbing their first four opponents by a combined score of 52-4. But since then, stiff competition has made one-run ballgames the norm. With Wednesday's 3-2 win over East Dubuque and Thursday's 2-1 victory over Farley, Key West (22-6) moved to 8-3 this season in games decided by a single run. Incredibly, five of the Ramblers' last six wins have come by one run.

Ben Cottrell and Justin Kuhle starred in Wednesday's affair. Cottrell threw seven exceptional innings, allowing just four hits and two runs (both earned) to nab his second win of 2011. Cottrell was even more impressive at the plate, where he went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in the top of the second. Kuhle paced the Ramblers with three hits, including a double and one RBI.

Key West put its first run on the board in the first on a double-steal as Dan Spain plucked second base, allowing Tyler Sincock to trot home from third. Kuhle's RBI single in the third gave the Ramblers a 3-0 lead, proving to be just enough for Cottrell to hold on for the win over East Dubuque.

The Ramblers got another great pitching performance on Thursday as Spain pitched a seven-inning complete game, surrendering only four hits and one run (earned) in the 2-1 win over Farley. Steve McDonough, who filled in with numerous Rambler regulars absent Thursday, had a hand in both Key West runs. His RBI single in the top of the second gave the Ramblers a 1-0 lead. McDonough then reached on an error by the shortstop in the fourth inning, which allowed Cory Davidson to score and put the Ramblers back in front, 2-1.

Matt Knabel was the only Rambler to record multiple hits on the night. Knabel's double in the second and single in the fourth aided both Rambler runs. He also added a stolen base. Key West is now 5-1 versus Farley this season.

The Ramblers return to action on Sunday for a 1:30 p.m. Prairie League battle with Balltown at Table Mound Field in Key West.

Tuesday's game postponed

Tuesday's scheduled 7 p.m. contest with Dubuque has been postponed due to inclement weather. A make-up date is to be determined.

Ramblers record 20th win in wild victory

Nothing has been easy lately for the Ramblers, and Sunday's Prairie League contest at Zwingle was no different. Key West (20-6) overcame a rash of hit-batters that highlighted a five-run Zwingle fifth inning to pull out a wild, 11-9, victory.

Dan Spain, who relieved Key West starting pitcher Greg Farrey, took over with two men on and no outs in the bottom of the fifth as the Ramblers clung to a 5-4 lead. Spain promptly hit the first four batters he faced before getting a groundout to third and a double play to bring the inning to an end. Zwingle led 9-5.

After going down quietly in the sixth, the Ramblers brought 12 men to the plate as part of a six-run seventh inning. Cory Davidson's RBI double knocked home the first run of the inning, facilitating the game-deciding rally. Key West needed just three hits in the frame as it took advantage of six walks in the inning. Travis Lyons, who relieved Chris Winner after the first two men reached in the seventh, was tagged with the loss.

Farrey settled in after a shaky first inning and gave the Ramblers solid work in the second, third and fourth innings. But he appeared to be tiring in the fifth and was lifted for Spain. In total, Key West pitchers allowed only four hits, but surrendered four walks and five hit-batsmen. However, Spain pitched effectively in the sixth and seventh innings in nabbing his fourth win.

While Key West pitchers struggled at times, its hitters responded with a big offensive day. Chris Briggs (3-for-5), Cory Davidson (2-for-4) and Dan Spain (2-for-5) collected multiple hits, contributing to a 10-hit Rambler output. Six of those hits were doubles. Briggs, Kenny Capesius, Tim Carty, Davidson, Jared Munson and Spain each tallied one double.

The Ramblers begin a three games in three days stretch on Tuesday when they play Dubuque at Petrakis in a 7 p.m. tussle. Briggs, Davidson and Munson will be in action tonight in the semi-pro all-star game at Dyersville. The all-star game starts at 5 p.m.

Ramblers stifled by Doty again

Dubuque hurler Ryan Doty continues to assert himself as one of the area's top pitchers as he shut down the Ramblers again in a seven-inning complete game Friday night. Doty's brilliance allowed Dubuque to take a 5-1 decision over Key West in the first round of the Rickardsville Tournament.

Doty's performance was eerily similar to his May 28 victory over the Ramblers when he also gave up just one run in seven innings at the Bellevue Tournament. On Friday, Doty recorded nine strikeouts and held Key West to just four hits on the night.

The Ramblers (19-6) got on the board first in the top of the opening inning when Chris Briggs' fielder's choice grounder knocked in Dan Spain, who had singled with one out. But Dubuque responded in the bottom half of the first with three runs off of Key West starter Ben Cottrell. Five singles and a walk led to the big first inning for Dubuque.

B.J. Juergens then added a two-run homer in the bottom of the second to make it 5-1, the eventual final score. The two teams could manage only five hits combined in the final five innings as Doty got tougher and Cottrell settled in for Key West.

Dubuque's Aaron Saeugling was the only player on either team to notch multiple hits. Saeugling went 3-for-4 to lead the Blues.

Key West will be back in action on Sunday when it plays Zwingle in a 12 p.m. road game. At 5 p.m. Sunday, Chris Briggs, Cory Davidson and Jared Munson will take the field in Dyersville as all-star representatives for the Ramblers.

Capesius delivers game-winning hit in extra-inning win

Kenny Capesius continues to surprise for a Key West Ramblers team that has shown considerable depth this season. Capesius' RBI single put Key West up 3-2 in the eighth inning (scheduled for seven innings) and proved to be the game-winner in a 4-3 road victory over Dyersville on Wednesday night.

Both teams were held scoreless until Dyersville finally broke through with a single run in the fifth inning off of Rambler starter Dan Spain. Key West (19-5) answered right back with a Chris Briggs solo blast in the top of the sixth to tie the score, 1-1.

Matt Knabel then gave the Ramblers a 2-1 lead with a RBI fielder's choice that scored Cam Stewart. Stewart (single), Jared Munson (single) and Spain (walk) had loaded the bases with one out prior to Knabel's RBI grounder. But Dyersville matched that run in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to an eighth inning.

That's when Capesius shined brightest. Davidson led off the inning with a single, stole second and advanced to third on Justin Kuhle's sacrifice bunt. Capesius then followed with his sixth RBI of the season. Cottrell added what turned out to be a crucial insurance run with a RBI double to score Capesius and give Key West a 4-2 lead.

After a Dustin Jaque double to begin the bottom of the eighth, Spain was lifted for Cottrell, who began the game at first base. Cottrell allowed Jaque to score, but struck out Beau Ellison with two on and two outs to end the rally.

Spain pitched seven strong innings, giving up three earned runs while striking out six in grabbing the win. Cottrell, who had a pair of doubles at the plate, was credited with his first save of the season after closing the door in the eighth.

The Ramblers open up play in the Rickardsville Tournament on Friday at 7 p.m. against Dubuque. It will mark the third time this season Key West will take on Dubuque in the first round of a tournament.

2011 Rickardsville Tournament Bracket

The 2011 Rickardsville Tournament gets underway Tuesday at 7 p.m. as Worthington and Placid square off. The Ramblers begin play at Rickardsville on Friday against rival Dubuque at 7 p.m. Key West is 2-1 this season versus Dubuque, with all three games having been decided by one run. The complete bracket is above. Click on the image to enlarge.

Meet the 2011 All-Stars

Three Key West Ramblers were selected to play in this season's semi-pro all-star game, the Telegraph Herald announced on Wednesday. The Ramblers' three selections are the most in team history.

Cory Davidson, who holds or is tied for the team-lead in batting average (.397), home runs (4), RBIs (20) and slugging percentage (.616), will start in left field for the EIHL. Chris Briggs (.397, 1 HR, 20 RBI), will serve as the DH, while Jared Munson (.301, 13 RBI, 14 SB) was chosen as a reserve outfielder.

The game will take place on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Dyersville's Jenk Field. Complete all-star rosters are listed below.

EIHL:

Coach: Jeff Hoerner, Dubuque

Starting Pitcher: Matt Sharp, Dubuque

C: Austin Brown, Dyersville

1B: Roamn Hummel, Cascade

2B: Ryan Doty, Dubuque

3B: Aaron Saeugling, Dubuque

SS: Evan Felton, Monticello

LF: Cory Davidson, Key West

CF: Marty Sutherland, Cascade

RF: Andy Seabrooke, Farley

DH: Chris Briggs, Key West

Reserves: OF Tim Andrews (Cascade), OF Mike Canavello (Dyersville), OF Dustin Jacque (Dyersville), 1B Chris Kerper (Farley), 3B Bill Schmitt (Farley), OF Jared Munson (Key West), P/SS Tim Felderman (Rickardsville), OF Ryan Mabe (Rickardsville), C Ben Ogden (Worthington).

Prairie League:

Coach: Dan Melloy, Bernard

Starting Pitcher: Justin Eissens, Bellevue

C: Ron Manthe, Zwingle

1B: Brett Featherston, Epworth

2B: Cole Lyons, Zwingle

3B: Chet Knake, Bellevue

SS: Mike Griebel, Bellevue

LF: Eric Osweiler, Bernard

CF: Bill Albee, East Dubuque

RF: Kyle Behnke, Balltown

DH: Nate Ramler, Peosta

Reserves: 2B Ben Urbain (Balltown), SS Brennan Melloy (Bernard), SS Alex Larson (East Dubuque), P Nick Schulz (Epworth), SS J.J. Connolly (Epworth), C Mitch Gotto (Peosta), C Zach Althaus (Peosta), 3B Matt Moore (Placid), 2B Craig Lyons (Zwingle).

Four-run seventh keys dramatic holiday victory

Down to their final out in the top of the seventh with a runner at second base and trailing 7-4, a third straight loss for the Ramblers appeared inevitable. But an improbable four-run rally, highlighted by Matt Knabel's two-run rocket shot, game-tying single, carried Key West (18-5) to an 8-7 road victory over Balltown in Sunday afternoon's Prairie League duel.

Cam Stewart got the seventh inning started with a line-drive base hit to right field. Jared Munson and Dan Spain were promptly retired with Stewart standing at second base with two outs. Three consecutive walks surrendered by Balltown starting pitcher Jordan Bahls to Tim Carty, Chris Briggs and Cory Davidson forced home a run, making it a 7-5 ballgame. Knabel then followed with a single to left field to chase home Carty and Briggs. Back-to-back walks by Roberto Rivero and Kenny Capesius pushed across the go-ahead tally.

The near-miraculous two-out rally made a winner of Key West starter Curt Dixon (3-0), who battled through seven complete innings. Dixon scattered 12 hits, which included several ground balls through the infield, and gave up four earned runs to go with six strikeouts. Dixon recorded the final out of the game with runners at second and third when Davidson charged in to make a basket catch of Brady Breitbach's blooper to right field.

The Ramblers got out to a 3-0 lead after the first two innings. Carty's RBI double and Briggs' sacrifice fly, both in the first, made it 2-0. Stewart singled in Rivero in the second to grow the lead to 3-0 before Balltown scored seven unanswered runs to go up 7-3 after five innings. Brigg's RBI single in the sixth chopped the deficit to 7-4 to set up the game-winning outburst in the final inning.

Stewart finished 3-for-4 with one run, one RBI and a stolen base. Carty stayed red-hot with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Knabel also recorded two hits for Key West. Kyle Behnke led Balltown with three singles of his own.

Up next for the Ramblers is Wednesday's 7 p.m. EIHL battle at Dyersville.

Farley tops Ramblers in thriller

Tim Carty's monstrous sixth-inning solo home run staked Key West to a 7-6 lead as the Ramblers came back from a 6-0 deficit in Saturday afternoon's battle with Farley. But the Farley Hawks responded with four runs in the top of the seventh and came away with a 10-7 victory at Table Mound Field in Key West.

Carty crushed a high fastball from Farley reliever Andy Seabrooke with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, giving the Ramblers the momentum in a game they trailed by six runs after two innings. Unfortunately, Key West reliever Jared Munson, who pitched a near-perfect fourth, fifth and sixth in spelling starter Cory Davidson, tired in the seventh and was tagged with the loss.

Farley's Jesse Lawler poked a two-run homer just over the left-field fence in the top of the seventh to put the Hawks back in the lead at 8-7. Later in the inning, Craig Kerper cracked a two-run single to give Farely a three-run cushion.

The Ramblers (17-5) put runners on first and third in the bottom of the seventh, but Seabrooke coaxed a double-play grounder to grab the win and end the ballgame.

Justin Kuhle led Key West with three hits (all singles), while also driving in three runs. Kuhle's two-run single in the fourth put the Ramblers within three runs and sparked a four-run fourth inning. Kuhle later added a RBI single to tie the game in the fifth. Munson (2-for-3 with a double) and Carty (2-for-4) also collected multiple hits.

Key West starting pitcher Cory Davidson made it just three innings as he struggled with control in his first start on the mound this season. Munson made his first appearance on the bump in 2011 and pitched well until the final inning.

The Ramblers travel to play Balltown at noon on Sunday in a Prairie League contest. Curt Dixon will get the ball for Key West.