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.