Ramblers bounce Dubuque, move to Worthington final

The roughly two-and-a-half hour rain delay that pushed Friday's Worthington Tournament semifinal game back to an approximate 11 p.m. start did little to deter first baseman Chris Briggs. The Rambler slugger crushed a monster three-run homer to center field in the bottom of the first, carrying Key West to a 5-0 victory over Dubuque.

Starting pitcher Andrew Redman took it from there. He befuddled Dubuque hitters all night long, allowing only three hitters to reach base in a seven-inning, two-hit shutout (six strikeouts). With yet another masterful performance, Redman has now won all six of his starts this season and sports a 1.10 ERA in 41 innings pitched.

The first of the Blues' two hits came in the top of the first when Kevin Carkeek doubled with two outs, but Redman got Ryan Doty to pop out to short to end the frame.

The Ramblers (23-4) quickly took advantage of early wildness by Dubuque starting pitcher Nick Kirk, who drilled Cory Davidson and Dan Spain to begin the bottom of the first. Following a Tim Carty strikeout, Briggs connected on his team-leading fifth home run of the season.

Redman would help his own cause in the fifth inning when he singled to lead off the frame and scored on a Davidson RBI grounder that eluded the first baseman. Key West added their fifth and final run in the sixth inning when Justin Kuhle's bases loaded walk forced home another tally.

The Ramblers will go for their ninth-straight victory Saturday at 7:30 p.m. when they take on Peosta in the championship game of the Worthington Tournament. Peosta defeated Epworth 5-3 behind winning pitcher Zack Brautigam on Friday in the other semifinal clash. In the only meeting between Key West and Peosta so far this season, the Ramblers took a 6-4 decision back on May 20 at Table Mound Field.

Baldocchi lifts Ramblers to Worthington semifinals

A one-out solo blast by right fielder Nick Baldocchi in the sixth inning gave the Ramblers the boost they needed on the way to a 4-2 victory over Rickardsville on Wednesday. With the win, Key West (22-4) advanced to the semifinals of the Worthington Tournament, where it will play Dubuque on Friday at 8:30 p.m. with a date in the championship on the line.

The Ramblers' run at Worthington appeared in jeopardy as Rickardsville led 2-0 heading into the fifth inning behind starting pitcher Adam Shwabel. Key West's fortunes turned around in this pivotal frame as Cory Davidson walked, Dan Spain singled and Tim Carty was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Chris Briggs promptly delivered RBIs Nos. 23 and 24 on the year to knot the score at 2-2.

Baldocchi's homer in the proceeding inning put Key West up for good. The Ramblers then added another run in the sixth when Davidson scored as Spain intentionally got hung up in a run down between first and second.

Key West right hander Ben Cottrell made the four runs stand up in another exceptional outing. Cottrell fired all seven innings, allowing one earned run, six hits and two walks to go with his five strikeouts. The Loras College product improved to 5-2 on the season and lowered his ERA to 1.64.

Spain (2-for-3) was the only Rambler to collect multiple hits as part of a six-hit team performance.

Jeff Lehman and Niko Andriotis each notched RBI doubles to account for Rickardsville's offensive effort. Rickardsville's top two hitters in the order - Nathan Hall and A.J. Reuter - both went 2-for-4.

Friday's clash featuring Key West and Dubuque will mark the fifth meeting this season between the two squads. The Blues have come out on top in three of the first four and have won both tournament match ups.

Redman shuts out Balltown; Ramblers roll past New Vienna

A third inning sacrifice fly from Chris Briggs was all the Ramblers needed to get by Balltown in the first round of the Worthington Tournament on Saturday. Andrew Redman fired seven shut out innings to out-duel Balltown's Dave Schenk for a 1-0 triumph. The win puts Key West in the quarterfinals against Rickardsville at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Dan Spain, who scored the game's lone run, got the third inning started with a double. He advanced to third on Tim Carty's ground out and then scored on Briggs' sac fly to center field.

Redman finished with 10 strikeouts and improved his mark to 5-0. The right-hander surrendered only four hits without a walk in Saturday's masterpiece. Redman has allowed just five earned runs in 34 innings pitched  this season.

The Ramblers (20-4) followed that effort up with a laugher, beating New Vienna 12-1 at Table Mound Field on Sunday. Spencer Kuehn and Spain both hit monster home runs to left-center field to highlight a big offensive day. Kuehn (3-for-3), Spain (3-for-4), Briggs (2-for-4) and Matt Knabel (2-for-4) collected two or more hits for Key West.

Four different Ramblers saw action on the hill in the run-rule victory over New Vienna. Kuehn tossed the first two innings, giving up New Vienna's only run in the second due to a bout of wildness. Aaron Collins pitched innings 3 through 5 to get his second win of the year. Collins struck out eight batters and gave up only one hit.

Key West returns to the field Tuesday for a 7 p.m. EIHL contest with Monticello in Peosta.

Ramblers pile up 24 hits, crush Dyersville

The hits kept on coming Tuesday night as the host Key West Ramblers rolled to a 22-4 victory over Dyersville at A.J. Spiegel Park in Peosta, Iowa. The Rambler attack struck for 24 hits, including 10 doubles and one home run.

Key West (18-4) got nine runs in both the fourth and sixth innings in the team's biggest blowout so far this season. Eight Ramblers recorded two or more hits, with six posting at least three hits.

The fireworks started in the third inning when Dan Spain's single began a streak in which five-straight Ramblers reached safely with hits. Tim Carty, Chris Briggs and Spencer Kuehn connected for consecutive doubles to give Key West an early 3-0 lead. Nick Baldocci capped the frame's scoring with an RBI single.

Kuehn's three-run blast over the left field fence highlighted the monster fourth inning. Davidson achieved a rare feat in collecting a pair of RBI doubles in the frame. A total of 13 Ramblers came to the plate in the fourth.

The sixth followed a similar pattern as Key West brought 16 hitters to the batter's box in another nine-run inning. Kuehn and Baldocci both cracked two-run doubles to keep the line moving. Spain, Chad Crabill and Tanner Denlinger all recorded two singles in the inning.

Kuehn, who went 3-for-4, drove in six runs for a career-high. He was also one of six Ramblers to score exactly three runs.

Davidson (3-for-4), Spain (4-for-6), Carty (2-for-5), Briggs (2-for-2), Baldocci (3-for-4), Denlinger (3-for-5) and Crabill (4-for-5) joined Kuehn in Tuesday's hit parade.

Ben Cottrell started on the mound for Key West and picked up his fourth win of the season. Cottrell threw five innings, giving up four runs (all earned), five hits and two walks to go with seven strikeouts. Kyle Staats and Baldocci both pitched one scoreless inning in relief.

The Ramblers play again Wednesday when they travel to Cascade to take on the Reds at 7 p.m. in an EIHL contest.

Kelly K's a dozen; Ramblers pound Epworth

Spencer Kuehn ended Sunday's blowout victory early with a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, giving the Ramblers a 10-0, run-rule triumph over Epworth. Ryan Kelly starred on the mound for Key West, throwing a two-hit shutout that included 12 strikeouts.

Kelly gave up just a single in the first and third innings in a dominant performance that allowed him to pick up his first win of the season. Epworth threatened by loading the bases in the third inning with two outs, but Kelly fanned cleanup hitter Ryan Hoerner on a 3-2 pitch to end the frame. Epworth would not put another runner in scoring position the rest of the game.

The Ramblers (17-4) got more than enough in the second inning alone, striking for four runs without the benefit of a hit. Three Epworth errors and three walks issued by starter Dan Grosser fueled the big inning that all but put the game on ice with Kelly toeing the rubber.

Dan Spain added an RBI single in the fourth, two batters after a booming double to deep right center by left fielder Kenny Capesius, making the score 6-0 after four innings. Chris Briggs pushed the margin to 7-0 with a run-scoring single to plate Spain in the sixth. An inning later, Kuehn, who entered the game in the sixth inning, cracked the game-ending three-run homer that easily cleared the left field fence at Table Mound on a 1-0 pitch.

Spain enjoyed another stellar game at the plate after a recent 0-for-17 slump. The Rambler shortstop led the way with a 3-for-3 effort. Catcher Chad Crabill went 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI as part of an 11-hit performance by Key West.

The Ramblers, who improved to 7-0 in Prairie League play with Sunday's victory, return to action on Tuesday when they host Dyersville at A.J. Spiegel Park in Peosta. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

Redman one-hits Worthington

Key West starting pitcher Andrew Redman dominated from start to finish, narrowly missing out on a no-hitter as he improved to 4-0 with a win at Worthington late Thursday night. Dan Spain got back on track with a solo homer in his first at bat and the Ramblers cruised to a 6-0 EIHL victory.

Spain's shot over the left field fence gave Key West (16-4) a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, which proved to be all Redman needed. The right-hander's only hit allowed came with one out in the second inning when Dan Marshall's line drive one-hopper eluded the glove of second baseman Justin Kuhle.

Redman went all seven innings for his third complete game of the season. He walked three and struck out six in his best statistical outing of 2012 on the way to lowering his ERA to 1.67.

Tim Carty led the Ramblers with a 3-for-4 night at the plate, including a double and a pair of runs scored. First baseman Chris Briggs went 2-for-2 with two singles, two walks, two RBIs and a run. Spain ended an 0-for-17 slump when he connected in the first inning. The shortstop went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs.

Marshall, who went six-plus innings, took the loss for Worthington. He gave up all six runs (four earned) and 10 hits.

The Ramblers are in action both Saturday and Sunday as they return to Prairie League play. They travel to Balltown on Saturday for a 12 p.m. duel before hosting Epworth at Table Mound on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

Spain puts his stamp on Clarke baseball

A small dry erase board inside a cubicle tucked away in the upper reaches of the Robert and Ruth Kehl Center on the campus of Clarke University signals the beginning of a new era in Clarke baseball. The board’s penmanship, written in red marker for freshly signed prospects and black marker for targeted recruits, is the work of new head coach Dan Spain.

Spain, officially promoted to head coach on May 17, wasted little time adding red ink to the board. The almost immediate commitment of a former local prep baseball standout drew surprise from some in the Dubuque baseball community and gave instant credibility to the Spain hire.

Less than a month on the job, the Delmar, Iowa, native was giddy to scrawl “Andrew Redman” across the white board in red. The acquisition of the former Hempstead all-state right-handed pitcher and Key West Ramblers teammate marked the first major coup for Spain.

“That was my plan right away, to go out and find the biggest name guy around the area and do whatever I can to land him,” Spain said. “Thank God Andrew Redman is a kid that I’ve known for many years.

“I saw this coming a long time ago, as far as him being a great player. That has mostly everything to do with his character. He’s a great fit, personality wise and everything. He’s just a great fit for what Clarke needs and what we’re about.”

Redman, who went 6-4 with a 2.12 ERA in 72.1 innings pitched at Iowa Central Community College this past season, relished the opportunity to play for someone he bonded with when the pair joined forces for the Ramblers in 2007. The two now look forward to transitioning to a player-coach relationship.

“It’s going to be different,” Redman said. “I’ve always just known him as ‘Spainer.’ Now it’s going to be ‘Coach Spain.’ It’s going to be a different transition. He’s a guy that you look at as a friend, but you respect him as a coach because he’s older than you and he knows more about the game.”

It’s this ability to relate to prospective collegiate athletes plus an outstanding reputation that permeates the tri-state area and beyond that has already made Spain a recruiting dynamo. These traits have provided a shot in the arm for Clarke. Along with Redman, Spain will welcome fellow Iowa Central transfer pitcher Jordan Hohensee to the mix in 2013.

“I guess we’ve kind of shocked the community a little bit with some of the recruits we’ve been able to land,” Spain said. “But my side of it is I expect to get guys like that. I expect to get the best players around Dubuque. It’s not really a shock to me.

“We’re an NAIA school. We offer athletic scholarships. No one else in our area does that. We should be able to get the best players in Dubuque. My main thing is to have the community buy in to what Clarke baseball is all about and what this university represents.”

Spain’s obvious passion for the university and the surrounding community won over Clarke athletic director Curt Long.

“We know he’s had a tremendous baseball playing experience in the area,” Long said. “People know him and respect him, and he’s well connected with the fine players and recruits in this area. It’s a natural for him to lead our program and improve our recognition and notability.”

Spain’s connectivity to local talent has roots in his status as one of the top players in the tri-state area semi-pro baseball circuit. It’s an arena that has put the star shortstop in the spotlight as an outstanding athlete, baseball mind and person.

“I wouldn’t be in this position without Key West baseball,” Spain said. “I have no doubt about that. Key West is what really made me known in the baseball world around Dubuque. Our semi-pro league is so well respected by the people that play in it and the people that come and watch in our community.

“Key West has just as much to do with me being a head coach as anything. It’s been great. It’s like my second family.”

When Long extended the offer on the morning of May 14 to take the reins of Clarke baseball, Spain struggled to contain his excitement. For many of the hundreds of applicants for the position, the opening may have simply represented gainful employment.

For Spain, it fulfilled a dream. It was the chance to bring glory to his alma mater.

“It’s an opportunity I’ve wanted my whole life,” Spain said. “Being a young coach, I didn’t expect it to come this quickly, especially with how difficult it is to find head coaching positions and how many people want this position. It’s a great opportunity that I’m ready to take advantage of. I’m not satisfied with just being a head coach and just saying I’m the coach at the age of 25. I want to do something with it.”

Spain inherits a roster that he admits underachieved in 2012, sinking to an overall mark of 11-31. Those close to the program are confident the results will begin to turn around.

“He’s progressed and succeeded at every level,” Long said of Spain. “He’s a good recruiter. He’s already proven that. We know that he knows the game and that the student-athletes that play for him learn from him and are eager to work for him.”

No one is more eager to get the 2013 baseball season underway than Spain, who hopes to continue to wear out his red marker.

“I’ve been at Clarke here for four years now, one year as a player,” Spain said. “My goal coming to this school was to win a championship and do something great, and I haven’t had the chance to reach that goal. It’s great that I have a chance to continue my career here and hopefully live out what I planned on doing from the beginning.

“I love being here.”

Ramblers unable to solve Dubuque

For the second time in three days, Key West fell to rival Dubuque, this time dropping a 3-1 decision on Tuesday night. Blues' starting pitcher Matt Asche held the Ramblers hitless through 4.2 innings on the way to a seven-inning masterpiece at Petrakis Field.

Key West (15-4) failed to record a hit until designated hitter Chad Crabill laced a line drive base hit to left field with two outs in the top of the fifth. The Ramblers scored their lone run in the seventh when Cory Davidson sprinted home from first after a throwing error by Dubuque third baseman Aaron Wulfekuhle trickled down the first base line.

Blues' second baseman Kevin Carkeek provided the big blow in the game, a two-run double to right center off of starter Ben Cottrell to score the game's first two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Carkeek finished 2-for-3 with a walk. Wulfekuhle tacked on an insurance run in the seventh with an RBI single for the game's final run.

Key West tallied only two hits off of Asche, who went seven innings and allowed no earned runs to pick up the win for Dubuque. The one run scored by the Ramblers tied a season low. Key West has managed to score a only a single run three times this season - each case resulted in a loss.

Cottrell went six strong innings but dropped his mark to 3-2 despite giving up only three earned runs in 32 innings pitched this season. Cottrell allowed five hits and three walks to go along with five strikeouts on Tuesday in a 96-pitch performance.

Tuesday's loss was the first this season in league play for the Ramblers, who will look to get back on track Thursday at Worthington in an Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League matchup. Game time is 7 p.m.

Briggs' bomb not enough; Ramblers fall to Dubuque

With his powerful left-handed swing, Chris Briggs sent a drive deep over the center field wall for a three-run homer to give Key West a 6-4 lead over Dubuque in the top of the seventh inning in Sunday's first round Farley Tournament battle. However, Dubuque would rally for four runs of its own in the bottom half of the seventh off reliever Dan Spain, eliminating the Ramblers from the tournament they captured last season.

The Blues walked off a winner after Spain's wild pitch with the bases loaded chased Brian Putnam to the plate and pushed Dubuque to the second round with an 8-7 victory. The Blues' four-run seventh-inning rally came on the heels of a five-run Key West outburst in the top of the frame, staking the Ramblers to a 7-4 advantage.

Alex Timmerman got Dubuque started in the seventh with a base hit, making him a perfect 4-for-4 on the afternoon. Spain then struck out Aaron Wulfekuhle on three pitches before a single and a hit batter loaded the bases. Putnam followed with a two-run single prior to an RBI single delivered by Seth Hoerner to knot the score at 7-7. Spain's first walk of the game loaded the bases for Aaron Saugeling, who watched the winning run cross home plate after a pitch in the dirt escaped to the backstop.

Key West (15-3) trailed by as many as four runs and entered the seventh and final inning down 4-2 against star pitcher Saugeling, who went the distance to earn the win. Matt Knabel lined out to short to begin the inning. Center fielder Tanner Denlinger ignited the rally with a double to center. Cory Davidson followed with an RBI single to get the Ramblers within a run. Spain struck out looking for the second out, but Tim Carty was then hit by a pitch to force the tying run to second base to set the stage for Briggs.

Briggs crushed the 2-0 offering well over the center field fence for his fourth home run of the season. Even with strong gusting winds that gave every fly ball to left or left center a chance to leave the yard, Briggs' shot needed no help.

Three batters later, second baseman Justin Kuhle added an RBI single to give Key West a three-run cushion. The Ramblers appeared well on their way to advancing to the second round as Spain took the mound for his second inning of relief in the seventh after retiring the top-three hitters in the Dubuque lineup in order in the sixth.

Key West did not get on the board against Saugeling until the sixth when Briggs' shallow fly to right field was dropped, scoring Davidson all the way from first. Spencer Kuehn proceeded with an RBI single to plate Briggs from third, giving the Ramblers a pair of unearned runs in the frame.

Davidson finished 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Briggs went 2-for-4 with a homer, a double, two runs and three RBIs. Kuhle was the other Rambler to collect two hits, as he notched a 2-for-4 day.

Saugeling and Alex Timmerman each went deep for Dubuque. Saugeling led off the bottom of the fifth with a mammoth home run to left center off of starter Kuehn. Two batters later, Timmerman took advantage of the jet stream to left center with a pop fly that carried over the wall for a two-run shot, making the score 3-0 in favor of Dubuque. The Blues added another tally in the inning with a J.J. Reimer RBI single.

Kuehn pitched the first five innings for the Ramblers, allowing four runs (all earned), nine hits and four walks to go with three strikeouts. Saugeling gave up all seven Key West runs (five earned) in his complete game effort. He surrendered 10 hits, but sprinkled in nine punch outs.

Key West will get another shot at Dubuque on Tuesday at Petrakis Park. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. in what will be the fourth meeting already between the two rivals. The Blues have won two of the first three in the season series.

2012 Farley Tournament Bracket

2012 Worthington Tournament Bracket

Ramblers walk off to victory

An early 4-0 deficit failed to stop Key West from picking up win No. 15 on Tuesday at A.J. Spiegel Park in Peosta, Iowa. Dan Spain's hot shot with two outs in the bottom of the ninth eluded the third baseman scoring Tanner Denlinger to complete the rally and give the Ramblers a 6-5 Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League victory over Rickardsville.

Key West (15-2) began the bottom of the ninth down 5-4 and appeared in serious trouble after a Kenny Capesius strikeout pinned the Ramblers down to their final out with two men on base and still trailing by a single run. Ryan Kelly then responded with a two-strike base hit to plate Ben Cottrell for the tying run. Spain followed with a smash to the third baseman, who was charged with an error, allowing the winning tally to score off of Rickardsville pitcher Jeremy Gerardy.

Behind singles by Ryan Jantsch, Eric Banwarth and Connor Grant and a key error with two outs, Rickardsville pushed across four runs in the second inning to draw first blood. Just two of the four runs scored in the inning off of starting pitcher Ryan Kelly were earned.

The Ramblers waited until the fifth inning to get on the board against Rickardsville starter Tim Felderman. After Spain reached on error with one out in the frame, Spencer Kuehn tripled home the Key West shortstop. Kuehn scored on the very next batter as Chris Briggs grounded to second base for the final tally of the fifth.

Rickardsville added a run in the top of the sixth, again with the aid of a shaky Key West defense. Kelly departed at the end of six trailing 5-2. He gave up just three hits and only two earned runs, while striking out three in his second start of the season.

The Ramblers tightened the score with single runs in both the sixth and eighth innings. RBI singles by Capesius and Briggs made it a one-run ballgame heading into the ninth.

Spain, working in his third inning of relief on Tuesday in the top of the ninth, shut down the top three hitters in the Rickardsville lineup in order to begin the pivotal frame. Spain notched his first win of 2012 by firing three scoreless innings after taking over for Kelly in the seventh. He gave up only one hit and struck out three.

Kuehn and Cottrell led the way for the 14-hit Rambler attack, each recording a 3-for-5 night at the plate. Briggs (2-for-4), Cory Davidson (2-for-4) and Kelly (2-for-6) also collected at least two hits for the victors. For much of the night, Key West was unable to take advantage of its multitude of hits, as it stranded 15 on base.

Tuesday's game marked the first home contest of the season played at Peosta. The Ramblers were 5-2 when hosting at A.J. Spiegel Park in 2011.

Key West returns to tournament action on Sunday when it plays Dubuque at 2 p.m. in the first round of the Farley Tournament. The two squads have split a pair of meetings this season.

Miscues doom Ramblers in Bellevue championship game

The Ramblers were left to wonder what could have been after a narrow 2-1 loss in the championship game of the Bellevue Tournament on Saturday. Two costly Key West miscues led to both Bellevue runs as the host held serve on its home field to claim the tournament title.

The Braves pushed across the deciding run in the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs. Third baseman Chet Knake scurried home all the way from second base on a wild pitch as Key West struggled to locate the baseball. Grant Stewart, who started the play at first base, also advanced two bases on the play. Rambler starting pitcher Ben Cottrell then struck out Cooper Stewart to end the threat.

But Key West (14-2) was unable to recover from the defensive gaffe. Bellevue left-hander Justin Eissens had the Ramblers off balance all night as he went the distance, recording 12 strikeouts in the complete game victory. His biggest punch out came in the top of the seventh when Dan Spain strolled to the plate with men on first and second. Spain was sent down on strikes on three pitches.

Key West got its only run in the first inning when Spencer Kuehn knocked in Spain with an RBI single. However, the Ramblers could have easily scored twice in the frame, but Cory Davidson was called out on appeal at third base for missing the bag after he appeared to score the game's first run on a single by Spain.

After going scoreless in the first, Bellevue knotted the game in the second with the help of a Key West error. Grant Stewart led off with a double to deep center field and then advanced to third on the play after Kuehn misfired on his throw to the cutoff. Chad Coakley followed with an RBI ground out, preceding a pop out to short and a strikeout to end the inning.

Cottrell pitched plenty well enough to win, going seven innings while allowing only five hits, two walks and two runs (one earned). He finished with 106 pitches and struck out eight. Kuehn pitched a perfect eighth in relief of Cottrell to keep the Ramblers within striking distance.

But the bottom of Key West's lineup failed to mount a ninth-inning rally, going down in order against the dominant Eissens. Once again, a tournament title had eluded the Ramblers, who also lost in the championship of the Preseason EIHL Tournament to Dubuque on May 19.

Key West will look to continue its unbeaten play in 2012 league games when it hosts Rickardsville on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Peosta.

Ramblers move on to Bellevue Tournament Championship

The Ramblers equaled last season's franchise best 14-1 start on Friday by advancing to the championship of the Bellevue Tournament with a 8-5 victory over Farley. Key West is now 9-1 versus Farley in the teams' last 10 meetings dating back to last season.

Right-hander Andrew Redman improved to 3-0 on the season by going six strong innings, allowing three runs. Ryan Kelly relieved Redman in the seventh inning, getting the last three outs to end the Farley threat.

Spencer Kuehn (2-for-2) and Dan Spain (2-for-4) notched two hits apiece for the victors. Kuehn connected for his first home run this season and first in his career as a Rambler. Scott Harris (2-for-3) and Andy Seabrooke (2-for-4) starred at the plate for Farley, which cruised to an 11-3 win over Dubuque in the quarterfinal round.

Key West will look for its first ever championship at the Bellevue Tournament when it takes the field in the title game at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. Hometown Bellevue, which pasted Epworth 13-2 in Friday's other semifinal, will serve as the opponent.