Nine-game win streak snapped at Rickardsville Tournament

For the sixth time since May 13, the Ramblers took the field against Dubuque. Saturday's first round meeting in the Rickardsville Tournament resulted in a 6-3 loss as Blues' starting pitcher Mark Hennessy went the distance in a seven-inning complete game.

Key West (24-5) led 2-1 entering the fifth inning, but that's when Dubuque shortstop Andy Danna struck for a two-run homer that gave the Blues the lead for good as Patrick Kelly (brother of Ryan) made his debut on the mound for the Ramblers. Dubuque added two more runs in the sixth, taking advantage of back-to-back walks issued by Kelly to begin the frame. The Blues then pushed across their final tally in the top of the seventh on a solo shot by Aaron Wulfekuhle to put the game out of reach at 6-2.

After Kelly cut through Dubuque by facing the minimum in the top of the first, Key West drew first blood with Chris Briggs' team-high sixth home run in the bottom of the inning. The two-run blast was Briggs' third of the season against the Blues.

Left fielder Cory Davidson tried to spark a two-out rally in the seventh when he sent a 1-2 pitch from Hennessy over the wall for his first homer of the season. But Hennessy struck out Justin Kuhle swinging to end the game and advance Dubuque to the second round in Rickardsville.

Patrick Kelly went five-plus innings in his first semi-pro start, allowing five hits, four walks and five runs (all earned). He also struck out four in a losing effort. Ryan Kelly relieved his brother and recorded the final six outs for the Ramblers.

Briggs went a perfect 3-for-3 for Key West in bumping his season batting average over the .400 mark to .410. Davidson, Patrick Kelly and Matt Knabel each collected one hit as part of the team's six-hit effort.

The Ramblers were without two key bats with the absences of Dan Spain and Tim Carty on Saturday.

Wulfekuhle led the way for Dubuque, going 3-for-4 including a homer and a double. Danna finished 2-for-4.

The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Ramblers, whose last defeat came on June 12 to Dubuque. Four of the team's five losses this season have come at the hands of the Blues, with three of those defeats occurring in tournament action. The two semi-pro heavyweights will meet again July 21 in the first round of the Cascade Tournament.

The Ramblers will look to get back to their winning ways on Sunday in a 1:30 p.m. contest versus Zwingle at Table Mound Field.