Ramblers to play for another championship

The Ramblers will play in their fourth championship game this season when they challenge host Dyersville in the title game of the Dyersville Tournament on Saturday night. Home runs by Tanner Denlinger and Chris Briggs powered Key West (37-10) to an 8-3 semifinal victory over Bellevue late on Friday night. The victory counted as a two-for-one and allowed the Ramblers to break a franchise mark for wins in a season.

Key West's Shawn Parker and Bellevue's Dave Smith traded zeroes on the mound through the first two frames of the affair until the Ramblers busted loose for four runs in the top of the third. Denlinger spurred the outburst with a solo shot, his first of the season, to lead off the inning and make the score 1-0.

Two batters latter Cory Davidson walked and Dan Spain followed with an RBI double. Tim Carty and Justin Kuhle added RBI singles in the inning to boost the lead to 4-0.

Chad Crabill cracked a run-scoring triple in the top of the sixth and then scored on a wild pitch to give Key West a commanding 6-1 lead with Parker appearing to cruise on the hill.

But back-to-back singles by Mike Griebel and Chet Knake to begin the bottom of the sixth sparked a two-run Bellevue rally to get within 6-3.

Briggs then provided plenty of breathing room in the top of the seventh by belting a two-run blast to push the Rambler advantage back up to five runs at 8-3. The homer was Briggs' 11th of the season and upped his season RBI total to 49.

Bidding for a perfect seventh and final inning, Parker allowed a two-out single to Cole Reeg in Bellevue's last gasp. Parker ended the game by getting Griebel to fly out to center field.

Parker surrendered seven hits, two walks and three runs (one earned) and struck out six in his first career start with Key West.

Spain led the way at the plate with a 3-for-4 night in which he scored a run, drove in a run and stole two bases. Six Ramblers notched one hit apiece as part of the team's nine-hit attack.

Saturday's Dyersville Tournament Championship will be held at 7:30 p.m. The Ramblers will then shift their focus to Sunday's EIHL Championships. Key West takes on Cascade in the first semifinal game at 12 p.m.