Ramblers fall in season opener

The 2013 season opened up on Saturday as visiting Bellevue defeated the Ramblers 4-2 at AJ Spiegel Park in Peosta. Key West dropped the season opener despite not giving up a single earned run. The Ramblers begin the campaign at 0-1 in the Prairie League after winning the league title with a 15-1 record last season.

Bellevue got all four of its runs in a nightmare of a first inning for Key West. Bellevue took advantage of a pair of Rambler errors and a base on balls to take control early. A run-scoring double off of Key West right-hander Shawn Parker with two outs proved to be the big blow in the frame.

The Ramblers chipped away with a run each in the first and second innings, but the Bellevue pitching combo of Dave Smith and Pete Bonifas shut the door the rest of the way. Key West threatened in the ninth by putting two on with two out before Spencer Kuehn struck out to end the game.

The Ramblers got an RBI single apiece from Chris Briggs and Dan Spain. Briggs (2-for-4), Kuehn (2-for-5) and Spain (2-for-5) all notched multiple hits on the day. Key West out-hit Bellevue 10-5.

Parker took the loss in his season debut. He fired five innings and surrendered four hits and a walk while striking out five. Clarke University hurler Jordan Hohensee pitched scoreless ball over the final four innings and gave up just a single hit and two walks. He also struck out five.

Hohensee and other Clarke products Johhny Kruick and Anthony Razo all made their Rambler debuts on Saturday. Hohensee went 3-3 with a 4.36 ERA in 43.1 innings as a Crusader in 2013.

Key West will return to action on Monday night to take part in the EIHL Preseason Tournament. The Ramblers will battle Dyersville at 7 p.m. in Rickardsville. The game was originally scheduled to take place Friday night but was postponed due to rain.