Capesius shines in first career start on mound

Behind a sterling performance by Kenny Capesius on the mound, Key West (19-19) salvaged a split of its pair of weekend games. Capesius made his first ever start on the hill and led the way for a 9-2 victory over Peosta on Saturday afternoon. That performance allowed the Ramblers to rebound from a 6-2 loss at Cascade on Friday night.

Capesius worked seven innings before being relieved by Austin Bradley for the final two frames. Capesius allowed just five hits and did not walk a single hitter. He recorded eight strikeouts in the process of keeping Peosta scoreless throughout his seven innings. The Cornell College product really got rolling in the fourth when he struck out the side during a string of four-straight strikeouts.

The Ramblers backed Capesius with plenty of offense with seven different players driving in at least one run. Most of that damage came in the fifth inning when Key West ignited for six runs to make the score 9-0. The Ramblers got four straight hits (Jose Stelluti, Matt Bedell, Trent Bollman and Ben Oglesby) from their 6-7-8-9 hitters to highlight the frame.

Bollman and Stelluti were joined by Chris Briggs and Gabe Wingert as Ramblers who posted two hits apiece. Bedell knocked in a pair of runs.

Peosta got one run each in the eighth and ninth innings off of Bradley, who also worked an inning the night before at Cascade.

Cascade 6, Key West 2
Prior to Capesius' debut as a starting pitcher on Saturday, Brian Cross donned the Rambler blue for the first time on Friday night at Cascade. He worked quickly through the first two innings, but the Reds managed to get to him the next time through the lineup.

Cross went seven-plus innings, allowing six runs (all earned) on 13 hits and five walks. He struck out four.

Cascade's Tom Andrews delivered the big blow in the game with a two-run homer to boost the Red's advantage to 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh. Key West had cut its deficit to a single run by scoring twice in the top of the seventh.

Capesius put together a solid night at the plate, going 2-for-4. He drove in both Rambler runs with a two-run single to score Chad Crabill and Stelluti. Crabill went 3-for-4 with a run.

Miss Key West wins Dyersville Queen Pageant: Halie Denlinger, the younger sister of Rambler center fielder Tanner, took home the crown at Friday's Dyersville Queen Pageant while representing Key West. She is the first Miss Key West ever to earn the distinction.

UP NEXT: The Ramblers will play Monday at Farley in an EIHL game. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.