Season summary: Ramblers produce record-breaking results in 2015

The 2015 season started and ended with championships as the Ramblers won bookend EIHL preseason and postseason crowns. In between, Key West spent much of the season making a case for the title of best team in the area. The Ramblers won three tournament titles (Rickardsville included), were the Prairie League runner up, reached the semifinals of two other brackets and won more tournament games than any other area semi-pro team.

Led by its fearsome two-through-four hitters - Dan Spain, Andrew Redman and Chris Briggs - Key West broke the team record for wins in a single season by going 44-14-1 overall. It posted marks of 15-2 in Prairie League action, 9-5 in EIHL play and 20-7-1 in tournament contests.

Just how dominant were the 2015 Ramblers? They outscored their foes by a combined total of 321-151 and batted .298 as a team compared to a measly .187 by their opponents. Key West began the year by winning its first five games and proceeded to have two additional win streaks of six games each.

On the mound, Clarke University product Nick Woltkamp took over the roles of ace and staff workhorse. He broke numerous team pitching records while going 12-4 with a 2.16 ERA and 84 strikeouts. He logged 108.1 innings, becoming the first Rambler to ever eclipse the 100-inning mark. Woltkamp shined in his final outing of the season, tossing a seven-inning complete game to beat Cascade, 7-1, in the EIHL championship game.

Once again, Spain, Redman and Briggs supplied plenty of offense. Redman batted .373 with three homers and 24 RBIs and was an on-base machine (.500 OBP). After a slow start, Briggs punished the ball over the second half of the season. He ended up hitting five home runs and driving in a team high 36 runs. He had an impressive slash line of .323/.454/.508. Spain, who appeared in the all-star game along with Briggs and Redman, batted .317 and slugged a career best six home runs while playing in a team single-season record 50 games.

There were plenty of other key contributors in 2015. Anthony Ruden was a mainstay in the lineup and on the mound, finishing with a sterling 1.56 ERA. Chad Crabill (.297 BA, .394 OBP, 3 HR) enjoyed his best season as a Rambler. Ben Oglesby (.311 BA) got white hot down the stretch and Brett LaMere (4 HR, 25 RBI) delivered a walk-off home run to lift the Ramblers to victory despite a 23-strikeout game by opposing pitcher Andy Seabrooke of Farley. When he wasn't pitching, Woltkamp provided a steady bat (.325 BA) and plenty of stolen bases (team record 28).

Spain, the MVP of the Rickardsville Tournament, burned host Rickardsville with a 3-for-5 effort in the tournament title game as the Ramblers topped Rickardsville, 8-0. The victory marked win No. 300 for the Ramblers since rejoining the semi-pro circuit in 2004. Over 12 seasons (2004-2015), John Knabel has led the team to an overall record of 318-203-1 (.610). Since the beginning of 2010, Key West is 203-93-1 (.685).

In another key game with Rickardsville, Briggs pummeled a pair of home runs and eight RBIs to fuel a 14-5 victory in the EIHL semifinals. Briggs also drilled a homer to help Key West top Dyersville, 6-2, in the EIHL preseason title game.

The Ramblers have now won 11 tournament championships over the past five seasons (see below). They are back-to-back EIHL postseason champions. They captured Prairie League titles in 2008, 2011 and 2012.

Tournament Titles since 2011
2015: EIHL Postseason, EIHL Preseason, Rickardsville
2014: EIHL Postseason, Farley
2012: Dyersville, Prairie League, Worthington
2011: EIHL Preseason, Farley, Prairie League

Records broken in 2015

A record-breaking season in which Key West set a new standard for wins also included another seven individual and nine team records claimed by the 2015 Ramblers. Below is a summary of the new records for Key West, which finished 2015 as the EIHL champion and with an overall mark of 44-14-1.

INDIVIDUAL

Games

New record: Ben Oglesby / Dan Spain, 50

Previous record: Chris Briggs (2014), 47

Plate Appearances

New record: Dan Spain, 206

Previous record: Chris Briggs (2014) / Dan Spain (2011), 190

Stolen Bases

New record: Nick Woltkamp, 28

Previous record: Dan Spain (2011), 23

Wins

New record: Nick Woltkamp, 12

Previous record: Sean O'Connor (2011) / Ben Cottrell (2010) / Ned Schauff (2008), 10

Innings Pitched

New record: Nick Woltkamp, 108.1

Previous record: Jordan Hohensee, 96.1

Games Pitched

Record: Nick Woltkamp (2015) / Matt Farrey (2006), 20

Games Started

New record: Nick Woltkamp, 15

Previous record: Jordan Hohensee (2014) / Matt Farrey (2006), 13

TEAM

Wins

New record: 44

Previous record: 40 (2012)

Runs

New record: 321

Previous record: 303 (2014)

Walks

New record: 200

Previous record: 178 (2014)

Total Bases

New record: 654

Previous record: 618 (2012)

Stolen Bases

New record: 107

Previous record: 101 (2011)

Hits

New record: 480

Previous record: 440 (2012)

Triples

New record: 14

Previous record: 10 (2011)

Innings Pitched

New record: 397.2

Previous record: 360.2

Strikeouts

New record: 396

Previous record: 387 (2012)

Opponent Batting Average

New record: .187

Previous record: .195 (2014)

Ramblers seize second-straight EIHL postseason title

For the second-straight season, Key West has captured the EIHL postseason title. On Monday night the Ramblers celebrated a 7-1 victory over host Cascade in the latest championship game. The win concludes the 2015 season for Key West, which finishes with an overall record of 44-14-1.

Nick Woltkamp earned the victory on the mound and the trio of Chris Briggs (2-for-4), Ben Oglesby (2-for-2) and Andrew Redman (2-for-4) collected two hits apiece.

Woltkamp allowed just three hits to the Reds. He told the Telegraph Herald, "The biggest thing was I just kept the ball down; changeups, curveballs, and the defense backed me up the whole night. I was getting groundballs all night and they made every play."

The 44 victories were a team record, breaking the previous mark of 40 wins put up by the 2012 Ramblers.

Key West falls in Prairie League title

In search of its fourth Prairie League title, the Ramblers fell 5-2 to Andy Seabrooke and his Farley teammates on Sunday in the league championship game. Farley never trailed, using a three-run third to grab a 4-0 lead. Key West, set to take on Cascade at 7:45 p.m. on Monday (Aug. 24) in the EIHL championship, dropped to 43-14-1 overall.

Earlier in the day, the top-seeded Ramblers knocked off Bernard, 5-4, in the semifinals of the Prairie League playoffs. Dan Spain and Andrew Redman collected two hits apiece to help fuel the team's 43rd victory of the season. Nick Woltkamp fired five innings in relief and earned the win.

Seabrooke limited Key West to five hits in the championship game. Redman notched a pair of singles and a walk, but was stranded all three times. Redman drove in the Ramblers' first run with an RBI single in the third. Woltkamp doubled and scored in the sixth.

Three days earlier, Key West broke the team record for wins in a season by toppling Bellevue, 7-2, in the quarterfinals of the Peosta Tournament. First baseman Chris Briggs delivered three hits and an RBI to propel the Ramblers to their first win over Bellevue this season. After a 2-0 loss to Cascade in the semifinals at Peosta, Key West responded with a 10-0, run-rule shortened win over Peosta in the consolation game. Chad Crabill, Ryan Siems and Nick Woltkamp each went 3-for-3.

Monday's contest will mark the conclusion of the 2015 season.

Briggs drives in eight, Ramblers powder Rickardsville in EIHL playoffs

Fourth-seeded Key West used a career game from first baseman Chris Briggs to punish top-seeded Rickardsville in the semifinals of the EIHL postseason in Rickardsville on Monday. Briggs homered twice and drove in eight runs to fuel the 14-5 win over host Rickardsville. Key West improved to 40-12-1 overall, tying a team record for the most wins in one season. The 2012 Ramblers finished 40-12 overall.

Key West will vie for its second-straight EIHL title on a date and time to be determined. The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday night, but has been postponed because of rain outs at the Peosta Tournament. Briggs and company will have to go through Cascade, which defeated Dubuque in the other semifinal, to claim the title.

The Ramblers overcame starting pitcher Anthony Ruden's wildness by clobbering Rickardsville hurlers. Shortstop Dan Spain continued his power surge, extending his career high home run total to six with a solo blast to lead off the top of the third. That long ball tied the score at 2-2.

The Key West offense really got going in the fourth when Andrew Redman delivered a two-run double and Briggs followed with an RBI single. Two innings later, the Chris Briggs show continued with a three-run homer. Then in the seventh, Briggs connected on a grand slam that put Rickardsville well out of reach.

Briggs finished 3-for-5 from the cleanup spot. Key West's 2 through 4 hitters (Spain, Redman, Briggs) went a combined 10-for-15 with three homers, three doubles, 21 total bases and 11 RBIs. Spain went 4-for-5 and Redman was a perfect 3-for-3 with a pair of walks.

All three have put up stellar numbers in 2015:
Spain: .325 BA, 6 HR, 31 RBI, 13 SB, 12 2B, .387 OBP, .506 SLG
Redman: .342 BA, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 14 SB, 5 2B, .490 OBP, .523 SLG
Briggs: .303 BA, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 8 2B, .445 OBP, .492 SLG

Ruden went five innings and scattered four hits and seven walks to earn his sixth win of the season. Spain got the final six outs and recorded his first save of 2015.

Key West also got two hits apiece from Chad Crabill (2-for-4) and Ben Oglesby (2-for-5) in the blowout victory.

Ramblers advance in Peosta behind 12 K's from Noel

Sam Noel led the way in Key West's 4-0 blanking of Farley on Sunday in the first round of the Peosta Tournament. Noel allowed just a single hit and one walk over a seven-inning complete game shutout. He struck out 12 Farley hitters as part of the masterful performance.

Once again, the meat of the Rambler order did plenty of damage. Spain homered, Redman went 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs and Briggs went 1-for-2 with two walks and two RBIs. Crabill also continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-4 with a run driven in.

Key West tacked onto its lead with a run apiece in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings. Lefty ace Andy Seabrooke started on the mound for Farley.

The Ramblers are scheduled to return to action at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the Peosta Tournament. Key West will meet Bellevue, which defeated Dubuque in the first round.

Ramblers sweep doubleheader from Monticello, clinch playoff spot

By way of Saturday's doubleheader sweep of Monticello, Key West clinched a berth to the EIHL postseason (date to be determined). The Ramblers (37-11-1) defeated Monticello by scores of 6-1 and 13-3 in a pair of six-inning contests. Key West concluded EIHL regular-season play with a league mark of 9-5.

Andrew Redman homered in game 1 and Dan Spain homered in the capper as part of a big offensive day. Nick Woltkamp also collected four hits and earned the win in the second game. Woltkamp doubled, singled, tripled and drove in a pair of runs to fuel the 6-1 victory.

Monticello, which dropped to 4-8 in EIHL action, never led at any point on the day. The Ramblers waited until the fourth and fifth innings of the opening game to break it open. Woltkamp singled and scored a run in the fourth. An inning later, Redman came around on a two-run, inside-the-park home run. Woltkamp delivered an RBI triple to add the contest's final run.

The Ramblers also exploded in the latter stages of game 2. They tallied three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to provide a comfortable 13-1 margin. Austin Bradley and Ben Oglesby both went 3-for-4 with three RBIs as part of a 17-hit attack.

Anthony Ruden stifled the Monticello bats in game 1. He improved to 5-2 after a masterful one-hit, complete game effort. He struck out six and scattered four walks. Opposing hitters are now batting .136 this season against Ruden.

The Ramblers were back in action on Sunday with a 1 p.m. Prairie League clash at Bernard.

Ramblers reach 30-win mark

For the sixth time in eight seasons, Key West has reached the 30-win plateau. The Ramblers moved to 30-7-1 overall thanks to a pair of home Prairie League wins in Sunday's afternoon action. They defeated Holy Cross, 12-0, and Bernard, 8-5. Key West is 11-1 in Prairie League play.

Since the start of the 2008 season, Key West owns an overall record 241-106-1 (.694). The Ramblers set a team record for wins in a season in 2012 when they went 40-12 overall and won Dyersville Tournament, Worthington Tournament and Prairie League championships.

Key West never trailed in either of Sunday's games. Starting pitchers Brett LaMere (6 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 6 K) and Sam Noel (6 IP, 5 H, BB, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 K) both picked up their first victories of the season. Jake Schaeffer went 2-for-3 in both games for the Ramblers. In the second contest, Anthony Ruden went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.

Key West will return to action on Wednesday for round two of the Cascade Tournament. The Ramblers take on the Dubuque Blues at 8:30 p.m.

LaMere walk-off blast lifts Ramblers at Cascade Tourney

Brett LaMere spoiled Andy Seabrooke's no-hitter by delivering a walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh to propel Key West to 1-0 victory over Farley in the first round of the Cascade Tournament on Friday night. The Ramblers (28-7-1) are seeking their first-ever Cascade Tournament championship on the heels of winning the Rickardsville Tournament on July 12.

Seabrooke, who fanned 23 Ramblers in Key West's 5-4, 10-inning win at the Rickardsville tourney on July 7, pitched masterfully once again. Only two runners reached base all night (two errors, one walk) off the dominant lefty until LaMere went deep for his team-leading fourth homer of the season in the seventh. In his previous six at bats against Seabrooke, LaMere had gone 0-for-6 with five strikeouts.

Anthony Ruden matched Seabrooke zero for zero. Ruden tossed all seven innings for the Ramblers, surrendering only three hits and a walk while striking out eight. The Upper Iowa University hurler lowered his ERA to 1.36. Opponents are hitting just .123 (19-for-155) this season against Ruden.

LaMere is now hitting .326 with team highs in home runs (4), RBIs (19) and slugging percentage (.537). Ruden tops the Ramblers with a .373 batting average.

The Ramblers have now won all four meetings this season with Farley, including three by just one run. Key West is 9-2 in games decided by a single run.

The Ramblers host Holy Cross (1:30 p.m.) and Bernard (3:30 p.m.) in Peosta on Sunday (July 19). They return to action at the Cascade Tournament on Wednesday (July 22) when they go head-to-head with Dubuque at 8:30 p.m.

Ramblers take Rickardsville Tourney, win No. 300

The Ramblers completed their first-ever Rickardsville Tournament championship run by toppling the host, 8-0, in Sunday evening's title game. Anthony Ruden tossed eight shutout innings before giving way to Nick Woltkamp for the ninth. The victory moved Key West to 26-5-1 overall this season and to 300-194-1 since rejoining the eastern Iowa semi-pro baseball circuit in 2004.

In their four games at the Rickardsville Tournament, which included a 19-team field this time around, the Ramblers defeated the Dubuque Packers, 5-0, Farley, 5-4 (10 innings), Epworth, 2-1 (nine innings) and Rickardsville.

Shortstop Dan Spain went 3-for-5 with a home run in the title game and was named the tournament's MVP. Brett LaMere was a perfect 5-for-5 with two doubles.

"We had a pretty tough road to get here, but what's nice about this team is we consistently compete," Spain told the Telegraph Herald. "We go out there and give it everything we have let baseball run its course. From top to bottom, we have the kind of pitching that keeps us in games and gives us a chance to compete.

"Tonight was kind of nice, because it was the first time in a couple of weeks we didn't have to come from behind late in a game. We got some big two-out hits that gave us the lead."

Luis Ravelo and Ben Oglesby notched two hits each. As a team, the Ramblers collected 13 hits and knocked Rickardsville starter Joey Lehmann out of the game after three innings of work. On the other side, Ruden sturck out eight and scattered four hits and four walks.

Key West needed extra innings to put away its previous two opponents at the Rickardsville Tournament. Spain also homered in the sixth inning of the win over Epworth, tying the score at 1-1. Then in the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Redman belted a walk-off blast. Spain started the game on the mound for the Ramblers.

ALL-STAR GAME: In Saturday's all-star game, John Knabel coached the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League to a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Prairie League. Chris Briggs earned MVP honors after tying the game with a two-run double in the top of the ninth. Andrew Redman and Dan Spain also represented Key West in the all-star game.

Ramblers overcome 23 Seabrooke K's to win wild tourney affair

Key West spent much of the night flailing away in the face of a dominant pitching performance by Farley left-hander Andy Seabrooke. But a clutch two-run homer by Rambler first baseman Chris Briggs and a late unearned run allowed the Ramblers (22-5-1) to steal a win in the second round of the Rickardsville Tournament on Tuesday night.

With Seabrook's strikeout total up to 15 and two outs in the top of the seventh, Farley led 4-2. Briggs then blasted a dramatic two-run shot (30th career homer) off Seabrooke to knot the score. Three innings later, Andrew Redman raced home from third when Luis Ravelo's grounder to second with two outs was misplayed.

There would be no further drama in the bottom of the 10th. Nick Woltkamp finished off a 10-inning complete game by retiring the heart of the Farley lineup in order. Woltkamp (7-1) allowed just two earned runs on six hits and four walks. He struck out seven on the way to his sixth complete game.

The Ramblers jumped on top of Seabrooke early with Redman's two-run homer in the top of the first. Redman was the only Rambler (2-for-5) to collect multiple hits. Briggs finished 1-for-2 with three walks.

Seabrooke racked up an impressive 23 strikeouts over his 10 innings of work. Three of the five hits he allowed went for extra base hits, including the two long balls.

Key West returns to action on Thursday (July 9) when it plays an EIHL contest at Worthington. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Ramblers pick up action on Friday in the semifinals of the Rickardsville Tournament. They will take on Epworth at 7 p.m.

NOTE: Key West needs four more wins to reach 300 victories since returning to the semi-pro scene in 2004. Since then, the Ramblers own an overall record of 296-194-1.

LaMere homers for second-straight game; Ruden shuts out Packers

Anthony Ruden fired a three-hit shutout and catcher Brett LaMere homered for the second-straight game to lead Key West (21-5-1) to a 5-0 victory over the Dubuque Packers in the first round of the Rickardsville Tournament on Sunday. The Ramblers are seeking their first Rickardsville Tournament title.

Key West did all of its offensive damage in the second and third innings. Luis Ravelo collected an RBI single and Ben Oglesby (bases-loaded hit by pitch) and Dan Spain (bases-loaded walk) forced in runs as part of a three-run second frame. LaMere then connected on a two-run blast (third home run of the season) an inning later.

Ruden took it from there. He retired the first seven Packer hitters before a third-inning single. Ruden did not allow another hit until the seventh inning. The Rambler righty walked just one and struck out eight in one of his best performances of his semi-pro career.

Key West managed just three hits of its own. Chris Briggs was responsible for the Ramblers' additional hit. He doubled and scored on LaMere's homer.

The Ramblers have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Rickardsville Tournament. Key West has advanced to take on Farley in Rickardsville at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday (July 7).

Rambler gear for sale

Key West Ramblers T-shirts and sweatshirts are on sale (see order form below). If interested in purchasing a shirt, please email Jake Knabel (jacob.knabel@gmail.com) with your order. The deadline for purchase is Sunday, July 5.

Ramblers settle for tie in Worthington consolation game

Due to a time limit, Key West and East Dubuque settled for a 3-3 tie after six innings were completed in Sunday evening's Worthington Tournament third-place game. The draw is the first for the Ramblers (20-5-1) since they rejoined the eastern Iowa semi-pro baseball scene in 2004. The previous night Key West fell, 12-8, to Bellevue in the semifinals of the 67th annual tournament.

The Ramblers scored all three of their runs off East Dubuque's Ryan Jantsch in the top of the fifth to erase a 3-0 deficit. Despite drawing 10 walks and three hit-by-pitches off Jantsch, Key West failed to take the lead.

Dan Spain worked all six innings on the mound for the Ramblers. He scattered six hits and two walks while striking out seven East Dubuque hitters. On the other hand, Jantsch limited Key West to only two hits - one of which was a solo homer by Brett LaMere.

The Ramblers were relegated to the consolation game after relinquishing a 7-2 lead after six innings in their semifinal clash with Bellevue on Saturday night. Due to the simultaneous wedding of Chris Briggs, Key West used a revamped lineup. Javier Orta went 3-for-4 with two runs out of the No. 4 spot. Kenny Capesius went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Gabe Wingert homered.

Starting pitcher Sam Noel exited the game with a 5-2 lead after four innings of work. He allowed a single earned run on three hits and a walk. He also struck out six. Austin Bradley then pitched into the seventh before running into trouble. Capesius relieved Bradley and was tagged with the loss after Bellevue exploded for 10 runs in the seventh. Brad Boeckenstedt threw all seven innings and earned the win for Bellevue.

Key West's next scheduled game is Sunday, July 5 when it takes another shot at Bellevue. First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m. from A.J. Spiegel Park in Peosta.

Three Ramblers selected to 28th annual semi-pro all-star game

A trio of veteran stars will represent the Ramblers at the 28th annual Telegraph Herald Semi-Pro All-Star Game. Chris Briggs and Andrew Redman will start for the EIHL at first base and second base, respectively. Meanwhile, shortstop Dan Spain is one of eight reserves for the EIHL. After leading Key West to the EIHL title in 2014, John Knabel has the honor of coaching the EIHL all-stars.

The all-star game will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 11 at Petrakis Park in Dubuque.

Redman, the Midwest Collegiate Conference Player of the Year while starring at Clarke University in 2015, is hitting .333 with a .452 on-base percentage and eight RBIs in 16 games. On the mound, Redman sports a spotless 0.00 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 24 innings. Last season Redman batted .414 with seven homers and 39 RBIs. He set a new team single-season record with a .517 on-base percentage.

After a slow start, Briggs has heated up and is batting .258 with a home run and 12 RBIs in 20 games. He tops the Ramblers with 16 walks and owns a .405 on-base percentage while hitting out of the cleanup spot this season.

Spain, MVP of the 2012 all-star game, is hitting .338 with a homer, eight doubles and 12 RBIs in 19 games. He entered the 2015 season with a team career record .345 batting average since joining Key West in 2007.

2015 ALL-STAR ROSTERS

Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League
Coach: John Knabel, Key West
P: A.J. Reuter, Monticello
C: Mitch Gotto, Worthington
1B: Chris Briggs, Key West
2B: Andrew Redman, Key West
SS: Aaron Saeugling, Dubuque Blues
3B: Tom Andrews, Cascade
LF: Nate McMullen, Cascade
CF: Nathan Hall, Rickardsville
RF: Mitch Steger, Dyersville
DH: Andy Seabrooke, Farley

Reserves:
Robbie Anstoetter, Farley
Nick Battalini, Rickardsville
Mike Canavello, Dyersville
Andy Danna, Dubuque Blues
Austin Gehl, Cascade
Travis Rahe, Worthington
Mike Reuter, Monticello
Dan Spain, Key West

Prairie League
Coach: Chet Knake, Bellevue
P: Tyler Saeugling, Balltown
C: Matt McCullough, Bernard
1B: Brett Featherston, Epworth
2B: Brandon Slaats, Zwingle
SS: Trey Ertmer, East Dubuque
3B: Chet Knake, Bellevue
LF: Austin Brown, Bernard
CF: Cole Reeg, Bellevue
RF: Nate Ramler, Peosta
DH: Bryce Hoerner, Epworth

Reserves:
Matt Hoffman, Dubuque Packers
Neil Lange, Placid
Miles Launspach, New Vienna
Travis Lyons, Zwingle
Brennan Melloy, Bernard
Gavin Nadermann, Epworth
Drew Richard, Holy Cross
Ben Urbain, Balltown

Woltkamp fires gem, Crabill homers in Worthington tourney win

Nick Woltkamp tossed seven innings without allowing an earned run and Chad Crabill homered for the second-straight game as Key West (20-4) advanced to the semifinals of the 67th annual Worthington Tournament. The Ramblers won Friday's quarterfinal by a score of 4-1 over Farley.

Key West trailed 1-0 after three innings, but scored three decisive runs in the top of the fifth to gain control. The Ramblers took advantage of three Will Petroski free passes in the frame and pushed across runs on Andrew Redman's bases-loaded walk and back-to-back sacrifice flies from Crabill and first baseman Tim Carty.

An inning earlier Crabill tied the game at one apiece with his team-leading third homer of the season - a line-shot solo blast to center field. Crabill also delivered a two-run homer in the 4-3 first-round win over Dubuque on Tuesday.

The four runs of support were plenty for Woltkamp (6-1), who made his seventh start of the season. The Clarke University graduate surrendered just two hits, three walks and one unearned run in his fifth complete game effort of the year. Woltkamp retired nine Farley hitters in a row during a stretch that spanned the fourth through sixth innings. He also laid down a bunt hit during the Ramblers' three-run fifth.

Key West returns to action on Saturday (June 27) when it takes on Bellevue in the semifinals of the Worthington Tournament. First pitch is slated for 7:30 p.m. The Ramblers are looking to repeat their 2012 Worthington Tournament title.

Worthington Tournament quarterfinal pushed to Friday

Rainy conditions continue to wreak havoc on the Worthington Tournament. Thursday's scheduled quarterfinal matchup between Key West and Farley has been pushed back to Friday (June 26) at 8:30 p.m. The Ramblers (19-4) advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Dubuque, 4-3, on Tuesday night.

Spain powers fifth-straight win

Shortstop Dan Spain homered, doubled and drove in a pair of runs to help catapult Key West (19-4)
to its fifth-consecutive win. The latest victory came by a 4-3 decision over Dubuque in the first round of the 67th annual Worthington Tournament on Tuesday night. The Ramblers are now 8-2 this season in tournament action.

Key West got off to a quick start against Blues starting pitcher Mark Hennessey. Spain connected for a solo homer (16th career) to left center in the top of the first. The Ramblers used the long ball again in the second when catcher Chad Crabill went deep for a two-run shot. Four batters later Spain sent Ben Oglesby to the plate with an RBI double.

Despite a sloppy bottom of the second that let in three Dubuque runs, Key West never relinquished the lead. Neither team scored over the final five frames. Anthony Ruden fired the first four innings and got the win for the Ramblers. He was relieved by Nick Woltkamp, who tossed three scoreless innings to pick up his first save of the season.

Woltkamp was aided by stellar defensive plays turned in by both first baseman Chris Briggs and second baseman Andrew Redman. With two outs and a runner on third in the bottom of the fifth, Briggs made a diving stab moving to his left to preserve the one-run lead. Then in the seventh, Redman made a sprawling grab in right center to rob Aaron Sauegling of a leadoff hit.

Seven of the nine Rambler starters had at least one hit on Tuesday. Spain went 2-for-4 to lead the attack and help push Key West to 3-0 versus Dubuque in 2015.

The Ramblers' active five-game win streak includes victories over Placid, Worthington, Farley, East Dubuque and Dubuque. Three of the five wins have been decided by a single run. Key West is 5-1 in one-run games this season.

Up next for the Ramblers is a Worthington Tournament quarterfinal tilt with Farley on Thursday (June 25). First pitch is slated for 8:30 p.m. The two sides have met once this season with Key West winning 1-0 in 12 innings on June 17.

Key West eliminated from Farley Tournament

Bellevue walked off with a 2-1 victory over Key West on Wednesday night to eliminate the Ramblers from the Farley Tournament. Key West (14-4) had advanced to the quarterfinals of the bracket by topping Dyersville, 8-1, on June 6. A day prior to the loss to Bellevue, Key West defeated Rickardsville, 7-3, in Peosta.

In the team's latest win, both Anthony Ruden and Nick Woltkamp rapped out three hits. Ruden drove in a pair of runs and scored another. Key West spaced out its offensive attack with one run in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the eighth.

Austin Bradley earned the win by tossing two-plus innings of relief. Sam Noel then pitched the final four innings and did not allow a single Rickardsville run while striking out five. Noel and Ruden (starting pitcher) combined for 11 strikeouts.

The Ramblers lost to Bellevue for the second time this season despite solid work from Woltkamp on the mound. He went all 6.1 innings while posting a line of four hits, two walks, two runs (both earned) and six strikeouts. On the other hand, the potent Key West lineup was limited to three hits.

After having Thursday and Friday off, the Ramblers return to action this weekend with a game at Placid on Saturday (1 p.m.) and a home contest versus Bernard at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Ramblers ride big inning to first-round win at Farley tourney

Key West (12-3) poured it on with six second-inning runs and cruised to an 8-1, five-inning win over Dyersville in the first round of the Farley Tournament on Saturday. The Ramblers are looking to repeat Farley Tournament titles from 2011 and 2014. Key West has advanced to Wednesday's (June 10) 8:30 p.m. quarterfinal game against Bellevue.

Right fielder Anthony Ruden delivered a two-run single and Luis Ravelo added an RBI single during the outburst in the second frame. Ruden 2-for-4 at the top of the lineup, backing another dominant outing from ace hurler Andrew Redman. The Clarke University standout struck out the final seven hitters he faced as part of scoreless and hitless three innings of work.

In 24 innings this season, Redman has yet to allow an earned run. He has surrendered just six hits and six walks and has struck out 49 hitters. He's also hitting .522 (12-for-23) from the middle of the Rambler lineup.

Ravelo tacked on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Key West then added the game abruptly in the bottom of the fifth when Dan Spain's fly to center was misplayed, sending home a tally that enacted the tournament's run rule.

The Ramblers are now 7-1 in 2015 tournament action. They won the EIHL preseason tournament and triumphed in the consolation game of the Bellevue Tournament.

2015 Worthington Tournament bracket

Ramblers off to 11-2 start entering Wednesday

Key West has jumped out to an 11-2 overall record, including 4-0 in Prairie League games, behind three regulars hitting above .400. NAIA All-American Andrew Redman picked up where he left off after completing his collegiate career at Clarke University. He's hitting .522 and has yet to allow an earned run in 21 innings of work.

In the team's latest outing, the Ramblers defeated Cascade, 11-4, in Tuesday's (June 2) EIHL action. Six different Ramblers pounded out two or more hits as part of a 15-hit attack. Dan Spain bumped his season average to .405 by going 3-for-5 with a pair of runs batted in. The offensive outburst was plenty of support for starting pitcher Nick Woltkamp (4-0). He tossed eight innings and scattered eight hits and three walks while striking out seven. He allowed four runs (three earned).

Woltkamp has also excelled with the bat. He's 19-for-41 (.452) with eight RBIs and seven stolen bases in his first 11 career games with Key West. Only Redman has a higher average among teammates. The Ramblers are hitting .319 and have already swiped 18 bases through the team's opening 13 games.

Key West was set to put its undefeated Prairie League mark on the line on Wednesday (June 3) with a road game at Bellevue. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

2015 Farley Tournament bracket

2015 Bellevue Tournament bracket

Ramblers win EIHL preseason tournament title

The Ramblers have blazed to a 4-0 start and an EIHL preseason tournament title. On the way to the championship, Key West defeated Monticello, 8-2, Dubuque, 2-1, and Dyersville, 6-2. First baseman Chris Briggs homered in the title game win over Dyersville.

Redman no-hitter highlights 2-0 start

Defending champions of the EIHL, the Key West Ramblers have begun the 2015 season with a pair of victories. In the season opener on May 9, Andrew Redman fired a five-inning no-hitter in an 8-0 tournament victory over Monticello. The next day Key West defeated Zwingle on the road, 15-5, in a Prairie League contest.

Through two games, Anthony Ruden and Brett LaMere have both notched four hits. Redman, named the Midwest Collegiate Conference player of the year, went 2-for-3 while striking out 11 in his masterful effort versus Monticello. He faced just one batter over the minimum. The only Monticello baserunner that evening reached on a walk.

In the win at Zwingle, Nick Woltkamp picked up the win in his Rambler debut on the mound. He went six innings and allowed four runs (all earned) on nine hits and three walks. He also struck out seven.

Key West returns to action on Thursday when it begins EIHL play at Worthington. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.

Ramblers announce 2015 schedule

The 2015 Key West Ramblers schedule has been announced. View this summer's slate by clicking HERE. The link is also available at the top right of the web page.

Last season Key West went 34-14 overall and won EIHL postseason and Farley tournament titles. The 2015 season will mark the 12th year of Rambler baseball since its rebirth in 2004. During that stretch, Key West has compiled an overall record of 274-189 (.591).