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.