In an unprecedented season of championships, the Key West Ramblers rattled off two more titles over the final two days of the 2016 season. As part of a grueling final stretch, Key West won twice on Saturday to wrap up the Peosta Tournament title and then twice more on Sunday to capture the Prairie League crown for the fourth time in team history (2008, 2011, 2012, 2016).
Rambler hurlers starred over the weekend, allowing just two total runs over the four wins. MVP of the Peosta Tournament, iron man Nick Woltkamp fired 13 innings on Saturday before Brett LaMere and Anthony Ruden followed with dominant performances of their own. Woltkamp blanked Cascade on just two hits in the semifinals at Peosta. A day later, Ruden struck out nine hitters in a 1-0 squeaker over Bellevue in the Prairie League championship.
A thrilling final weekend ran Key West's record to 49-7 -- the best mark in team history. Only two other teams in Rambler history have reached the 40-win mark: the 2015 team (44-14-1) and the 2012 edition (40-12).
Key West couldn't have asked for a better performance from LaMere in the Prairie League semifinal, which resulted in an 8-1 win over Bernard. LaMere allowed only one run over six innings while going off with the bat. He went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Ryan Siems, a reliable middle-of-the-order hitter all season, collected two hits in both Prairie League contests. He knocked in the only run of the victory over Bellevue.
Ruden made that lone tally stand up by scattering four hits and three walks over a seven-inning complete game. Ruden also came around to score on the third-inning double by Siems.
"We knew this was the last day of the season, so we came out and played really relaxed," Ruden told the Telegraph Herald. "Everybody came ready to play, but I think everybody was kind of ready for the season to be done, too. It's been a long summer, but we definitely wanted to end it the right way."
The rubber-armed Woltkamp (14-2 in 2016) finished with a team record 122.2 innings pitched this season. He made 18 starts and 23 total appearances while posting a 2.57 ERA and 85 strikeouts. He tossed a shutout in the 1-0 win over Cascade on Saturday.
"My arm doesn't feel too bad actually," Woltkamp said after Saturday's action. "It just came down to focus, staying locked in and executing pitches, and I made the pitches I had to."
Key West won five tournaments and placed in two others throughout the 2016 season (see below).
2016 Tournament Placements
1st - Prairie League
1st - Peosta
1st - Bellevue
1st - Farley
1st - Dyersville
3rd - Cascade
3rd - Rickardsville
*EIHL regular-season champion/playoff qualifier
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