Ramblers mash team records in championship 2017 season

The greatest offensive team in Key West Ramblers history mashed its way to a 42-15 overall record and to four championships during the 2017 season. It was a fitting end to manager John Knabel's 14 years guiding a team that he brought back to life in 2004. The final weekend of the season included postseason titles in both the Prairie League and the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League.

No Ramblers team has ever showed off as much thunder from top to bottom. Four different players belted six or more home runs, including Andrew Redman, the MVP of both the Farley and Dyersville Tournaments. Redman broke Chris Briggs' five-year-old record for home runs in a single season by hitting 13 big flies. At the top of the lineup, Anthony Razo set a new team standard for hits (68) in a season while hitting an even .400. It was also a stellar season for Nick Woltkamp, who delivered 10 doubles, six triples and six home runs.

The 2017 Ramblers made up for a lack of pitching depth by pushing across a team record 370 runs. They also broke team records for doubles (95), triples (18), home runs (44), total bases (747) and slugging percentage (.489). Next in line behind Redman for the team lead in home runs were Briggs (8), Brett LaMere (6) and Woltkamp (6). A complete summary of team records broken in 2017 can be found below.

On the mound, Redman and Woltkamp starred as the team's top two pitchers. Redman was incredibly dominant, going 10-0 with a 1.29 ERA and just 44 hits allowed in 77 innings. He struck out 99 hitters and broke Ned Schauff's team career record for strikeouts. Meanwhile, Woltkamp was again the workhorse. He logged more than 100 innings for the third season in a row. He went 14-6 with a 3.79 ERA over 137.2 innings, a figure that broke his own team standard.

After a three-game losing streak in June, Key West sat at 13-8 overall. It was a bit of a disappointing start considering the team's 49-7 record in 2016. However, the Ramblers got on a roll and went 29-7 the rest of the way. They finished the season by winning 12 of their last 13 games. In the final weekend of the year, Key West defeated Bellevue in the Prairie League championship game and then Cascade in the EIHL title game. It marked the first time in team history that the Ramblers had won both championships in the same season. In the Farley tournament championship game, Key West topped Epworth, 5-4.

Aug. 5 was a historic day for Key West. Not only did the Ramblers trounce Balltown, 18-3, for the Dyersville tournament title, they claimed win No. 400 since their rebirth in 2004. Knabel finished his 14 years leading Key West with an overall record of 409-225-1 and 22 tournament championships. In 2017, the Ramblers reigned supreme in Eastern Iowa semi-pro baseball with the top record in the area in terms of both overall number of wins and winning percentage.

As part of Key West's prolific offense, six Rambler regulars batted better than .300: Razo (.400), Woltkamp (.387), Redman (.385), Briggs (.361), Ben Oglesby (.309) and LaMere (.301). Redman topped the team in many statistical categories, including home runs, RBI (48), on-base percentage (.506) and slugging percentage (.779). If there were an official MVP named in Eastern Iowa semi-pro, it would have been difficult to go against Redman, the best player on the area's best team.

TEAM RECORDS BROKEN IN 2017

Individual Hitting, Season
Slugging Percentage
New record: Andrew Redman, .779
Previous Record: Chris Briggs, .731 (2012)

Games Played
New Record: Nick Woltkamp, 53
Previous Record: Ben Oglesby, 52 (2016)

Runs Scored
New Record: Nick Woltkamp, 54
Previous Record: Andrew Redman, 50 (2014)

Hits
New Record: Anthony Razo, 68
Previous Record: Ryan Siems, 66 (2016)

Doubles
Tie: Spencer Kuehn, 19 (2012) / Anthony Razo, 19 (2017)

Individual Pitching, Season

Wins
Tie: Nick Woltkamp, 14 (2016/2017)

Earned Run Average (min. 30 IP)
New Record: Andrew Redman, 1.29
Previous Record: Kenny Capesius, 1.32 (2016)

Innings Pitched
New Record: Nick Woltkamp, 137.2
Previous Record: Nick Woltkamp, 122.2 (2016)

Games
New Record: Nick Woltkamp, 26
Previous Record: Nick Woltkamp, 23

New team single-season records broken in 2017
Doubles: 95
Triples: 18
Home Runs: 44
Total Bases: 747
Runs Scored: 370
Slugging Percentage: .489
Complete Games: 29

*Note: Nick Woltkamp has now moved to the top of the Rambler career record book in four pitching categories: wins (40), innings pitched (368.2), games (69) and games started (50). He extended his already existing team career record for complete games to 31. Andrew Redman owns team career pitching records for ERA (1.56), strikeouts (354) and lowest opponent batting average (.161).

Ramblers capture EIHL crown for second title of weekend

The Key West Ramblers wrapped up a grueling four-games-in-two-days stretch as part of a thrilling finish to the 2017 season. After claiming their fifth Prairie League title in team history on Saturday, the Ramblers notched EIHL championship No. 3 on Sunday by knocking off both Dyersville, 6-0, and host Cascade, 4-1.

It was the proper sendoff for John Knabel, who managed the final games of his semi-pro career on Sunday. Over 14 years leading Key West, Knabel racked up 409 wins and 22 tournament championships. The 2017 Ramblers (42-15) were the fourth squad in team history to reach the 40-win mark. Key West has been especially dominant over the past three years, going a combined 135-36-1 during that stretch.

Knabel told the Telegraph Herald, "I love the guys who have played for me, and I'm going to miss being around them."

Nick Woltkamp and Andrew Redman were the latest Ramblers to toss seven-inning complete games in playoff action. In the win over Dyersville, Woltkamp fired a six-hit shutout despite recording only one strikeout. Offensively, Lake Rosson delivered a two-run homer and Ian Moller drilled a solo shot. Out of the No. 5 spot in the lineup, Brett LaMere went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and a stolen base.

Redman then put the finishing touches on another championship by limiting the Reds to one run on four hits. The Clarke University product ended his season with a perfect 10-0 record and an impressive 1.29 ERA in 77 innings of work. This season Redman also broke a team single-season record by homering 12 times. In support of Redman, LaMere added two more RBIs, helping Key West hold off pitcher Pat Weber and Cascade.

Woltkamp wound up breaking his own team single-season records for innings pitched (137.2) and appearances on the mound (26). Woltkamp is the all-time winningest pitcher in Ramblers history with 40 wins.

Key West won four tournaments in 2017. It also celebrated titles at Dyersville and at Farley. At 22-6 in tournament play, the Ramblers boasted the highest tournament winning percentage of any area semi-pro teams.

Prairie League Champs!

For the fifth time in time history, the Key West Ramblers are champions of the Prairie League. Key West captured the title by winning twice on Saturday as part of a four-team playoff. The Ramblers defeated Bernard, 5-2, and then Bellevue, 9-4. Key West (40-15) also won Prairie League titles in 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2016.

Back-to-back seven-inning complete game pitching performances gave the Ramblers a big boost on Saturday. Brett LaMere allowed just a single earned run in the semifinal victory over Bernard. Anthony Razo then struck out seven hitters while getting plenty of support from what's been a dynamic offense all season.

At the plate, Nick Woltkamp enjoyed a 3-for-4 day that included a triple and a pair of runs scored in the championship game. Ian Moller went 2-for-3 and drove in four runs as part of the outburst in the title victory. Meanwhile, Razo collected two hits in both contests and Andrew Redman went 3-for-6 for the day and reached base a total of five times.

The Ramblers were set to return to action for the EIHL playoffs on Sunday (Aug. 20) afternoon in Cascade. It will mark the final day of the 2017 season. The first semifinal features Key West and Dyersville at 1 p.m. The winner will advance to play either Cascade or Rickardsville in the championship at 4:30 p.m.

Peosta Tournament run ends, playoffs loom

Despite a furious rally, the Key West Ramblers were eliminated from the Peosta Tournament after a 9-7 quarterfinal loss to Cascade on Tuesday. Two days earlier, Andrew Redman homered and threw another complete game in a 3-1 victory over Farley in the first round of the Peosta Tournament. Now all that remains on the 2017 schedule for Key West (38-15) are the Prairie League and EIHL Playoffs (Aug. 19-20).

In Sunday's win in Peosta, Redman set down nine hitters on strikes over a seven-inning complete game. He allowed only four hits and a walk to Farley hitters while out-dueling Andy Seabrooke. Redman pummeled his 13th homer of the year in the first inning. Anthony Ruden delivered the deciding runs with a two-run double in the fourth.

In the loss to Cascade, Key West tried to dig out of a 9-0 hole. Trailing 9-7 in the bottom of the seventh, the Ramblers put the tying run on base after a Ruden RBI single. Nick Woltkamp then struck out and Chad Crabill flew out to end the threat. It was a big offensive day for Crabill, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Unfortunately, Cascade tagged Woltkamp for nine runs (six earned) in his four innings on the mound.

Back on Aug. 10, Key West wrapped up regular-season play for 2017 with a 3-0 victory over New Vienna. Brett LaMere homered and tossed a three-hit shutout. He struck out eight hitters. Out of the No. 9 spot in the lineup, John Knabel went 2-for-3 and drove in a run.

The season will conclude this weekend with two four-team playoffs. The Ramblers will take on Bernard at 12 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 19) in the Prairie League semifinals at Bernard. They will play again on Saturday in the Prairie League championship should they defeat Bernard. Then on Sunday, the entire EIHL playoffs will unfold in Cascade. Key West draws Dyersville in a 1 p.m. semifinal matchup.

Redman breaks home run record in pair of Sunday wins

Two solid pitching performances and a home run by Andrew Redman in both ends of a home-away doubleheader on Sunday helped push the Key West Ramblers to two league victories. In an afternoon affair, Key West topped Zwingle, 3-1, in Peosta. The Ramblers (35-14) then traveled to Monticello and won by a 4-2 decision.

Redman has been on an incredible tear at the plate. With a solo homer in the third inning of the win over Zwingle, Redman equaled Chris Briggs' team single-season record of 11 home runs, set back in 2012. Redman then broke the record with another solo shot that sealed the victory over Monticello. Redman has hit seven of his 12 home runs over the past seven games, a 6-1 stretch for the Ramblers.

On the mound, Tom Casey and Lake Rosson both tossed complete games, allowing just a combined six hits over 14 innings. Casey did not surrender a single earned run to Zwingle, which managed only two hits. Rosson limited the damage to two runs on five walks and four hits in his own seven-inning effort.

It was a nice day out of the No. 7 spot in the lineup for Matt Stevens, who went 3-for-5 with a double and a stolen base. He's raised his season average to .253 with a recent hot streak. Additionally, Ben Oglesby went 2-for-4 in the second game of the day.

Key West was scheduled to return to action on Monday (Aug. 7) and host Holy Cross in a league game. First pitch was slated for 7 p.m.

Ramblers blast Balltown for Dyersville title, 400th all-time win

For many reasons, Saturday's Dyersville Tournament championship game was a memorable one for the Key West Ramblers. Tournament MVP Andrew Redman equaled a team record with three home runs in the contest, lifting Key West to an 18-3 demolition of a loaded up Balltown team. Redman and company roughed up former Major League Baseball draft pick Alec Rash on the way to their second-straight title in Dyersville.

Now 33-14 overall this season, the Ramblers have improved to 400-224-1 since John Knabel rebooted Key West semi-pro baseball in 2004. Gradually, the Ramblers became one of the areas most dominant teams, posting records of 40-12 in 2012, 44-14-1 in 2015 and an almost spotless 49-7 mark in 2016.

Said Redman in an interview with the Telegraph Herald, "Coming in as a high school player 11 years ago, I understand what it took to become a legit team. There are a lot of really good teams in this area, and it's not easy to win games. It took a lot of hard work from guys like John Knabel and Paul Carty and a lot of great players to get to the point where we can have this kind of success."

Not since Michael Jimenez versus Placid on May 15, 2011, had any Rambler drilled three home runs in a single game. On Saturday, Redman struck for his eighth, ninth and 10th home runs on the year. That effort came three days after he mashed a pair of homers in an 8-4 loss at Rickardsville. Redman is now knocking on the door of the team single-season home run record of 11, a total recorded by Chris Briggs in 2012.

Matt Stevens joined Redman (also the Farley Tournament MVP) with three hits in support of pitcher Nick Woltkamp. Anthony Razo and Lake Rosson both went 2-for-4 as part of the 19-hit explosion. The Ramblers greeted Rash rudely, just like they did to University of Iowa pitcher Drake Robison, who went up against Key West as a member of Cascade on June 10 at the Farley Tournament.

Key West has now won three championships at Dyersville (2012, 2016 and 2017) and has captured two town titles this season. In team history, the Ramblers have claimed 20 tournament championships.

Key West's road through the Dyersville Tournament included wins over Cascade, 11-6, the Dubuque Buds, 5-4, Bernard, 10-0 (six innings) and Balltown.

All-time tournament titles
Bellevue (2016)
Dyersville (2012, 2016, 2017)
EIHL postseason (2014, 2015)
EIHL preseason (2011, 2015)
Farley (2011, 2014, 2016, 2017)
Peosta (2016)
Prairie League (2008, 2011, 2012, 2016)
Rickardsville (2015)
Worthington (2012)
Zwingle Fest (2007)

Ramblers win first-round game at Dyersville

Key West is now 11-2 over its last 13 games following Sunday's (July 30) first-round action at the Dyersville Tournament. Winner of 2012 and 2016 Dyersville Tournament championships, the Ramblers defeated Cascade, 11-6, in bracket play behind another strong offensive performance. Key West has improved to 28-12 overall.

After falling behind 4-0 in the third inning, the Ramblers responded with seven runs in the bottom of the third. Chris Briggs highlighted the frame with a three-run homer (team high sixth of the season). Matt Stevens added an RBI single and Ben Oglesby later drove in two more with a base hit.

It was a big night for Oglesby, who went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs and two RBIs. He also caught the game-ending fly ball as Cascade attempted to mount a seventh-inning rally. Brett LaMere also went 2-for-4 with two RBIs out of the No. 5 spot in the lineup. Making his first appearance of the season as a Rambler, Anthony Ruden walked twice and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

On the mound, Andrew Redman made his eighth start while squaring off against opposing pitcher Pat Weber. Despite the third-inning struggle, Redman fired 1-2-3 innings in the first, fifth and sixth frames. He moved his record to 7-0 to go along with a 1.53 ERA in 53 innings. He also went 1-for-3 with two runs, a walk and a hit-by-pitch at the plate on Sunday.

The Ramblers will attempt to extend their Dyersville Tournament winning streak to six when they play in the quarterfinals at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday (Aug. 3). The Dubuque Buds advanced to play Key West courtesy of a 3-2 win over Farley. The Ramblers are also scheduled to be in action Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday of this week.

Ramblers place third at Rickardsville, eke past Peosta

In action to begin the week, the Key West Ramblers took a 5-4 decision from Peosta on Monday night, wrapping up the Rickardsville Tournament. Key West dropped down to the third-place game after a 9-6 loss to Farley in the semifinals on Sunday. The Ramblers now stand at 26-12 overall.

First baseman Chris Briggs has now homered in three-straight games. He delivered a three-run homer in the first inning of Monday's win. Then in the third frame, Brett LaMere struck for a solo shot. Briggs and LaMere are tied for the team lead with five home runs apiece on the season. A fifth run came home on Anthony Razo's RBI single.

Key West won despite going scoreless over the final four innings. Austin Simmons started on the mound and went 4.2 innings, limiting the damage to four runs (three earned) although he surrendered six hits and five walks. LaMere got the final seven outs and earned the save while holding Peosta off the board in the sixth and seventh frames.

The loss to Farley interrupted an eight-game win streak. Farley managed to tag Nick Woltkamp for 11 hits and eight earned runs. A home run apiece by Briggs and Redman was not enough. Redman went 2-for-2 and reached base in all four plate appearances. Briggs turned in a 3-for-4 game.

Key West is scheduled to return to action tonight (July 25) for an EIHL game at Cascade. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

Win streak moves to eight, Ramblers advance in Rickardsville

Andrew Redman turned in another masterful outing on the mound while leading the Key West Ramblers to a season high eighth victory in a row. The latest win came by a 4-0 decision over Bellevue in Saturday's Rickardsville Tournament quarterfinal action. Winner of the Farley Tournament, The Ramblers (25-10) are aiming for their second tournament championship of 2017.

After allowing a fourth-inning single, Redman went on to retire the final 10 Bellevue hitters he faced. Now 6-0 with a 0.96 ERA over 47 innings this season, Redman allowed five hits and did not walk a single batter on Saturday. He recorded seven strikeouts while notching his sixth complete game of the year.

At the plate, Redman doubled and then was on board for Chris Briggs' two-run homer in the first. The Ramblers tacked on with two more insurance runs in the fourth to provide plenty of support for their ace hurler. Brett LaMere went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and a run scored out of the No. 5 spot in the lineup. Six Key West hitters collected at least one hit while going up against Bellevue pitcher Dave Smith.

The Ramblers were fresh off blowout victories over Farley, 14-0 (July 18), and Holy Cross, 18-4 (July 20). Redman homered and Lake Rosson registered four hits in the win over Holy Cross. In the Farley win, Nick Woltkamp routinely pitched out of trouble in an 11-hit shutout. Briggs also homered in that contest.

Key West is scheduled to play again today (July 23) at 6:30 p.m. in the semifinals at Rickardsville. The Ramblers will take on Farley. The other side of the bracket features host Rickardsville versus Peosta.

Ramblers hold off Worthington

Despite leaving a trail of base runners (13 LOB), the Key West Ramblers escaped Worthington with an 8-6 road victory on Thursday night. Lake Rosson made his first start on the mound and both Ricky Marinez and Nate Woltkamp homered, helping Key West move to 19-10 overall and 6-2 in Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League play.

The game remained tied until the top of the sixth when Woltkamp blasted his third homer of the season, providing a 7-6 advantage. The Ramblers added an insurance run on Ben Oglesby's RBI single in the ninth. It was a big day for Marinez, who went 3-for-5, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs.

Rosson made it through five innings, allowing six runs (all earned) on five hits and five walks. Woltkamp then covered the final four frames without surrendering a run. Woltkamp benefited from double plays in both the seventh and ninth innings. The game ended when Rosson caught a line drive at third and then tossed the ball to first for the twin killing. Woltkamp earned his first save of the season.

Key West concluded the contest with 11 hits, including multiple knocks from three players: Marinez (3-for-5), Oglesby (2-for-5) and Woltkamp (2-for-5). Out of the leadoff spot, Anthony Razo reached base in five of six plate appearances (single, three walks, HBP).

The Ramblers are scheduled to return to action on Saturday when they open play at the Rickardsville Tournament versus the Dubuque Buds at 5 p.m. in first round action.

LaMere, Rosson go deep in win over Dyersville

A four-run second inning and a sixth-inning grand slam by Brett LaMere propelled the Key West Ramblers to an 11-6 win over Dyersville in an EIHL game in Peosta on Tuesday night. LaMere doubled and homered as part of a 3-for-4 night. Lake Rosson added his first career home run as a Rambler in a victory that pushed Key West to 18-10 overall.

Once again, Nick Woltkamp took the ball on the mound. He fired a seven-inning complete game, scattering 10 hits. He allowed only two earned runs through the first six frames before surrendering three tallies in the seventh with the game already in hand. Woltkamp has delivered 79.2 innings on the mound.

LaMere (3-for-4), Rosson (2-for-4), Ben Oglesby (2-for-3, triple, two RBI) and Anthony Razo (2-for-3, two RBI) all collected two hits apiece for Key West. The Ramblers scored four runs in the second, two in the third, one in the fifth and four in the sixth. LaMere broke the game open with a grand slam that narrowly stayed fair inside the left field foul pole.

Key West is scheduled to return to action Thursday at Worthington. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

Ramblers let lead slip away at Cascade Tournament

The Key West Ramblers led by as many as three runs on Saturday night, but even a 4-1 lead with Andrew Redman on the mound didn't hold up. The Dubuque Buds tied the game with two runs in the seventh and eventually walked off a winner, 6-5, in the 11th in first-round action at the Cascade Tournament.

Redman entered the night having not allowed a single run or walk in 26 innings this season. This time around, he wasn't quite his usual dominant self. He surrendered a first-inning run and wound up issuing four free passes. He worked eight innings, giving up five runs (all earned) on 10 hits. He struck out seven hitters.

With Redman's pitch count soaring, Nick Woltkamp took the ball in the ninth. He worked 1-2-3 frames in both the ninth and 10th. The game appeared on its way to the 12th when Woltkamp got JJ Reimer to pop up to left center. However, the ball was dropped, allowing the game-winning run to score.

Key West (17-10) matched Dubuque's 10 hits while up against Mark Hennessy. Every Rambler had exactly one hit with the exception of Jake Oglesby, who went 2-for-5. All 10 hits were singles. Five out of six hitters either singled or walked during Key West's three-run third inning that put it in front, 4-1.

The Ramblers return to league play on Monday when they play the Dubuque Buds once again. Game time from Petrakis Park is set for 7 p.m.

Ramblers settle for third place at Worthington

The Key West Ramblers were a hair length away from advancing to another tournament championship game, but wound up in third place at the Worthington Tournament, which concluded on Saturday (July 1). A day after suffering a 4-3 walk-off loss at the hands of Farley in the semifinals, Key West rebounded by pummeling host Worthington, 11-1 (five innings), in the consolation game.

The Ramblers were rained out Sunday (July 2) at Rickardsville in a scheduled EIHL contest. The game will be made up at a later date. Key West now stands at 17-9 overall this season.

The Ramblers have appeared invincible whenever Andrew Redman has been on the mound. The Clarke alum has now hurled 26 innings without allowing a single run this season after he fired a four-hit shutout in a 6-0 win over the Dubuque Buds on Thursday. Redman struck out 10 hitters, pushing his 2017 strikeout total to 39. He has yet to walk a single batter in his four complete game performances this summer.

The victory over Dubuque pushed Key West into the semifinals at Worthington. Brett LaMere spurred the offensive attack with a three-run homer that broke a scoreless tie in the third inning. He added a single and scored as part of a three-run sixth that put the game out of reach. Chad Crabill (2-for-2, walk) and Dan Spain (2-for-4) added a pair of hits apiece versus Dubuque, which started Brad Schwind on the hill.

Behind Redman, the tournament MVP, the Ramblers won three games by a single run during their Farley championship run in mid-June. In the Worthington semifinals on Friday, Key West let a 3-2 lead slip away. Farley, the eventual Worthington titlist, snuck by the Ramblers with two runs in the bottom of the seventh off starter Nick Woltkamp.

Key West bounced back from the loss by winning twice on Saturday when it topped Zwingle, 4-2, and then blasted Worthington. LaMere made his fifth pitching start of the campaign and held Zwingle to one earned run on six hits and two walks. He also struck out six hitters. A Matt Stevens two-run double in the first got the Ramblers on top immediately.

LaMere then starred with the bat versus Worthington. He went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk. Woltkamp collected two hits and drove in three runs. Tyler Malcook doubled and reached base in all three plate appearances. Dan Sardina pitched for the first time as a Rambler and went all five innings. He gave up one unearned run on three hits and three walks.

Key West is scheduled to return to action next Saturday (July 8) at the Cascade Tournament. It will meet the Dubuque Buds at 7:30 p.m. The Ramblers may also reschedule make-up games between now and then. Rescheduled games will be updated on the schedule page.

Razo, Redman set to start in all-star game

Three Key West Ramblers were recently named to the 2017 Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League all-star roster. Key West's honorees are repeat selections Andrew Redman and Nick Woltkamp and first-time all-star Anthony Razo. A starter at second base last season, Redman will start at short this year. Razo has been tabbed as the starting center fielder.

The Telegraph Herald Semi-Pro All-Star Game is set for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch on Sunday, July 9. Commercial Club Park in Dyersville will serve as the venue.

Razo has been a force at the top of the lineup. He entered Sunday (July 2) with a slash line of .387 (BA)/.495 (OBP)/.560 (SLG). He has produced two home runs, seven doubles, 21 RBIs, 18 runs scored and eight stolen bases while appearing in 23 games.

Redman has been especially impressive as a pitcher this season. He has thrown 26 innings without allowing a single run in 2017. He owns an otherworldly 39-to-0 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has limited opposing hitters to a .105 batting average. At the plate, Redman is hitting .309 with three home runs and 16 RBIs. He sports a .467 on-base percentage and .527 slugging percentage.

Woltkamp has also had a stellar season with his bat and arm. He will be a reserve for the EIHL after serving as the all-star starting pitcher in 2016. Woltkamp is hitting .353 with two home runs and a team high 23 RBIs. He also has six doubles and five triples, feeding into a robust .612 slugging percentage. On the mound, Woltkamp has logged 70 innings, owns a 7-3 record and has an ERA of 2.57. The control artist has walked only 12 hitters all year.

2017 ALL-STAR ROSTERS

Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League
Coach: Paul Scherrman, Farley
P: Brad Schwind, Dubuque Buds
C: Mike Muto, Dubuque Buds
1B: Mike Goerdt, Dyersville
2B: Brian Miller, Farley
3B: Ryan Mabe, Rickardsville
SS: Andrew Redman, Key West
LF: Nate McMullen, Cascade
CF: Anthony Razo, Key West
RF: Tanner Felton, Monticello
DH: Mitch Gotto, Worthington

Reserves
Robbie Anstoetter, Farley
Nathan Hall, Rickardsville
Jack Hoffman, Rickardsville
Marquis Dew, Worthington
Josh McQuillen, Cascade
Jeremy Vaassen, Holy Cross
Danny Weiss, Dubuque Buds
Nick Woltkamp, Key West
Ben Zitelman, Dyersville

Prairie League
Coach: Chet Knake, Bellevue
P: Chase Kueter, Bellevue
C: Josh Hlubek, Peosta
1B: Brett Featherston, Epworth
2B: Joe Kruiser, Zwingle
3B: Nate Ramler, Peosta
SS: Gavin Nadermann, Epworth
LF: Kyle Behnke, Balltown
CF: Austin Brown, Bernard
RF: Miles Launspach, New Vienna
DH: Chet Knake, Bellevue

Reserves
Brady Breitbach, Balltown
Luke Carroll, Dubuque Packers
JJ Connolly, Epworth
Isaac Evans, New Vienna
Max Hoffman, Bernard
Neil Lange, Placid
Travis Lyons, Zwingle
Ries Rausch, Bernard
Jake Schroeder, Bellevue

Ramblers get back on track, win opening game in Worthington

After a three-game skid, the Key West Ramblers are back in the win column. Nick Woltkamp fired a complete game, delivered a two-run homer and helped lead Key West to an 11-2 win over Dyersville in the first round of the Worthington Tournament on Sunday night. Earlier in the day, the Ramblers suffered a 6-5 loss to Bernard in a Prairie League contest. Key West now stands at 14-8 overall.

In the victory over Dyersville, the Ramblers briefly trailed 1-0 before striking for four runs in the second inning. Dan Spain highlighted the frame with a two run homer. Anthony Razo was aboard for the big fly after knocking in a run with a double. Spain put together a big night, going 3-for-4 with a double, homer, three runs and a pair of RBIs.

Out of the cleanup spot, first baseman Chris Briggs went 4-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Razo (2-for-5) and Woltkamp (2-for-4) also added multiple hits. As a team, the Ramblers rapped out 14 hits. They scored four runs in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh.

Making his eighth start on the mound this season, Woltkamp (7-2) recorded his fourth complete game. Despite striking out only two hitters, Woltkamp allowed just one earned run on 10 hits and two walks. Woltkamp has logged 63.2 innings in 2017.

Key West will play in the quarterfinals of the Worthington Tournament at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday (June 28). Dubuque will serve as the opponent. The Ramblers were originally scheduled to take on Holy Cross on Tuesday. That game will be played at a later date due to a tournament conflict.

Ramblers capture fourth Farley Tournament title

For the fourth time in team history, the Key West Ramblers are champions of the Farley Tournament. In Sunday's championship game, Key West (13-5) defeated Epworth, 5-4. The Ramblers also captured Farley titles in 2011, 2014 and 2016. They are 13-1 over the past four years at the Farley Tournament.

Andrew Redman garnered the Farley Tournament MVP award after an impressive performance with both his arm and bat. Redman fired shutouts in the first round (Cascade) and in the semifinals (Dubuque) to spur Key West into Sunday's title contest. Over his 12 innings of work in Farley, Redman allowed just four hits without surrendering a free pass. He struck out 22 batters, including 13 against Dubuque. Offensively, Redman went 5-for-12 with a home run, a double, three runs, five RBIs, two walks and two stolen bases out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup.

With Redman having pitched on Friday, the Ramblers turned to Nick Woltkamp. He responded by working all nine innings without giving up a single earned run. He scattered nine hits and a walk and then buckled down in the ninth when Epworth put the potential tying run on base.

At the plate, Key West got two hits apiece from Chad Crabill (2-for-5), Ben Oglesby (2-for-3) and Redman (2-for-4). The Ramblers struck early when Redman doubled in a run and Briggs singled in another as part of a two-run first. Redman drove in another run in the second, Key West took advantage of errors for one tally apiece in the fourth and sixth frames.

After drubbing Cascade, 8-0, by the run rule in the first round, Key West managed to triumph in three one-run games on its way to winning a championship. The Ramblers' path included a 4-3 quarterfinal win over Rickardsville and a 1-0 semifinal victory over Dubuque. Key West now has its first tournament title of 2017 after winning five in 2016.

The Ramblers are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday (June 20) when they host Dubuque at 7 p.m. in Peosta. It will be an Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League matchup.

Redman shines in Farley semis; title game moved to Sunday

Andrew Redman blasted a solo homer and tossed a seven-inning, one-hit shutout in Friday's 1-0 Farley Tournament semifinal win over Dubuque. Redman out-dueled Buds hurler Mark Hennessy, avenging Key West's Bellevue Tournament semifinal loss. The Ramblers (12-5) will vie for their third Farley championship in four seasons.

Redman has now tossed shutouts in all three of his starts in 2017. Over 19 innings this season, Redman has allowed no runs and a grand total of five hits. He has struck out 29 hitters to go against zero walks. Redman also fired a five-inning shutout six days earlier in Key West's 8-0 Farley Tournament first-round win over Cascade. Against Dubuque, Redman punched out 13 hitters and did not allow a hit until a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh. Redman struck out the final two batters of the game to end the threat.

In a matchup of elite pitchers, Redman took care of the run production by himself. Leading off the fourth inning, Redman connected for his third homer of the season. It was one of only four Rambler hits off Hennessey, who worked out of a third-inning jam after Key West led the frame off with back-to-back singles.

Epworth has also made its way to the championship game. The contest was originally scheduled to be played at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Due to inclement weather, the game will now be played at 1 p.m. on Sunday (June 18). The postponement provides an extra day of rest for pitcher Nick Woltkamp. Sunday's scheduled league game with Bellevue will be played on a date to be determined.

Ramblers run win streak to four, stage dramatic comeback at Farley Tourney

The Ramblers are in the hunt for another tournament championship. The highlight of recent action was Sunday's 4-3, come-from-behind walk-off victory over Rickardsville in the quarterfinals of the Farley Tournament. The previous day, Key West thumped Cascade, 8-0 (five innings), despite going up against University of Iowa pitcher Drake Robison. Now winners of four in a row, the Ramblers have improved to 11-5 overall (4-1 EIHL, 2-2 PL).

Trailing 3-1 and down to its final out in the bottom of the seventh in the Farley quarterfinals, Key West staged an improbable rally. Chad Crabill started it with a double. Ricky Marinez then reached, after the third strike got away from the catcher, and stole second. Anthony Razo followed with a clutch two-run single to knot the game, 3-3. Dan Spain sent the Ramblers to the semifinals by blooping a walk-off single to score Razo, who had alertly taken second base on a throw to the plate.

The first-round matchup with Cascade featured much less drama. Key West exploded for five runs in the third and three more in the fourth to take a commanding lead. The Ramblers pounded out 15 hits, including three apiece from Chris Briggs, Andrew Redman and Chad Crabill. On the mound, Redman befuddled the Reds in a five-game complete game (shortened by the run rule). The only baserunners reached via three singles. Redman struck out nine hitters without allowing a free pass.

Redman and Nick Woltkamp give John Knabel a great one-two punch in the rotation. The rubber-armed Woltkamp fired all seven innings of the win over Rickardsville. He retired eight of the first nine hitters he faced and did not surrender a run until the fifth frame. Woltkamp has already tossed 40.2 innings this season, posting a 5-1 record and 3.10 ERA. Meanwhile, Redman has yet to give up a run in his first 12 innings in 2017.

A couple of trends continued in recent action. Key West is now 11-1 in its last 12 games at the Farley Tournament with titles coming in 2014 and 2016. The Ramblers have also dominated Rickardsville, winning 18 of the last 21 meetings since the start of the 2012 season.

In league play, Key West handled Monticello, 12-6, in Peosta on Tuesday evening. Woltkamp picked up the win while working three innings in relief. Razo went 4-for-4 with three runs and a pair of RBIs. Matt Stevens tripled twice and Austin Bradley doubled twice. Redman opened up the scoring for the Ramblers with a two-run homer (second of the year) in the bottom of the first.

The quest for its fourth Farley title all-time continues on Friday when Key West goes up against Dubuque in the semifinals at 8:15 p.m. (June 16). The expected pitching matchup is Redman versus Mark Hennessy. The winner will play either Farley or Epworth in the championship game at 7 p.m. on Saturday (June 17). The Ramblers are also scheduled to host Bellevue in Peosta at 1 p.m. on Sunday in a Prairie League clash.

Woltkamp stars in early going for Ramblers

It's been somewhat of an up-and-down run for the Key West Ramblers, who are coming off a 49-7 banner 2016 season. After a 1-2 start to 2017, Key West rattled off four victories in a row and advanced to the semifinals of the Bellevue Tournament. The Ramblers settled for a third-place finish, defeating Holy Cross, 9-1, in the consolation game. Key West now stands at 8-5 overall (3-1 EIHL, 2-2 PL).

Nick Woltkamp has been a force at the plate and on the mound. After batting .350 and logging a team record 122.2 innings in 2016, Woltkamp is hitting .421 with 10 extra base hits (including five triples) while appearing in all 13 games so far in 2017. He's made eight appearances on the mound, covering 30.2 innings with a 3.23 ERA and 3-1 record.

The team's best pitching performance to this point belongs to Andrew Redman, who fired a seven-inning, one-hit shutout and faced just one hitter over the minimum in the 2-0 win over Rickardsville at the Bellevue Tournament. Redman struck out seven hitters without surrendering a single walk. Redman entered the season with a career 1.66 ERA since he first put on a Rambler uniform in 2007.

A slow starter in recent years, first baseman Chris Briggs is off to a red hot start. He's gone 11-for-24 (.458) over nine games played. In Thursday's (June 8) come-from-behind win at Dyersville, Briggs went 3-for-4 with a clutch two-run homer in the seventh and final inning. Working in relief, Woltkamp protected a 9-8 lead by working around a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh.

Other players that have gotten off to strong starts are Anthony Razo (.400 BA, HR, 10 RBI, 1.190 OPS), Ben Oglesby (.371 BA, .463 OBP, 7 steals) and Redman (.364 BA, HR, 9 RBI, 1.075 OPS). Both Brett LaMere and Woltkamp have played in all 13 games. Oglesby has played in 12.

Despite being no-hit twice this season, Key West is batting .298 with a .403 on-base percentage as a team. The Ramblers have outscored their opponents by a combined total of 84-43. Their pitching staff owns a solid 3.38 ERA though it would like to decrease its walk rate (4.9 free passes per nine innings).

Key West will have another shot at claiming its first tournament championship of 2017 when the Farley Tournament gets underway on Saturday (June 10). The Ramblers have drawn Cascade in a matchup set for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch. John Knabel has led Key West to three Farley Tournament titles (2011, 2014, 2016), including two of the last three.

View tournament brackets:
-Farley
-Worthington
-Cascade

30-game 2017 league schedule announced

League schedules for both the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League and Prairie League have been announced. The EIHL features a 16-game schedule while the Prairie League slate is made up of 14 contests. The 2017 schedule can be viewed HERE. Tournament dates will be added as they are made available.

The Ramblers are coming off a 2016 season in which they went 49-7 overall and captured five tournament championships, including the Prairie League postseason title. Key West went a combined 24-2 in league games last season.