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.