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.
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