For the second-straight season, Key West has captured the EIHL postseason title. On Monday night the Ramblers celebrated a 7-1 victory over host Cascade in the latest championship game. The win concludes the 2015 season for Key West, which finishes with an overall record of 44-14-1.
Nick Woltkamp earned the victory on the mound and the trio of Chris Briggs (2-for-4), Ben Oglesby (2-for-2) and Andrew Redman (2-for-4) collected two hits apiece.
Woltkamp allowed just three hits to the Reds. He told the Telegraph Herald, "The biggest thing was I just kept the ball down; changeups, curveballs, and the defense backed me up the whole night. I was getting groundballs all night and they made every play."
The 44 victories were a team record, breaking the previous mark of 40 wins put up by the 2012 Ramblers.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Monday, August 24, 2015
Key West falls in Prairie League title
In search of its fourth Prairie League title, the Ramblers fell 5-2 to Andy Seabrooke and his Farley teammates on Sunday in the league championship game. Farley never trailed, using a three-run third to grab a 4-0 lead. Key West, set to take on Cascade at 7:45 p.m. on Monday (Aug. 24) in the EIHL championship, dropped to 43-14-1 overall.
Earlier in the day, the top-seeded Ramblers knocked off Bernard, 5-4, in the semifinals of the Prairie League playoffs. Dan Spain and Andrew Redman collected two hits apiece to help fuel the team's 43rd victory of the season. Nick Woltkamp fired five innings in relief and earned the win.
Seabrooke limited Key West to five hits in the championship game. Redman notched a pair of singles and a walk, but was stranded all three times. Redman drove in the Ramblers' first run with an RBI single in the third. Woltkamp doubled and scored in the sixth.
Three days earlier, Key West broke the team record for wins in a season by toppling Bellevue, 7-2, in the quarterfinals of the Peosta Tournament. First baseman Chris Briggs delivered three hits and an RBI to propel the Ramblers to their first win over Bellevue this season. After a 2-0 loss to Cascade in the semifinals at Peosta, Key West responded with a 10-0, run-rule shortened win over Peosta in the consolation game. Chad Crabill, Ryan Siems and Nick Woltkamp each went 3-for-3.
Monday's contest will mark the conclusion of the 2015 season.
Earlier in the day, the top-seeded Ramblers knocked off Bernard, 5-4, in the semifinals of the Prairie League playoffs. Dan Spain and Andrew Redman collected two hits apiece to help fuel the team's 43rd victory of the season. Nick Woltkamp fired five innings in relief and earned the win.
Seabrooke limited Key West to five hits in the championship game. Redman notched a pair of singles and a walk, but was stranded all three times. Redman drove in the Ramblers' first run with an RBI single in the third. Woltkamp doubled and scored in the sixth.
Three days earlier, Key West broke the team record for wins in a season by toppling Bellevue, 7-2, in the quarterfinals of the Peosta Tournament. First baseman Chris Briggs delivered three hits and an RBI to propel the Ramblers to their first win over Bellevue this season. After a 2-0 loss to Cascade in the semifinals at Peosta, Key West responded with a 10-0, run-rule shortened win over Peosta in the consolation game. Chad Crabill, Ryan Siems and Nick Woltkamp each went 3-for-3.
Monday's contest will mark the conclusion of the 2015 season.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
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.
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Ramblers sweep doubleheader from Monticello, clinch playoff spot
By way of Saturday's doubleheader sweep of Monticello, Key West clinched a berth to the EIHL postseason (date to be determined). The Ramblers (37-11-1) defeated Monticello by scores of 6-1 and 13-3 in a pair of six-inning contests. Key West concluded EIHL regular-season play with a league mark of 9-5.
Andrew Redman homered in game 1 and Dan Spain homered in the capper as part of a big offensive day. Nick Woltkamp also collected four hits and earned the win in the second game. Woltkamp doubled, singled, tripled and drove in a pair of runs to fuel the 6-1 victory.
Monticello, which dropped to 4-8 in EIHL action, never led at any point on the day. The Ramblers waited until the fourth and fifth innings of the opening game to break it open. Woltkamp singled and scored a run in the fourth. An inning later, Redman came around on a two-run, inside-the-park home run. Woltkamp delivered an RBI triple to add the contest's final run.
The Ramblers also exploded in the latter stages of game 2. They tallied three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to provide a comfortable 13-1 margin. Austin Bradley and Ben Oglesby both went 3-for-4 with three RBIs as part of a 17-hit attack.
Anthony Ruden stifled the Monticello bats in game 1. He improved to 5-2 after a masterful one-hit, complete game effort. He struck out six and scattered four walks. Opposing hitters are now batting .136 this season against Ruden.
The Ramblers were back in action on Sunday with a 1 p.m. Prairie League clash at Bernard.
Andrew Redman homered in game 1 and Dan Spain homered in the capper as part of a big offensive day. Nick Woltkamp also collected four hits and earned the win in the second game. Woltkamp doubled, singled, tripled and drove in a pair of runs to fuel the 6-1 victory.
Monticello, which dropped to 4-8 in EIHL action, never led at any point on the day. The Ramblers waited until the fourth and fifth innings of the opening game to break it open. Woltkamp singled and scored a run in the fourth. An inning later, Redman came around on a two-run, inside-the-park home run. Woltkamp delivered an RBI triple to add the contest's final run.
The Ramblers also exploded in the latter stages of game 2. They tallied three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to provide a comfortable 13-1 margin. Austin Bradley and Ben Oglesby both went 3-for-4 with three RBIs as part of a 17-hit attack.
Anthony Ruden stifled the Monticello bats in game 1. He improved to 5-2 after a masterful one-hit, complete game effort. He struck out six and scattered four walks. Opposing hitters are now batting .136 this season against Ruden.
The Ramblers were back in action on Sunday with a 1 p.m. Prairie League clash at Bernard.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Ramblers reach 30-win mark
For the sixth time in eight seasons, Key West has reached the 30-win plateau. The Ramblers moved to 30-7-1 overall thanks to a pair of home Prairie League wins in Sunday's afternoon action. They defeated Holy Cross, 12-0, and Bernard, 8-5. Key West is 11-1 in Prairie League play.
Since the start of the 2008 season, Key West owns an overall record 241-106-1 (.694). The Ramblers set a team record for wins in a season in 2012 when they went 40-12 overall and won Dyersville Tournament, Worthington Tournament and Prairie League championships.
Key West never trailed in either of Sunday's games. Starting pitchers Brett LaMere (6 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 6 K) and Sam Noel (6 IP, 5 H, BB, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 K) both picked up their first victories of the season. Jake Schaeffer went 2-for-3 in both games for the Ramblers. In the second contest, Anthony Ruden went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.
Key West will return to action on Wednesday for round two of the Cascade Tournament. The Ramblers take on the Dubuque Blues at 8:30 p.m.
Since the start of the 2008 season, Key West owns an overall record 241-106-1 (.694). The Ramblers set a team record for wins in a season in 2012 when they went 40-12 overall and won Dyersville Tournament, Worthington Tournament and Prairie League championships.
Key West never trailed in either of Sunday's games. Starting pitchers Brett LaMere (6 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 6 K) and Sam Noel (6 IP, 5 H, BB, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 K) both picked up their first victories of the season. Jake Schaeffer went 2-for-3 in both games for the Ramblers. In the second contest, Anthony Ruden went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles.
Key West will return to action on Wednesday for round two of the Cascade Tournament. The Ramblers take on the Dubuque Blues at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
LaMere walk-off blast lifts Ramblers at Cascade Tourney
Brett LaMere spoiled Andy Seabrooke's no-hitter by delivering a walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh to propel Key West to 1-0 victory over Farley in the first round of the Cascade Tournament on Friday night. The Ramblers (28-7-1) are seeking their first-ever Cascade Tournament championship on the heels of winning the Rickardsville Tournament on July 12.Seabrooke, who fanned 23 Ramblers in Key West's 5-4, 10-inning win at the Rickardsville tourney on July 7, pitched masterfully once again. Only two runners reached base all night (two errors, one walk) off the dominant lefty until LaMere went deep for his team-leading fourth homer of the season in the seventh. In his previous six at bats against Seabrooke, LaMere had gone 0-for-6 with five strikeouts.
Anthony Ruden matched Seabrooke zero for zero. Ruden tossed all seven innings for the Ramblers, surrendering only three hits and a walk while striking out eight. The Upper Iowa University hurler lowered his ERA to 1.36. Opponents are hitting just .123 (19-for-155) this season against Ruden.
LaMere is now hitting .326 with team highs in home runs (4), RBIs (19) and slugging percentage (.537). Ruden tops the Ramblers with a .373 batting average.
The Ramblers have now won all four meetings this season with Farley, including three by just one run. Key West is 9-2 in games decided by a single run.
The Ramblers host Holy Cross (1:30 p.m.) and Bernard (3:30 p.m.) in Peosta on Sunday (July 19). They return to action at the Cascade Tournament on Wednesday (July 22) when they go head-to-head with Dubuque at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Ramblers take Rickardsville Tourney, win No. 300
The Ramblers completed their first-ever Rickardsville Tournament championship run by toppling the host, 8-0, in Sunday evening's title game. Anthony Ruden tossed eight shutout innings before giving way to Nick Woltkamp for the ninth. The victory moved Key West to 26-5-1 overall this season and to 300-194-1 since rejoining the eastern Iowa semi-pro baseball circuit in 2004.
In their four games at the Rickardsville Tournament, which included a 19-team field this time around, the Ramblers defeated the Dubuque Packers, 5-0, Farley, 5-4 (10 innings), Epworth, 2-1 (nine innings) and Rickardsville.
Shortstop Dan Spain went 3-for-5 with a home run in the title game and was named the tournament's MVP. Brett LaMere was a perfect 5-for-5 with two doubles.
"We had a pretty tough road to get here, but what's nice about this team is we consistently compete," Spain told the Telegraph Herald. "We go out there and give it everything we have let baseball run its course. From top to bottom, we have the kind of pitching that keeps us in games and gives us a chance to compete.
"Tonight was kind of nice, because it was the first time in a couple of weeks we didn't have to come from behind late in a game. We got some big two-out hits that gave us the lead."
Luis Ravelo and Ben Oglesby notched two hits each. As a team, the Ramblers collected 13 hits and knocked Rickardsville starter Joey Lehmann out of the game after three innings of work. On the other side, Ruden sturck out eight and scattered four hits and four walks.
Key West needed extra innings to put away its previous two opponents at the Rickardsville Tournament. Spain also homered in the sixth inning of the win over Epworth, tying the score at 1-1. Then in the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Redman belted a walk-off blast. Spain started the game on the mound for the Ramblers.
ALL-STAR GAME: In Saturday's all-star game, John Knabel coached the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League to a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Prairie League. Chris Briggs earned MVP honors after tying the game with a two-run double in the top of the ninth. Andrew Redman and Dan Spain also represented Key West in the all-star game.
In their four games at the Rickardsville Tournament, which included a 19-team field this time around, the Ramblers defeated the Dubuque Packers, 5-0, Farley, 5-4 (10 innings), Epworth, 2-1 (nine innings) and Rickardsville.
Shortstop Dan Spain went 3-for-5 with a home run in the title game and was named the tournament's MVP. Brett LaMere was a perfect 5-for-5 with two doubles.
"We had a pretty tough road to get here, but what's nice about this team is we consistently compete," Spain told the Telegraph Herald. "We go out there and give it everything we have let baseball run its course. From top to bottom, we have the kind of pitching that keeps us in games and gives us a chance to compete.
"Tonight was kind of nice, because it was the first time in a couple of weeks we didn't have to come from behind late in a game. We got some big two-out hits that gave us the lead."
Luis Ravelo and Ben Oglesby notched two hits each. As a team, the Ramblers collected 13 hits and knocked Rickardsville starter Joey Lehmann out of the game after three innings of work. On the other side, Ruden sturck out eight and scattered four hits and four walks.
Key West needed extra innings to put away its previous two opponents at the Rickardsville Tournament. Spain also homered in the sixth inning of the win over Epworth, tying the score at 1-1. Then in the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Redman belted a walk-off blast. Spain started the game on the mound for the Ramblers.
ALL-STAR GAME: In Saturday's all-star game, John Knabel coached the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye League to a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Prairie League. Chris Briggs earned MVP honors after tying the game with a two-run double in the top of the ninth. Andrew Redman and Dan Spain also represented Key West in the all-star game.
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