Ramblers capture elusive road win at Cascade

For the first time in eight years, the Ramblers pulled out a victory over the Cascade Reds on the road. A sloppy, wet field made playing conditions rough, but that failed to stop the Ramblers from notching a 6-3 win on Friday night.

Cory Davidson continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-3 with a triple, two waks, two runs and one RBI to back winning pitcher Dan Spain. Spain went six strong innings, limiting Cascade to three runs (two earned) and six hits. Andrew Redman picked up his first save by throwing three nearly perfect innings. His only mistake was a ninth-inning plunking of Tom Andrews, who was quickly erased after getting caught off first on a line out to short.

Davidson's RBI single in the second scored Redman for the first tally of the game. Cascade got a run of its own in the second with Josh McQuillen's sacrifice fly to right field. Cascade then took the lead in the third when Marty Sutherland scored on an error on the second baseman.

The Ramblers (10-1) took the lead for good in the fifth inning when Jared Munson corked a two-run single to right field to make the score 3-2. Cam Stewart added a RBI single in the sixth for a 4-2 lead. Cascade put up its final run in the sixth to draw within one again, but Key West responded with two runs in the eighth on a Spain RBI single and a Munson bases-loaded walk.

Tim Carty led all players with three hits. Lead off man Tyler Sincock reached base twice on a hit-by-pitch and a walk.

The Ramblers return to action on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. versus Dubuque in the first round of the Farley Tournament. Saturday's scheduled noon game at Balltown has been postponed.

Farley Tournament Schedule

Key West will begin play on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. versus Dubuque in the first round of the Farley Tournament. In Thursday night's first round action, Farley crushed Placid and Peosta squeaked by Worthington.

Here is the complete first round schedule:

Thursday:

Farley 17, Placid 1

Peosta 1, Worthington 0

Friday:

Epworth vs. Zwingle, 7 p.m.

Bernard vs. Monticello, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday:

Dyersville vs. Bellevue, 6 p.m.

Dubuque vs. Key West, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday:

Cascade vs. Balltown, 4 p.m.

East Dubuque vs. Rickardsville, 5:30 p.m.

Briggs' walk-off double lifts Key West

Key West and Farley appeared destined to go to the 11th inning after Jared Munson and Dan Spain were retired to lead off the bottom of the 10th inning in a 3-3 game. But a two-out 2-2 pitch nailed Michael Jimenez and set the stage for Chris Briggs' heroics. Briggs crushed a 1-1 pitch to right field for a double, sending Jimenez in to score the winning run all the way from first.

The Ramblers (9-1) beat Farley for the third time this season in as many tries with Tuesday night's 4-3 win at A.J. Spiegel Park in Peosta. Andrew Redman pitched 3.2 innings of dominant relief to pick up his first win of the season. Redman struck out six and gave up just two hits.

Redman came in after starter Curt Dixon faced the first four hitters in the seventh and left men on first and second. Dixon had cruised through the first four innings, facing the minimum and throwing only 39 pitches. But a Chris Kerper RBI single in the fifth and a Jesse Lawler RBI single in the seventh put Farley within striking distance. Brian Miller then evened the score with a bloop RBI double off Redman in the seventh.

Dixon looked like he might breeze to victory after Justin Kuhle gave the Ramblers a 3-0 cushion in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Kuhle lined a high change up from Billy Schmitt into the left center gap and cleared the bases. Farley responded by tagging Dixon with three earned runs to chase him from the game after 6.1 solid innings of work.

Briggs finished 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles. Cory Davidson and Cam Stewart each went 2-for-4 with two singles.

The Ramblers will be back in action on Friday for a 7 p.m. contest at Cascade in an EIHL date.

O'Connor moves to 3-0 in victory over Farley

Sean O'Connor pitched brilliantly again as the Ramblers brushed off Saturday's loss to Dubuque and defeated the host Farley Hawks, 5-1, Thursday night.

O'Connor pitched eight innings and allowed only a single run and three hits. He struck out nine while walking one. O'Connor bumped his record to 3-0 on the season.

Neither team could put a tally on the scoreboard until Tim Carty's sixth-inning sacrifice fly drove in Dan Spain, who reached on a single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error on the catcher.

The Ramblers (8-1) then added four runs in the seventh frame to open up a 5-0 lead. Andrew Redman began the outburst with a one-out hit-by-pitch. Justin Kuhle singled to shallow right field and Cole Boge followed a Cory Davidson strikeout with a RBI single to left center. Jared Munson, who went 2-for-3 with a double, then singled home Kuhle. A wild pitch on strike three to Tim Carty allowed Boge to score, and another wild pitch brought home Munson to give the Ramblers their final run of the ballgame.

Farley got its lone run in the seventh when Andy Seabrooke scored on a wild pitch. Farley starting pitcher Billy Schmitt tossed five shut out innings before giving way to reliever Brian Miller, who was tagged with the loss.

Ryan Kelly pitched a scoreless ninth-inning to cap Key West's eighth win of the season. Andrew Redman got his first start of the season in the field for Key West. He went 0-for-3 but lined out sharply to center field twice.

Farley will get another shot at Key West on Tuesday when the Ramblers host the Hawks at 7 p.m. at Peosta.

Doty, Dubuque halt Rambler winning streak

Behind a dominant performance from starting pitcher Ryan Doty, the Dubuque Blues handed the Ramblers their first loss of the season on Saturday night in the first round of the Bellevue Tournament. Doty, a Wartburg College product, effectively changed speeds with his fastball and relied often on a wicked slider in out-dueling Key West pitcher Andrew Redman in a 2-1 decision.

Doty struck out 13 Key West hitters and allowed only a first-inning run. After beginning the game by getting Jared Munson to ground out and coaxing a Dan Spain strikeout, Doty surrendered a two-out walk to Tim Carty. Following a Michael Jimenez single up the middle, Chris Briggs’ line drive base hit under the glove of the shortstop drove home the lone Rambler run. Key West (7-1) would get just two more hits in the final six innings – both by Briggs.

Yet Doty was only slightly better than Redman, who gave up only one earned run in a six-inning complete game performance. Redman struck out seven and allowed just four hits and two walks. His only mistake was a 1-1 pitch that Doty lined to right field for a game-deciding RBI double in the bottom of the fifth.

The Ramblers tried to mount a rally in the seventh when Matt Knabel reached on an error on the shortstop to begin the inning. Cory Davidson proceeded with a hotshot up the middle, but was robbed by second baseman Chris Johnson who made a diving stab and forced out Knabel at second. Doty then struck out Munson and Spain to end the game.

Dubuque advances to take on Dyersville in the second round of the Bellevue Tournament. The Ramblers return to action Thursday when they travel to Farley Park for a 7 p.m. Prairie League match up.

Farley Tournament Set: The Ramblers will again battle Dubuque in first round tournament action. The Farley Tournament pits Key West against Dubuque on June 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Cottrell to re-join Bucks

Ben Cottrell has once again garnered a stint with the Waterloo Bucks of the Northwoods League, which showcases collegiate baseball players. Cottrell will join the Bucks on Monday for an undetermined period of time and will likely resume pitching for the Ramblers later this summer.

Cottrell made his debut with Waterloo on Aug. 6 of last year. In that outing Cottrell got a no-decision after throwing six innings against the Battle Creek Bombers. He gave up three hits, three walks, three runs (two earned) and struck out two. Cottrell went on to make one more start for the Bucks last season, going five innings and again getting a no-decision.

Cottrell was the Ramblers' best starter in 2010, leading the team with 10 victories while posting a 3.07 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 73.1 innings of work. The Loras College standout recorded a 4-1 record to go with a 2.23 ERA in 40.1 innings as a Duhawk this past season.

Scheduling Notes

Please note two changes to the schedule. Tuesday's scheduled game with Worthington has been moved to July 19. That game will remain at 7 p.m. in Peosta. Also, the Prairie League home game with East Dubuque, originally listed as "TBA" on the schedule, has been set for Aug. 6 at 1 p.m. at Table Mound Field.

The complete Key West schedule can be viewed HERE or by clicking on the "2011 Team Schedule" link at the top right of the blog.