Beverly/Lowell’s Wade Pauley makes contact with a go-ahead hit in the seventh inning during his team’s 4-3 win over Cambridge Post 84 during Monday’s district tournament game in Marietta. (Photo by Mike Morrison)

MARIETTA — The best way to describe Beverly/Lowell Post 389/750’s district tournament opening 4-3 win over Cambridge Post 84 at Pioneer Park would be clutch.

Head coach Todd Engle’s squad came up with clutch hits, clutch fielding plays and clutch pitching, as it scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning to capture the win and advance to the winners bracket in the four-team tournament which was moved from Zanesville to Marietta after a weekend of rain outs delayed the start of the tourney.

“We knew what we were up against because every time we tangle with Cambridge it’s a battle,” said Engle. “We were just able to come with one more big hit than they were.”

Beverly/Lowell came up with their first clutch hit of the game in it’s first at bat when lead-off man and starting pitcher Seth Dennis doubled to lead off the game and later came into score when first baseman Jude Huffman lined a two-out single to right field for the game’s first run.

Dennis retired Cambridge in order in the bottom of the first but found himself in a bit of trouble after back-to-back lead-off hits by starting pitcher Jake Valentine and catcher Blake Brumfield.

Third baseman Brice Murdock followed by hitting a soft liner that appeared to be destined to fall into left center field for a hit but Post 389/750 shortstop Carter Wheeldin made an outstanding leaping catch to rob Murdock of a hit and possible RBI.

Dennis recovered to fan the next hitter and after a Drew Yanico base-hit loaded the bases Gates Thompson flew out to right field to leave the bases loaded.

Bev/Low was unable to take advantage of back-to-back two-out singles by third baseman Wade Pauley and Huffman in the top of the third off of Valentine before Cambridge knotted the score in the bottom of the inning.

Lead-off batter Blade Barkley led off the inning with a long triple to the gap in right center field and came home to score on a sacrifice fly by Caleb Bond.

One out later, Valentine and Brumfield came back with back-to-back hits once again, but Dennis was once again able to minimize the damage by getting Murdock to ground into an inning ending fielder’s choice.

Post 389/750 wasted little time retaking the lead and once again it took a clutch knock with two outs to do the damage.

Catcher Ian Ellis led off the inning with a walk and Wheeldin forced him out a second base.

Cam Tennant’s infield grounder moved Wheeldin to second and center fielder Owen Brown brought him in with a line drive single to push B/L back in front in the fourth inning.

“I was really pleased with both Jude Huffman and Owen Brown coming up with those two-out hits because at different times this year they have struggled a little bit,” said Engle. “Both of them went up there with a nice approach and were looking to hit the ball up the middle and got the job done. It’s an old adage but two-out base hits will win championships.”

Dennis helped himself in a huge way when the former Warren Warrior laced a drive over the head of the Cambridge right fielder for an RBI triple before he was gunned down at home in an attempt for an inside-the-park home run.

The three-time former state champions held the 3-1 lead heading into the sixth before Cambridge came off the mat to tie the game once again.

Alex Gruey came on in relief of Dennis, who scattered eight hits over five innings, and quickly got in trouble by walking second baseman Caleb Campbell and allowing a double to Yanico.

Gruey got Thompson to pop out on the infield but uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Campbell to score and then walked Barkley forcing Engle to call on former Fort Frye Cadet Seth Miller to come on in relief.

Bond greeted Miller rather rudely by lining a single to tie the score at 3 before the tall right-hander rallied to retire the next two Cambridge hitters to keep the game tied heading to the final frame.

Dennis collected his third hit of the game by lining a single to right field to begin the pivotal seventh inning and quickly stole second.

One-out later the lefty-swinging Pauley delivered the biggest hit of the game for Beverly/Lowell as he crushed a 3-0 fastball from Valentine off the fence in deep left center field to score Dennis with the go-ahead run.

“He (Pauley) kept looking over for me to give him the take sign and I just kept looking down,” said Engle. “He did exactly what you are supposed to do with a 3-0 pitch and drove the ball and that was big.”

Pauley was gunned down at third trying to stretch his hit into a triple, and Valentine managed to keep Post 389/750 from adding any more runs to their lead.

Miller retired the first two hitters in the bottom of the seventh before allowing a walk to Campbell and then hitting Yanico with a pitch but got outof the jam when Thompson lined a ball to right field that Jacob Huffman made a sliding catch on to end the game and present Beverly/Lowell with the all-important first win of the tournament.

“It’s always big to get that first win out of the way,” said Engle, whose team improved to 22-8 with the win. “It doesn’t matter if its a four-team tournament or a 14-team tournament you want to stay in that winners bracket for as long as you can.”

Miller was credited with the win in relief while Valentine suffered the loss for Cambridge, whichfalls to 15-15 on the season.

Both teams return to action tonight as Cambridge will play an elimination game at 5 p.m. with Post 389/750 playing in the winners brackets against the winner of the St. Clairsville vs. Zanesville game at 7:30 p.m.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Copyright © Marietta Times | https://www.mariettatimes.com | 700 Channel Lane, Marietta, OH 45750 | 740-373-2121