Don Coss Tournament Hardware Stays Home!

  Thanks to a strong start and strong finish, Cambridge/Belle Valley Post 84/641 kept the hardware at home when the 32nd Don Coss Tournament wrapped up Sunday.

  Cambridge/Belle Valley opened with two victories on Day 1 of the four-day tournament, defeating Parkersburg Post 15 by an 8-7 score and upending Zanesville Post 29 by a 6-4 count.

  Day 2 was a tough one for Post 84/641 as the hosts were routed 14-1 by Marietta Post 64 followed by a 12-7 loss to Findlay Post 3.

  After a day off, however, Cambridge/Belle Valley came back on “Championship Sunday” with renewed focus, avenging the loss to Findlay with a 4-2 victory and then captured the title with a 7-2 win over Parkersburg, which had defeated Zanesville and Marietta to reach the final.

  In the championship game, Cambridge/Belle Valley trailed 1-0 early, but a four-run third inning put the hosts in control. Post 84/641 tacked on a single run in the bottom of the fifth frame, with Parkersburg scoring one in the top of the sixth to get within 5-2. Cambridge tallied two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the victory.

  Tyler Harrell turned in a stellar six-inning effort on the mound for Cambridge/Belle Valley, allowing just five hits while striking out three and walking one. Jake Valentine closed things out in the seventh inning, posting one K and one walk.

  Leading Cambridge/Belle Valley’s seven-hit attack were Keaton Kyser with two singles and three RBI and Cohen Miles with an RBI triple. Valentine, Regan Rogers, Braden Williams and Tyson Mercer each had a single, with Valentine also collecting an RBI.

  Evan Swain topped Parkersburg with two singles and a RBI. Brady Swain took the pitching loss with a complete-game effort, striking out five and walking four.

  After going 4-2 in the Coss Tournament, Cambridge/Belle Valley is now 12-10 on the season. Up next is the Lancaster Tournament starting on the Fourth of July. Post 84/641 faces Lafayette, Indiana on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.; plays Troy at 12 noon and Lancaster at 5 p.m. on Friday; and Chillicothe at 2:30 p.m. and Waverly at 5 p.m. on Saturday; with Championship Sunday’s schedule to be determined.