BEVERLY — Marietta Post 64 scored nine times in the top of the fifth inning to blow things wide open and went on to route Cambridge/Belle Valley Post 84/641 14-3 Thursday afternoon to put themselves into the driver’s seat at the American Legion District Tournament at Fort Frye High School.

Post 64 entered the pivotal fifth inning locked in a 3-3 tie before sending 13 hitters to the plate to jump out to a nine-run cushion.

That big inning was more than enough for starting pitcher Jacob Sealey who went the distance and tossed a three-hitter.

“We were going to play for a couple of runs there but once we got the momentum it just kept going,” said Marietta head coach Chad Porter. “In a tournament like this you have to take advantage of every opportunity and our kids did a really good job of that. Big innings win games.”

Marietta jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a first inning double by Trent Taylor and a run scoring single by third baseman Logan Fling.

Cambridge/Belle Valley evened things up in the bottom of the second inning when center fielder Braden Williams crushed a solo home run over the right field fence.

Post 64 jumped back in front in the top of the third on a two-run single by Fling off of Post 84/641 starting pitcher Tyler Harrell.

Cambridge/Belle Valley once again pulled even in the bottom of the third thanks to a two-out, two-run single by shortstop Jake Valentine.

Marietta used some clutch hitting and took advantage of some less than spectacular defense on behalf of the Cambridge/Belle Valley squad to blow things open in the fifth.

Taylor once again got things started with a base hit and moved to second on a knock by first baseman Cooper Laumann.

Both runners came all the way around to score when Drew Warden laid down a sacrifice bunt and the throw to first sailed wildly past the first baseman and down the right field line with Warden winding up all the way at third base.

Fling and second baseman Lucas Fullerton reached base via the base on balls and Ethan Holbert brought in another run with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Brandon Cline walked and center fielder Braun Doak walked to reload the bases and another run scored when Taylor was hit by a pitch.

Laumann then laced an opposite double down the left filed line to score two more and Fling brought in another run with yet another run-scoring single.

Sealey only got better on the mound after being staked to the big lead and needed just 68 pitches to dispose of Cambridge/Belle Valley and send Marietta to Friday’s winners bracket contest.

“We’ve played two games and got two complete games from our starters and not having to use our bullpen is huge,” said Porter, whose team downed Zanesville on Wednesday. “They are a really good hitting team and Jake (Sealey) mixed up his pitches and threw it really, really well.”

Sealey allowed just three hits and the three earned runs, walking just one and fanning five.

The Marietta offense collected 12 hits in the game including three apiece by Taylor, Lauman and Fling.

Post 64 will have little time to rest on their laurels as they return to action Friday at 3 p.m. against St. Clairsville for the right to advance to the Championship game.