Ashton Barnes-Keller tossed a complete game, giving up just four hits while striking out seven batters against one walk, and Yakima Valley beat Bellingham-based WBC Post 7 6-1 on Thursday to open the Brandy Pugh Memorial Tournament at Bannerwood Sports Park in Bellevue.

Beau Benjamin had two hits, scored a pair of runs and knocked in another for the Pak, Dylan Kingston tripled and four other players recorded an RBI for Yakima Valley (18-8).

Next up in pool play for the Pak is a Friday night game against Lakeside Baseball Club of Bellevue/Issaquah at 7:30.

At Parker Faller Field, the Yakima Beetles opened the Firecracker Tournament with an 18-1 victory against the Northwest Blaze of Port Orchard.

Yakima (12-17) capped first-day action with a 14-2 victory against Yakima’s Plakata.

Against the Blaze, Victor Garcia had a two-run double, knocked in three runs and scored two more for the Beetles, who took advantage of three errors and eight walks.

In the final game of the day, Blake Gibbons had a two-run double, Andrew Serl knocked in two runs with a double, Quinton Allen-Griggs had a pair of hits, and Garcia and Nathan Kibbe had two hits and two runs.

Andrew Roy pitched three no-hit innings.

Pool play continues Friday.

Yakima on Tuesday dropped both ends of a league doubleheader against the Hanford Flames.

Hanford rolled in the opener 16-0 and rallied in an 11-10 victory in the nightcap.

Braden Albrecht and Serl each had three hits and knocked in a run for the Beetles, while Caleb Rutherford scored three runs and Kibbe knocked in two.

FASTPITCH

Diamond Cats role in tuneup

The Diamond Cats rolled past Yakima’s USA Explosion 10-1 on Wednesday as they get ready to head to next week’s USSSA Southeast National Championship.

Calleigh Sinnes had a three-run home run and Tia Ramynke added a solo blast to carry the Diamond Cats (15-4).

Brooklynn Root had two hits – including an RBI double – and drove in three runs, and pitched two shutout innings, and Ainley Johnson struck out six batters and gave up one hit for the Diamond Cats.

Elise Heater tossed two strong innings striking out three.