Staff photo / Brian Yauger. Newton Falls senior Cam Huff delivers a pitch during the team’s league victory over Champion on Wednesday.

CHAMPION — Cam Huff sat down 12 on the mound and went a perfect 3-of-3 at the plate to help propel Newton Falls past rival Champion in a 2-1 win for the Tigers.

Huff has been a crucial part of the Tigers’ success this season, dating back to their first three games down in Tennessee.

“This season has probably been his best season since I’ve had him,” Newton Falls coach Chad Rankin said. “He’s been a four-year starter. He set the tone in Tennessee. The last game we played in Tennessee was against the defending state champs. We lost by one and he pitched the whole game, he hit a dinger. We lost (because of an hour-and-45-minute time limit) but he’s been solid. There’s been times this year where he’s in, late innings, he might be in a slump. You just don’t take him out because I believe in him that much that he’s going to get the job done. He came out here today, had 12 K’s, 3-for-3 in the box and an RBI. He’s been a great kid and I’m going to miss him and our other seniors tremendously.”

In a game where just one hit can make a difference, Huff provided that difference.

A double from Huff in the bottom of the sixth scored Leland Vargo to put the Tigers up 2-1, a lead they’d hang onto to take down their league rival.

Unfortunately for Champion (6-8), Wednesday’s game was a microcosm of its entire season.

Great pitching, great defense, but just not enough in the batter’s box to push them over the top against a really good Newton Falls team.

Dylan Howell sat six while surrendering nine hits.

“Anytime you give up two runs, you expect to win,” Flashes coach Andrew Barker said. “This is like the fourth or fifth game, we’ve lost 2-1. It’s hard. We’re playing good baseball but just not (getting the hits). I told our boys that today, three runs wins this game. I didn’t mean to be right, but we keep battling, and our kids keep a good attitude, and we’ll be playing teams like Newton Falls (in the tournament.)

“They’re having a heck of a season. They gave us everything they had, we gave them everything we had. This is good high school baseball and that’s what you want this time of year. Especially coming off both teams with the week off because of the weather, so I’m not going to hang my head on what the boys did today. I’m proud of them, I’m proud of what they did. I’m proud that they battled. We lost 2-1 to a good team. I’d like to be on the other side of that, but good baseball’s good baseball.”

Champion travels to Brookfield this afternoon to take on the Warriors.

The win bumps Newton Falls to 10-5 on the year after starting the season 0-3. The Tigers host Harding today, with home contests against Champion and Southeast scheduled for Friday and Saturday.