PHOTOS BY LON FRENCH
Take Taft senior third baseman Naomi Rini’s word for it:
“Definitely clutch offense,” she said.
The host Lady Tigers snapped a five-game losing streak to bigger out-of-state schools in a spring-break tournament in California with a 4-3 home softball victory Friday over Amity in their West Valley League opener.
“Emma [Coulter] pitched amazing and we finally pulled it together,” Rini said. “We have always been a late-hitting team, but it was awesome to see us answer Amity’s three runs.”
Claira Tolan drove home two runs and fellow freshman Kyla Knott another for Taft in a four-run fifth. Coulter collected two hits for Taft.
“Tonight’s game was a big win for us,” Taft Coach Sandy Stuart said. “We have set a goal to be at the top of the West Valley League this season and tonight was a big step in the right direction.”
Rated No. 1 in the state’s Class 3A ranks after opening the season with six straight wins, the Lady Tigers (7-5, 1-0) handed eighth-rated Amity (6-4, 2-1) its first league defeat. The Lady Warriors entered play having defeated Willamina and Sheridan by 10 runs each.
“Amity is always a tough team,” Stuart said. “They swing the bat hard and they are aggressive. They scored first and got up, but we were able to get our own momentum going to make things happen.”
Taft’s scheduled home doubleheader Saturday against Colton was canceled due to severe weather warnings. The Lady Tigers return to action at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday against Santiam Christian.
“I was proud of the girls for working hard through the seventh inning,” Stuart said. “I was also proud of Emma for pushing past the tough inning and small strike zone, and working hard all the way to the end.”
Taft 4, Amity 3
AMITY AB R H BI
Keeley Graham 4 1 2 0
Brennae Huskey 4 0 0 0
Gabby Rolston 2 0 1 1
Morgan Croxford 3 0 1 2
Callee Roberts 3 0 0 0
Brittnie Brown 4 0 0 0
Breaha Wright 2 0 2 0
Gracee Wright 3 1 1 0
Dany Hammitt 3 0 0 0
*Kiah Stalker 0 1 0 0
TOTALS 28 3 7 3
TAFT TIGERS AB R H BI
Kyla Knott 2 0 0 1
Naomi Rini 3 0 0 0
Hailee Dannecker 3 0 0 0
Emma Coulter 3 0 2 0
Alyssa Tanksley 3 0 0 0
Kayla Lininger 3 1 0 0
Makena Cole 2 1 0 0
Claira Tolan 2 1 1 2
Madison Clanton 0 1 0 0
TOTALS 21 4 3 3
AMITY 000 030 0 — 3
TAFT TIGERS 000 040 x — 4
LOB–AMITY 9, TAFT 3. ERR–Gabby Rolston, Callee Roberts, Emma Coulter. SACB--Callee Roberts, Kyla Knott, Madison Clanton.
AMITY IP H R ER BB SO HR
Brittnie Brown 6.00 3 4 2 2 11 0
TAFT
Emma Coulter 7.00 7 3 3 4 8 0
PB–Breaha Wright (3). WP–Brittnie Brown (3). BALK—Emma Coulter. BB–Breaha Wright, Morgan Croxford, Gabby Rolston (2),Madison Clanton, Makena Cole.
Class 3A West Valley League standings
