Freshman shortstop Claira Tolan went 4 for 4, drove in two runs and scored twice Friday as the No. 1-ranked Taft High softball team braved frigid temperatures and occasional rain to rally for a 9-8 home win over North Bend.
“Our freshmen were strong today, both at the plate and on defense,” Taft Coach Sandy Stuart said. “Claira had some key hits and key base-running. It was a great game for her.”
The 13th-rated Bulldogs (3-2, 0-0 Class 4A Far West Conference) saw their three-game win streak snapped when the Class 3A Tigers of the West Valley League pushed across two seventh-inning runs for their sixth non-league victory without a loss.
“That was the toughest team we’ve faced so far,” Stuart said. “We were able to keep pushing through all game to get the win.”
Taft, which got two RBIs each from freshman Kyla Knott and sophomore starter Emma Coulter, took advantage of strong baserunning to rally from an 8-7 deficit.
“It was cold and wet, but we worked hard all game and never let up,” Stuart said. “We are still undefeated and still showing strong offense.”
Hailee Dannecker also drove in a run for Taft, while Naom Rini scored twice. The first five hitters in Taft’s batting order all reached safely.
Tolan stole three bases, and Rini and Dannecker two each for Taft.
Maddie Finnigan and pitcher Cheyenne Datan, who struck out 14 and walked eight, homered for North Bend.
Taft returns to action Wednesday in a spring break tournament in Napa, Calif., before starting league play at home Friday, April 6, against Amity.
NOTES: The unbeaten Tigers baseball team (6-0, 1-0 West Valley), ranked second in the latest OSAA Class 3A rankings, had their noon game Saturday at Tillamook moved to the same time Saturday at Taft due to wet playing conditions. . . . All-skills practice sessions for Lincoln City Youth League 10-, 12- and 14-and-under softball players will be held Monday, March 26, and Wednesday, March 28, at Kirtsis Park, (K1 Field), N.E. Highway 101 and 22nd Street.
Taft 9, North Bend 8
NORTH BEND AB R H BI
Kaitlin Randle 4 1 2 1
McKenzie Brock 5 2 3 1
Cheyenne Datan 4 1 2 2
Drew Culver 4 0 2 1
Gwen Hogewoning 3 1 0 0
Maddie Finnigan 4 1 1 1
Hannah Robison 3 1 1 0
Charlee Lincoln 4 0 0 1
Skylar Lucas 3 0 0 0
*Haley Snelgrove 0 1 0 0
TOTALS 34 8 11 7
TAFT TIGERS AB R H BI
Kyla Knott 2 1 1 2
Makena Cole 3 1 1 0
Naomi Rini 2 2 1 0
Hailee Dannecker 4 1 1 1
Emma Coulter 4 0 1 2
Alyssa Tanksley 2 1 0 0
Claira Tolan 4 2 4 2
Kayla Lininger 2 1 0 0
Madison Clanton 3 0 0 0
Lilly Salsbery 1 0 0 0
TOTALS 27 9 9 7
NORTH BEND 101 022 2 — 8
TAFT TIGERS 000 133 2 — 9
LOB–NORTH BEND 9, TAFT 8. ERR–Drew Culver, Kaitlin Randle, Kayla Lininger, Makena Cole, Hailee Dannecker, Claira Tolan. 2B–McKenzie Brock (2), Cheyenne Datan, Kaitlin Randle. 3B–McKenzie Brock. HR–Maddie Finnigan, Cheyenne Datan. HBP–Kyla Knott. SACB–Naomi Rini. SB–Hannah Robison (2), Naomi Rini (2), Kayla Lininger, Hailee Dannecker (2), Alyssa Tanksley, Claira Tolan (3).
NORTH BEND IP H R ER BB SO HR
Cheyenne Datan 6.67 9 9 6 8 14 0
TAFT
Emma Coulter 7.00 11 8 8 4 7 2
PB–Maddie Finnigan (2). WP–Cheyenne Datan, Emma Coulter. BB–Skylar Lucas, Hannah Robison, Gwen Hogewoning, Kaitlin Randle, Naomi Rini, Kyla Knott (2), Kayla Lininger (2), Makena Cole, Alyssa Tanksley (2).
Click here for Class 3A West Valley League standings
Click here for Class 3A OSAA rankings
Click here for Taft team roster and schedule
Click here for North Bend team roster and schedule
