A defensive lapse allowed Amity to score two times in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday and overcome a one-run deficit for a 5-4 West Valley League home softball victory over Taft.
“This was a big game for us and we fell just short,” Taft Coach Sandy Stuart said.
The first-place Lady Tigers (14-8, 6-1) lost their first league game of the season after scoring three times in the top of the seventh to rally from two runs down after the Warriors tallied three runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 3-1 lead.
Senior centerfielder Keeley Graham and senior second baseman Brennae Huskey collected two hits each off Taft sophomore starter Emma Coulter to lead the way for the Warriors (8-6, 4-2).
Senior shortstop Morgan Croxford, senior third baseman Callee Roberts and senior catcher Breaha Wright drove home runs for Amity.
Taft was led by sophomore catcher Hailee Danneker with a double, triple and three RBIs. Freshman shortstop Claira Tolan also had two hits for Taft, which collected six hits off senior right-handed starter Brittnie Brown, who struck out nine.
“We scored late in the game, but were unable to stay composed through the bottom half of the seventh,” Stuart said.
Taft committed three errors and walked five Warrior hitters for the game.
“We got excited about the runners on base and made a defensive error,” Stuart said. “Overall, we are an offensively strong team and we couldn’t find the gaps today.”
Freshman outfielder Kyla Knott and senior third baseman Naomi Rini had Taft’s other hits, and both scored runs, along with Tolan and sophomore second baseman Kayla Lininger.
“We had some solid hits right at fielders and we left some runners on,” Stuart said. “Hopefully, we can learn from this game and how intense it felt and move forward through the rest of league.”
Dayton (6-1, 15-6) defeated Sheridan 19-0 Tuesday to share first place with the Tigers in league play.
The Tigers are at third-place Santiam Christian (9-5, 4-3) at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Amity 5, Taft 4
TAFT AB R H BI
Kyla Knott 4 1 1 0
Naomi Rini 3 1 1 0
Hailee Danneker 4 0 2 3
Emma Coulter 4 0 0 0
Claira Tolan 3 1 2 0
Alyssa Tanksley 3 0 0 0
McKenzie Evenson 3 0 0 0
Corey VanDamme 3 0 0 0
Kayla Lininger 2 1 0 0
TOTALS 29 4 6 3
AMITY AB R H BI
Keeley Graham 4 0 2 0
Brennae Huskey 3 1 2 0
Gabby Rolston 4 1 1 0
Morgan Croxford 2 1 1 1
Callee Roberts 2 1 1 1
Brittnie Brown 3 1 1 0
Breaha Wright 3 0 1 1
Gracee Wright 3 0 0 0
Kira Hand 3 0 0 0
TOTALS 27 5 9 3
TAFT TIGERS 010 000 3 — 4
AMITY 000 003 2 — 5
LOB–TAFT 6, AMITY 11. ERR–Naomi Rini, Hailee Danneker, Claira Tolan, Gracee Wright, Callee Roberts. 2B–Hailee Danneker, Callee Roberts. 3B–Hailee Danneker. HBP–Kayla Lininger. SACB–Callee Roberts. SB–Morgan
Croxford, Keeley Graham, Brittnie Brown.
TAFT IP H R ER BB SO HR
Emma Coulter 6.00 9 5 4 5 4 0
AMITY
Brittnie Brown 7.00 6 4 0 1 9 0
WP–Emma Coulter, Brittnie Brown. BB–Naomi Rini, Morgan Croxford (2), Brennae Huskey, Brittnie Brown, Callee Roberts.
