PHOTOS BY ERIC DEMELLO
Junior reliever Bleiz Kimbrough made the most of a rare start Tuesday with a one-hit, 10-strikeout road shutout of Sheridan for Taft High’s 10th straight victory and seventh in a row shortened by the state’s 10-run mercy rule.
The top-ranked Tigers moved to 16-2 overall and 7-0 in Class 3A West Valley League play behind the southpaw’s 10-0 five-inning victory over the Spartans, who fell to 1-13, 0-7.
“We came out flat tonight and the energy went where we need it to be,” Taft Coach Matt Higers said. “We were glad to get the win tonight, but we know we better be looking ahead and not overlook anyone.”
The Tigers scored a run in the top of the second inning and three in the third before erupting for six in the fourth for a 10-0 lead after defeating the Spartans 28-0 at home on March 21.
Junior second baseman Cody Knott went 3-for-3 with four RBIs to lead the Tigers at the plate. Senior shortstop Josh Salsbery and sophomore Eli DeMello, playing third, had two hits each for Taft.
Senior centerfielder Caleb King drove home three runs, while King, Salsbery and senior first baseman Jack Stempel scored twice each.
Salsbery, Stempel and junior Kam Kessler, starting at catcher, also drove home runs for the Tigers, while DeMello, Knott and cousins Tyee and Trenton Fisher scored once apiece.
Sophomore Josh Rogers had Sheridan’s only hit, while junior starter Cole Arthur suffered the loss.
The Tigers host Horizon Christian/Tualatin (10-3, 4-1) at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at The Pit. The Hawks, who defeated Dayton (6-10, 3-3) 8-6 at home on Tuesday, were the last team to hold Taft under 10 runs despite losing 4-1 to the Tigers at home on April 3.
Taft 10, Sheridan 0
TAFT AB R H BI
Josh Salsbery 4 2 2 1
Eli DeMello 4 1 2 0
Caleb King 4 2 1 3
Jack Stempel 3 2 1 1
Cody Knott 3 1 3 4
Kam Kessler 3 0 1 1
Tyee Fisher 3 1 1 0
Bleiz Kimbrough 3 0 0 0
Trenton Fisher 1 1 1 0
W Mcallister 1 0 0 0
Spencer Adair 1 0 0 0
TOTALS 28 10 12 10
SHERIDAN AB R H BI
Josh McCallister 3 0 0 0
Cole Aurther 2 0 0 0
Josh Rogers 2 0 1 0
Chris Savoldi 1 0 0 0
Brennen Meneley 2 0 0 0
Hunter Hass 1 0 0 0
Donnie Henley 2 0 0 0
Kaden Eggers 1 0 0 0
Tegan Eggers 1 0 0 0
TOTALS 17 0 1 0
TAFT 013 600 — 10
SHERIDAN 000 00x — 0
LOB–TAFT 5, SHERIDAN 4. ERR–Hunter Hass, Kaden Eggers, W Mcallister. 2B–Cody Knott, Josh Rogers. SB—Jack Stempel.
TAFT IP H R ER BB SO HR
Bleiz Kimbrough (W) 5.00 1 0 0 2 10 0
SHERIDAN
Cole Arthur (L) 5.00 12 10 9 2 4 0
PB–Chris Savoldi. WP–Bleiz Kimbrough. BB—Trenton Fisher (2), Hunter Hass, Chris Savoldi.
Taft roster/schedule
Class 3A West Valley League standings
Class 3A OSAA rankings
