The Taft Tigers prepare to take the field Friday for State quarterfinal play.
Cascade Christian dashed Taft High’s hopes of making a deeper run in the Class 3A OSAA State Softball Championships than a season ago, advancing Friday to the 16-team tournament semifinals with an 8-3 home win in Medford.
“It’s tough to lose and have the season end, but this young group learned so much this season and surpassed a lot of expectations,” Taft coach Sandy Stuart said. “We matured and will be able to come back stronger next year.”
The third-seeded Challengers improved to 22-7 (10-2 Far West) with the five-run victory over the sixth-seeded Tigers (18-10, 7-5 Special District 1) and starting junior pitcher Emma Coulter at US Cellular Community Park Field.
Mia Mayben had three hits in four trips with two RBIs and scored a run for Cascade Christian.
Coulter had two singles to lead the Tigers, who scored in the top half of the first, but gave up two runs in the bottom half of the inning as the Challengers led the rest of the way, also scoring twice in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Junior Hailee Danneker and freshmen Addie Gates and Olivia Coulter scored for Taft, while sophomores Kayla Lininger and Kyla Knott drove home runs. Sophomore Claira Tolan had the Tigers’ only extra-base hit, a double.
“Today, the biggest issue was their balls fell into gaps and holes, and ours went right at defenders and were caught,” Stuart said. “Sometimes that’s how games go.”
Taft, which defeated Cascade Christian 12-11 on the same field during a spring break tournament in late May, downed Vale 11-1 in five innings in opening-round play Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals. Cascade Christian beat Blanchet Catholic 6-4 to advance.
Taft was a quarterfinalist last season before being eliminated 4-2 by eventual State champion Dayton.
“The coaching staff is incredibly proud of their efforts this year,” Stuart said. “The only thing that makes us sad is that we have to wait so long for next season.”
The Challengers will play at No. 2 Dayton (18-5, 7-1 PacWest) Tuesday in one semifinal matchup. The Pirates defeated 10th-seeded Yamhill-Carlton (14-16, 5-3 PacWest) 10-1 Friday to advance.
Fourth-seeded South Umpqua (23-5, 11-1 Far West) defeated No. 5 Rainier (16-10, 8-4 SD1) 3-0 Friday and will meet top-seeded Clatskanie (25-0, 12-0 SD1), which downed ninth-seeded Scio (13-7, 3-5 PacWest) 12-2 in five innings in Friday’s other quarterfinal.
The State champion will be determined Friday, May 31, at the University of Oregon’s Jane Sanders Stadium.
Construction continues on the new Lincoln City Police Department
The Lincoln City Police Dispatch Daily Desk Log is a public record of police calls. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Friday, May 10
Theft – 6:58 p.m. – 95 SW Highway 101 – Items stolen from blue 2008 Chevrolet Uplander.
Assisting Other Agency – 1:05 p.m. – 3278 SE Fleet Ave. – Derek Silver (3/28/83) cited and released on Lincoln County misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear on DUII.
Eluding – 11:29 p.m. – NW 15th ST/Harbor Ave. – Kieral Haun (8/14/93) taken into custody on Coffee Creek Correctional Facility warrant charging failure to perform duties of a driver. Also charged with eluding, escape, interfering with police, giving false information and resisting arrest. Oscar Enrique Mejia Salazar (3/17/90) taken into custody for eluding, hindering prosecution and probation violation. Both transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Saturday, May 11
Domestic – 2:43 a.m. – 1501 NW 40th Pl. – Report of physical domestic at location. Female bleeding from face. Suspect left prior to officer arrival.
Assisting Outside Agency – 10:08 a.m. – NW 44th St. & NW 40th Pl. – Officer contacted subjects on suspicious vehicle call. Michael A. Copple (9/21/77) was found to have a warrant out of Corvallis for absconding on an assault charge. Copple taken into custody and transported to Lincoln County Jail.
DOA – 12:19 p.m. – 2701 NW Highway 101 – Unresponsive male not breathing. Pacific West Ambulance, NLFR and LCPD responded. David Malcomb (1/19/48) confirmed DOA. Pacific View responded.
Assisting Outside Agency – 2:11 p.m. – 1604 NE Highway 101 – Aury Moreno-Madrigal (7/24/98) cited and released for Lincoln County warrant charging failure to appear on a traffic offense.
Minor in Possession of Alcohol – B’nai B’rith – Juvenile picked up by parents after tests performed.
Sunday, May 12
DUII – 12:08 a.m. – NE 6th Dr. & Highway 101 – Casey C. French (10/15/89) taken into custody for DUII and transported to Lincoln City Police Department. French released at 1:47 a.m. and given courtesy transport to Chinook Winds.
Theft – 8:26 a.m. – 171 SW Highway 101 – Possible theft of cell phone from hotel room.
Hit and Run – 3 p.m. – 1500 SE East Devils Lake Rd., lower parking – Vehicle hit while in parking garage. An unknown witness left a note reporting a minivan with Washington plates hit vehicle and sped off. Another witness thought it was a silver sedan.
Theft – 8:25 p.m. – Chinook Winds Casino – Report someone dropped money in casino and another person picked it up.
Trespass – 10:10 p.m. – Chinook Winds Casino – Kajsa C. Garrison (9/9/00) was taken into custody for having previously been trespassed. Garrison transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Monday, May 13
Trespass – 10:07 a.m. – 1713 NW 21st St. – Medical call about a naked man passed out in hotel hallway. The man got up, put on his pants and left. Michael J. Wehling (9/21/92) was found and charged with trespass, public indecency and possession of meth. Wehling transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Found Property – 12:12 p.m. – 4910 SE Highway 101 – Report of found hand-loaded ammunition. Ammo taken for safekeeping.
Suspicious Activity – 3:12 p.m. – Taft High School – Reports of an unmarked bottle of prescription pills being distributed by a student.
Burglary – 3:01 p.m. – 3505 NW Keel Ave. – Items taken from rental house.
Theft – 7:53 p.m. – Copper Hill Pizza, Lincoln City Outlets – An employee reports Samsung Galaxy 9 cell phone was stolen while charging.
Tuesday, May, 14
Disturbance – 12:28 a.m. – Rodeway Inn – Report of subjects in room throwing mattresses off balcony, being drunk and disorderly. Nathan R. Hall (7/29/93) taken into custody for criminal mischief, giving false information, trespassing and disorderly conduct. Hall was transported to Lincoln County jail.
Found Property – 4:20 a.m. – Taxi 101 – Found baggie of white drugs on floor of cab.
Shots Fired – 11:53 a.m. – 3125 SW Beach Ave. – Male fired a handgun into the ground. Cited and released at scene.
Assault – 1:45 p.m. – 950 SE 32nd St. – Caller reporting her daughter slapped her. Report taken at juvenile department’s request.
Crash – 4:01 p.m. – 3200 SE Highway 101 – Two vehicle non-blocking, non-injury crash.
Found Property – 4:31 p.m. – 5901 NW Logan Rd. – Found wallet with ID on beach at Roads End. Wallet taken into custody.
Wednesday, May 15
Probation Violation – 12:29 a.m. – SE Oar Ave. & 3rd St. – Bjorn D. Blanchard (6/13/92) taken into custody for probation violation after reports of a male walking around the neighborhood looking into vehicles. Blanchard was transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Domestic – 10:41 a.m. – 1431 SE Oar Ave. – Nathan Cavota (3/20/80) taken into custody after reports of a mother and adult son arguing. Cavota charged with harassment, unlawful use of a weapon and transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Crash – 7:51 p.m. – 4060 N Highway 101 – Single vehicle crash.
Theft – 7:58 p.m. – Lincoln City Value Inn – Victim reports boyfriend took coins and jewelry from her.
Theft – 7:58 p.m. – SW 51st St. – Black coach wallet taken out of vehicle.
Warrant Arrest – 8:42 p.m. – Nathan Cane Opperud (1/12/79) taken into custody on Oregon City warrants charging failure to appear on trespassing and drinking in public. Opperud transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Domestic – 9:24 p.m. – 1220 SE Oar Ave. – 911 report of physical domestic in apartment. Johnathan James Douglas Harmon (4/18/90) taken into custody and charged with domestic assault, strangulation, harassment and disorderly conduct. Harmon transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Suspicious Activity – 11:26 p.m. – Taft High School – Officer located open gates. Gates secured.
Found Property – 9:40 a.m. – 6829 NW Logan Rd. – Found cell phone at bottom of stairs to the beach. Phone seized for safekeeping.
Crash – 9:47 a.m. – Two vehicle rear-end crash, non-blocking. One driver with minor injuries not requiring medical attention.
Found Property – 1585 SE 19th St. – Found tablet in the woods near apartments. Tablet taken for safekeeping.
Minor in Possession of Marijuana – 12:48 p.m. – Taft High School – Juvenile cited for MIP.
Extra Patrol – 2:50 p.m. – 615 SE Inlet – Caller reported a white male with wavy brown hair pulled up in a white van and opened the garage door with a door opener. Caller confirmed with rental company that nobody should be there for work today.
Friday, May 17
Peace Officer Hold – 4:25 a.m. – 120 NW Inlet Ave. – Caller reported a male subject outside of hotel requesting police for unknown emergency. Male contacted and transported to SNLH for mental health evaluation.
Missing Person – 9:19 a.m. – Caller reported she kicked out her daughter from her home in Toledo and her daughter had been staying somewhere in Lincoln City. Caller had not heard from her daughter for three days and reports someone found her backpack in Lincoln City. Missing persons report canceled after mother made contact with daughter.
Welfare Check – 10:27 p.m. – 136 NE Highway 101 – Caller reported a female walking towards Highway 101 crying. Officer located female who was transported to SNLH by ambulance. Officer took report of possible assault.
Saturday, May 18
Theft – 12:42 a.m. – Safeway – Employee reported two female shoplifters just left the store.
Found Property – 1:10 a.m. – Officer found a license plate (WVC422)
Suspicious Vehicle – 12 p.m. – 4041 NW Logan Rd. – Jamie Mann (8/2/83) cited and released for fornication.
Missing Person – 6:30 a.m. – 210 SE Surf Ave. – George Bouchard (7/28/65) last seen 5/15/19. No known medical issues. Report taken.
Counterfeit – 2:50 p.m. – Taco bell – Counterfeit $50 from drive-thru window.
Suspicious Activity – 3:18 p.m. – 427 SE Oar Ave. – Caller reported a female driving up and down the street and going door to door talking about someone that took money from her. The woman told officers she had given a male a ride and loaned him money for cannabis products. The male didn’t come back to her car so she went looking for him. Jason B. Card (9/22/90) located and cited and released for misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear on hit and run charges.
Trespass – 5:56 p.m. – McMenamins – Hollis B. Miller (8/12/74) refused to leave business. Miller taken into custody for trespass and transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Domestic – 9:25 p.m. – 2015 NE 63rd St. – Male called saying a female strangled him and was trying to get his gun. Kathryn P. Allie (3/5/95) taken into custody for felony domestic assault strangulation and transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Sunday May 19
Found Property – 4:13 a.m. – 2166 NE Highway 101 – Oregon Trail card found at location.
Trespass – 12:24 p.m. – 3327 NW Highway 101 – Robyn R. Austin (3/19/93) was refusing to leave after being on the property since 7:30 a.m. Austin taken into custody and transported to Lincoln County Jail for trespassing.
Domestic – 5:55 p.m. – SW 48th St. & SW Fleet Ave. – Geoffrey G. Kirwan (7/20/79) taken into custody for domestic assault strangulation and transported to Lincoln County Jail.
Monday, May 20
Theft – 12:14 p.m. – 660 SE Highway 101 – Car seat stolen. Camp Canine has footage of theft. Report taken.
Suspicious Activity – 12:32 p.m. – Taft High School – Juvenile arrested for assaulting officer. Transported to juvenile detention.
Tuesday, May 21
Assisting Outside Agency – 12:58 p.m. – 2447 NE 29th St. – Clemente Albino-Gonzalez (11/23/84) cited and released for warrant out of Lincoln County.
Assisting Outside Agency – 7:54 p.m. – NW 28th St. & Highway 101 – Hans C. Wilkinson and Oliver Pauly taken into custody and transported to Lincoln County jail on warrants.
Peace Officer Hold – 11:09 p.m. – D River Wayside – Woman transported to SNLH after welfare check request for an intoxicated female.
Wednesday, May 22
Disturbance – 3:11 a.m. – 648 NW Inlet Ave. – Hysterical female reporting fiance smothered her. Medical responded for breathing problem. Male located outside of residence, was detained and then released. Report taken.
Fraud – 9:55 a.m. – 4041 West Devils Lake Rd. – Caller reporting someone opened a credit card in his name and used it.
Crash – 11:22 a.m. – 801 SW Highway 101 – Two vehicle crash with no injuries.
Burglary – 4:38 p.m. – 6526 NE Neptune Dr. – Residence broken into.
Assisting Outside Agency – 5:17 p.m. – Goodwill – Joshua Brown (3/29/84) taken into custody for probation violation.
Harassment – 8:41 p.m. – 1531 SE Oar Ave. – Caller requested officer regarding incident with another resident.
Warrant Arrest – 9:32 p.m. – Marylin Ann Childs (7/1/86) taken into custody on warrant out of Polk County for dangerous drugs.
Thursday, May 23
EDP – 8:20 a.m. – Caller reported her boyfriend is on the porch with a rope around his neck and then reported he was hanging. Responders performed CPR and transported the male to SNLH.
Theft – 9:58 a.m. – 120 SE Highway 101 – Two hanging baskets stolen. A note was left saying the suspects were two men on bikes.
Assisting Outside Agency – 3:19 p.m. – 1616 NE Regatta Way – Richard Allen Duncan Fraser (11/5/81) was taken into custody on warrant out of Lincoln County for failure to appear for DUII and Multnomah County warrant for reckless driving. Fraser was transported to Lincoln County jail.
Attempted Burglary – 5:51 p.m. – 4600 SW Coast Ave. – Victim has video of a male attempting to open door of her vacation rental. Probable cause warrant issued for Matthew R. Wonser (10/17/83).
Attempted Burglary – 6:34 p.m. – 3535 SW 35th Pl. – Victim reported she watched a male through her remote camera attempt to enter the house.
Burglary – 6:45 p.m. – 3645 SW Coast Ave. – Victim reported that people who rented the house found two people inside when they arrived.
For Oregon consumers looking to hunt and/or fish this season, be careful when purchasing licenses as Better Business Bureau Northwest and Pacific has learned of an ongoing online scam publishing phony licenses.
Oregon Department Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) contacted BBB to share that its employees have been made aware of at least two people who recently purchased items from the website www.fishinglicense.org after searching online for an Oregon fishing license. BBB has also confirmed two Oregonians filed a complaint and Scam Tracker report against fishinglicense.org within the last month.
This is not the first time BBB has alerted consumers to this website, but the page is still up and running. ODFW and other state fish and wildlife agencies have been hearing about customers mistakenly buying items from this website since 2017.
“While it’s not a widespread problem, it’s unfortunate that even one person would be misled when trying to buy an Oregon fishing license,” ODFW License Services Manager Linda Lytle said. “This is not the first time we have heard about this and it isn’t just happening in Oregon.”
Fishinglicense.org, which claims to operate out of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, has no office. The company operates under the umbrella organization, “Orange Grove LLC”, which claims to help consumers with a variety of services including travel planning, registrations and drivers’ licenses.
Within the last year, there have been 20 complaints regarding the company mostly related to false adverting and fraudulent sales. There have also been numerous negative reviews left on the company’s BBB profile, which has garnered an F-rating. It appears representatives for fishinglicense.org have been responding to some of the recent complaints, though BBB cannot confirm at this time whether any refunds have been issued.
BBB cautions consumers not to use any websites associated with Orange Grove LLC, including fishinglicense.org or driverslicenseonline.org. This issue has been brought to the attention of the Federal Trade Commission.
Oregon fishing or hunting licenses can be purchased via the ODFW landing page. Consumers can also purchase a license at one of the sale agents listed on the site. On the website, Oregonians will be guided to the proper licensing processes and procedures for fishing, crabbing, bird hunting and big-game hunting.
For consumers who have purchased a fake license somewhere else, head to the ODFW website for help. For hunters, please note the deadline to apply for a valid license is June 1.
For ODFW, combating this issue is imperative to protect consumers from losing money and to prevent them from going out with improper licenses, which can lead to further problems.
“We would just like consumers to be aware of this issue and not get tricked into buying something when what they really want is an Oregon fishing, hunting or shellfish license,” said Lytle.
BBB NW+P offers the following tips for consumers to protect themselves from online scams:
Check a site’s security settings. If the site is secure, its URL should start with “https://” and include a lock icon on the purchase or shopping cart page
Shop with a credit card. In case of a fraudulent transaction, a credit card provides additional protections; it’s easier to dispute charges. Debit cards, prepaid cards or gift cards don’t have the same protections as a credit card.
Think before your click. Be especially cautious about email solicitations and online ads on social media sites that bring you to a website. Many sketchy retailers can easily “spoof” an existing website to appear legitimate, when really, it’s a fake page all together.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. In 2017, people turned to BBB more than 160 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including BBB Northwest & Pacific, which serves more than 15 million consumers in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Hawaii and Western Wyoming.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) today lifted a public health advisory for contact with marine water at D River Beach, located in Lincoln City. The health authority issued the advisory May 22 after water samples showed higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria in ocean waters.
Results from later samples taken by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) showed lower bacteria levels. Contact with the water no longer poses a higher-than-normal risk. However, officials recommend staying out of large pools on the beach that are frequented by birds, and runoff from those pools, because the water may contain increased bacteria from fecal matter.
State officials continue to encourage other recreational activities at all Oregon beaches, suggesting only that water contact be avoided when advisories are in effect. Since 2003 state officials have used a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to monitor popular Oregon beaches and make timely reports to the public about elevated levels of fecal bacteria. Oregon state agencies participating in this program are OHA, DEQ and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
Chester’s Thriftway Supervisor Elizabeth Davis poses with a “free library”
Lincoln City’s Driftwood Public Library has established two new free satellite libraries south of Lincoln City at Chester’s Thriftway in Lincoln Beach and Nava’s Market in Depoe Bay.
“I think its a fantastic partnership,” Chester’s Thriftway Store Manager Dylan Smith said. “We have a lot of people here who can’t always get to the library, so it’s great to have access. There are even DVDs and audio books here. It’s pretty awesome. Tourists can also grab books. It’s another asset for our community here.”
Nava’s Market in Depoe Bay
The library satellites feature kids books, DVDs, audio books for the public to “check out,” and will be refilled every two-weeks by library staff. All items are provided by Friends of Driftwood Public Library and can be borrowed for free anytime the businesses are open.
“We’re so happy that they were able to find spaces for us to leave you all some books, so make sure to stop by, grab some stuff and thank them for supporting the library,” Driftwood Library Outreach Coordinator Star Kahn said.
Chester’s Thriftway is located at 3950 Highway 101 in Lincoln Beach and Nava’s at 20 Schoolhouse St. in Depoe Bay.
Taft High 7-12 Assistant Principal Richard Ceder has been named to replace longtime Toledo Jr./Sr. High School Principal Clint Raever, who has accepted the same post at Yamhill-Carlton High School.
“[Richard] is the No. 1 choice of our learning support team, and having someone already in our ranks as an administrator was a priority for our leadership team,” LCSD Superintendent Dr. Karen Gray said. “He is steeped in the work we are doing in our district and knows high schools inside and out.”
Prior to serving at Taft for the past two years, Ceder was managing coordinator for 16 school districts for Oregon GEAR UP, including LCSD for two years. His was a counselor in Gaston for 10 years and grew up in Rogue River.
Ceder will hold a meet-and-greet with parents and community members from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m at the school, 1800 NE Sturdevant Road, Friday, May 31.
In 2018, Samaritan Health Services invested nearly $161 million in community health to help address activities that promote healthy families and better access to health care.
The investments are designed to develop better networks, healthy kids, healthy teens and healthy seniors throughout Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties.
Samaritan makes this information available in its annual Community Health Impact Report. The 2018 report highlights investments made in community health activities, such as free health screenings, services for low-income individuals, health-related research, training for health professionals and grants to local non-profits in support of health initiatives.
“As we complete these activities each year, we believe it’s important to report back to the community regarding progress that has been made in each goal area,” Doug Boysen, president and CEO of Samaritan said. “In this report, you’ll find success stories as well as data that will help illustrate how we are partnering with many others in our region to build healthier communities together. We are pleased to share these stories of hope and inspiration with our customers and partners.”
Samaritan’s contributions impacted local organizations, including Sweet Home Emergency Ministries, the Benton County Oral Health Coalition, the Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence, Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program, Linn Together, Volunteer Caregivers and more.
Buying a license for your dog isn’t just about the law — it can save your pet’s life.
Anyone who has experienced the panic and sorrow of having a lost dog knows how important it is to license your pet. Our dogs are our friends and companions, and they look to us for nearly everything: food, shelter, water and love. They also need us to help bring them home if they wander.
One of the best and most basic things we can do for our dogs is to license them. Our goal is to be able to reunite all lost dogs with their families, and you can help us reach that goal with increased dog licensing. When good Samaritans find stray dogs that are licensed, they can call the Lincoln County Animal Shelter or Dispatch to find your information, and your pet might never even have to come to the shelter.
While happy reunions are the most important consideration, failure to obtain a dog license can result in a $265 fine. All dogs in the county are required to be licensed within thirty days of residence, whether or not you live in the city and whether or not your dog leaves your property. While cat licenses are not required, they help the animal shelter reunite families with their feline friends, too.
You may easily purchase or renew a license by mail, at the Animal Shelter, or at many local veterinarians’ offices. Applications and additional information are available online at www.LincolnCountyAnimalShelter.org.
WHY LICENSING IS IMPORTANT
License tags allow us to contact you as soon as possible–providing you peace of mind, leaving space at the shelter for another animal in need, and saving the community tax-payer money.
License fees support shelter programs and operations which provides approximately 1,000 animals with food, veterinary care, safe shelter, training, behavior enrichment, foster and adoption services each year.
License fees support field services and investigations to address loose pets, aggressive dogs, and bite reports.
License fees allow Animal Services to investigate, seize, and care for animals who are victims of cruelty and neglect.
Fees support our pet retention programs, including distribution of over 1,000 pounds of pet food from our food bank each month, to help people keep pets in their homes.
Last year, our redemption rate was over 90 percent for dogs, well above the national average, but only 4 percent for cats. Our goal is to reunite all lost pets with their families.
If your animal is found injured and wearing its license, it is much easier for us to obtain emergency medical attention for him or her and contact you with the details.
Identification is critically important for your pet in the event of a man-made or natural disaster.
If your dog is impounded and is current on its license and altered, then the first $30 impound fee is waived (but if they are impounded again, the second impound fee must be paid).
License fees are an important way the community supports our policy of not euthanizing for space and finding new homes to as many animals as possible.
Please keep your pets safe with a license, ID tag, and microchip, and remember to search for your lost pet at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter at 510 NE Harney St. in Newport and by calling 541-265-6610.
For more information and tips, visit our web site at www.lincolncountysheriff.net and Like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon.
Bleiz Kimbrough threw 3 2/3s innings of shutout relief (Photos by Eric DeMello)
Junior starter Eli DeMello collected four hits in four trips and visiting Taft used a five-run fifth inning and shutout relief from senior Bleiz Kimbrough to hold off favored Irrigon 5-3 Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Class 3A OSAA State Baseball Championships.
“We didn’t have the odds in our favor for this game, but we came into their place knowing it was going to be a battle,” Taft coach Matt Hilgers said. “We knew we were going to see some of their best stuff. They won their league and we expected this to be a good game.”
Starter Eli DeMello starred at the plate with four hits in four trips
The 11th-seeded Tigers, 17-10 overall, will meet No. 3 Santiam Christian (20-6, 9-3 SD3) at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Santiam Christian defeated No. 14 Salem Academy (11-10, 7-5 SD1) 9-7 Wednesday to advance.
Senior Cody Knott, who had Taft’s only extra-base hit with a double, drove home two runs and scored once for Taft in the fifth, who sent the Special District 5 champion Knights home for the season at 20-6.
“We got down early on, but we kept our composure and stayed within ourselves and battled until we finally broke through and scored some runs,” Hilgers said. “We have been telling the kids the same thing all year and that is we are playing against ourselves. We are not playing the other team, we are playing against the game. We do what we need to do and we will give ourselves a chance in the end.”
The Tigers turned to “small ball” to reach the quarterfinals
Taft turned to “small ball” to help get past the Special District 5 champions DeMello, Knott, Hindman and sophomores Darius Smith and Ethan Thomas all scored for the Tigers in the telltale fifth. Junior leadoff hitter Trenton Fisher had Taft’s other RBI.
Junior Lucas Hindman had Taft’s only other hit as the Tigers were outhit 9-6, but rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the top of the fifth after Irrigon scored once in the first and twice in the third off DeMello.
Kimbrough struck out three and walked none in 3 2/3s hitless innings to notch the win.
“This was a great win for us to travel five plus hours and win a game like this on the road,” Hilgers said. “We have a familiar opponent in Santiam Christian on Friday. We just need to take the same approach into Friday’s game as we did today and focus on what we can do to give ourselves a chance at their place.”
Taft’s Emma Coulter fires home during Wednesday’s State playoff game (Photo by Justin Werner)
Saying, “it’s easier to pitch with all those runs,” Taft High ace Emma Coulter relied on a prodigious offense and her own robust right arm Wednesday to propel the Tigers into the quarterfinals of the Class 3A OSAA State Softball Championships.
“Our bats came alive right in the beginning, so that was really good for us,” Taft’s junior starter said after the host Tigers eliminated Vale from the 16-team tournament 11-1 in an opening-round game shortened to five innings by the state’s 10-run mercy rule.
Addie Gates drills one down the third base line (Photo by Lon French)
The Tigers scored twice in the first, four runs in the fourth and five in the fifth to close out the win. Freshman Addie Gates and sophomore Kayla Lininger had three hits each for Taft, while Linginer had four RBIs and Gates three. Coulter drove home three runs.
“Today was excellent,” Taft coach Sandy Stuart said. “The girls came out pumped up. They were high energy and cheering the entire time and you could tell they wanted it.”
Lon French Photos
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Sixth-seeded Taft will meet No. 3 seed Cascade Christian (21-7, 10-2 Far West) Friday in the quarterfinals at a time to be determined at US Cellular Community Park Field in Medford. Cascade Christian downed No. 14 Blanchet Catholic (11-12, 5-3 PacWest) 6-4 Wednesday to advance.
“It was a little nerve-racking at the beginning, but we all came together and shook off the nerves and played an awesome game,” Lininger said.
Battery mate and first-team All-State catcher Hailee Danneker said Coulter, a second-team All-State selection, was on the mark with her control and topping the radar gun with her velocity in notching the victory for Taft.
“Emma’s speed was really good today, and she was hitting all her spots. That helped us a lot,” she said.
Taft improved to 18-8 with the win while the 11th-seeded Vikings of Special District 2 finished their season 15-11.
“We hit the ball well and executed some great bunts,” Stuart said. “We also had one of our best base-running games. Overall, the coaching staff was proud of them.”
Softball’s state champion will be determined Friday, May 31, at the University of Oregon’s Jane Sanders Stadium.
Taft 11, Vale 1
VALE AB R H BI TAFT AB R H BI
Grace Jacobs 3 0 1 0 Hailee Danneker 3 2 1 1
Sierra Cleaver 3 0 0 0 Addie Gates 4 3 3 2
Alexis Cleaver 2 0 0 0 Emma Coulter 3 2 2 3
Alexis Rodgers 2 0 0 0 Kayla Lininger 3 0 3 4
Sadie Thomas 2 0 0 0 Olivia Coulter 2 0 1 0
Izzy Sigran 2 0 0 0 Claira Tolan 3 0 1 0
Demiana Hardin 1 0 0 0 Kyla Knott 2 2 1 0
Sydney Thomas 2 0 0 0 Corey VanDamme 3 1 0 0
Bailey Tolman 2 0 2 1 Chloe Peterson 3 1 1 0
*Morgan Hager 0 1 0 0
TOTALS 19 1 3 1 TOTALS 26 11 13 10
VALE 000 01 -- 1
TAFT 200 45 -- 11
LOB--VALE 4, TAFT 6. E--Alexis Cleaver, Corey
VanDamme. 2B--Addie Gates, Kayla Lininger, Emma Coulter.
3B--Emma Coulter. HBP--Kyla Knott. SACF--Hailee Danneker.
SB--Grace Jacobs, Morgan Hager, Kyla Knott, Hailee
Danneker (2), Emma Coulter.
VALE IP H R ER BB SO HR
Demiana Hardin 4.67 13 11 6 3 5 0
TAFT
Emma Coulter 5.00 3 1 1 1 6 0
PB--Sadie Thomas. SO--Grace Jacobs, Izzy Sigran (2), Alexis
Cleaver, Sydney Thomas (2), Hailee Danneker, Chloe
Peterson, Claira Tolan, Corey VanDamme (2). BB--Demiana
Hardin, Kayla Lininger, Olivia Coulter, Emma Coulter.
