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Injury-depleted Tigers host No. 1 Amity in season’s toughest test yet

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September 28, 2018

Taft might need more trickery, such as this pass from senior receiver Kam Kessler last week, tonight against Amity (File photo by Lon French)

Tune in tonight for Homepage’s live, breaking, play-by-play coverage of the Tigers’ league-opening game

Just when you thought things couldn’t get much tougher for the Taft High football team, enter the No. 1 team in the state for a league opener against an injury-depleted lineup looking to turn its fortunes around.

The 1-3 Tigers, who have already played two perennial State playoff powers and a couple who competed in bigger conferences until recently, are well aware of the mighty Warriors, having shared conference affiliation with them throughout the years in all sports and both genders.

“We know a lot about Amity,” said Taft Coach Jake Tolan, whose Tigers host the Warriors at 7 p.m. at Voris Field. “We know what they will run both offensively and defensively.”

So what is it that has allowed the Warriors to amass a 206-34 (51.5 to 8.5 points per game) scoring advantage over four outclassed opponents this season?

“What they do is actually very simple, but they do it very well,” Tolan said. “They are No. 1 for a reason and haven’t really been tested yet this year. We hope to go out and just compete.”

“Unlike last year where we gave up a bunch of rushing yards to them, this week we’ve worked a lot on assignment football — making sure all 11 guys are focused on individual assignments on each play in hope to be able to at least slow them down,” Tolan said.

Amity has rolled past St. Mary’s Medford, 51-7; Neah-Kah-Nie, 60-20; Salem Academy, 47-7; and Coquille, 48-0, with three of the games on the road. Playing its fourth game of the year away from home, Coach Joel Magill’s squad has just three games scheduled this season in its friendly confines – until the playoffs, that is.

As if the presence of the state’s top-ranked Class 3A team wasn’t enough, the Tigers will be missing four starters due to injuries incurred in previous games. Missing in the Special District 1 West Conference opener will be defensive lineman Tyrese Hellman and defensive back Darius Smith, who are out on concussion protocol; lineman Jace Fostveit with a wrist sprain; and defensive end Micah Davis, who has been lost for the season with a leg injury.

“So a lot of this week has also been focused on getting replacement players in the right spots so they can be successful,” Tolan said.

Things don’t get any easier foe the Tigers after Friday either. Taft hits the road for two league games (Clatskanie and Willamina) before returning home to close out the regular season with two more (Dayton and Rainier), including matchups against the second- and third-ranked teams in the state.

Class 3A Special District 1 West Standings

	League	Overall	Points Scored	Allowed	OSAA Rank
Amity	0-0	4-0	206	34	1
Rainier	0-0	4-0	173	12	2
Willamina	0-0	3-1	108	55	3
Clatskanie	0-0	3-1	179	20	10
Dayton	0-0	2-2	111	89	14
Taft	0-0	1-3	100	153	15

Taft Roster

Coach: Jake Tolan

No.	Name	Position	Grade	Height
2	Logan McLendon	WR/DB	Sr.	5-8
3	Kaden Hindman	WR/S	Fr.	5-9
4	Devon Lindquist	WR/S	Sr.	5-10
6	Zane Rowley	WR/DB	So.	5-4
7	Chris Lopez	WR/DB	Sr.	5-9
8	David Jin	QB/DB	Sr.	5-10
9	Kameron Kessler	WR/S	Sr.	6-1
11	Fco Ramos	WR/DB	So.	5-7
14	Tristan Beach	WR/DB	Jr.	5-10
15	Connor Bailey	WR/DB	Jr.	5-10
16	Darius Smith	WR/DB	So.	5-9
19	Antonio Suarez	QB/LB	So.	5-10
20	JJ French	RB/LB	So.	5-10
22	Tyee Fisher	WR/S	Sr.	6-5
23	Clay Nelson	WR/LB	Sr.	6-0
24	Trenton Hall	WR/LB	Jr.	5-9
25	Kaden White	WR/DB	Fr.	5-7
28	Logan Gilleo	RB/LB	Jr.	6-0
50	Dylan Rodriguez	OL/DL	Fr.	5-8
53	Micah Davis	OL/DE	Jr.	5-10
54	Eriq Aquino	OL/DL	Sr.	6-1
55	Elin Fitch	OL/DE	Jr.	6-3
56	Malachi LaFrenz	OL/DL	Sr.	6-2
57	Jace Phippen	OL/DL	Jr.	5-10
60	Chris Byrum	OL/DL	Sr.	5-8
61	Victor Carrasco	C/DE	Sr.	6-2
62	Brendan Welch	OL/DL	So.	5-9
66	Tyrese Hellman	OL/DL	Jr.	6-1
70	Josiah LaFrenz	OL/DL	So.	6-3
74	Sebastian Welch	OL/DL	So.	5-9
75	Dakota Steen	OL/DL	Fr.	6-0

Amity Roster

Coach: Joel Magill

No.	Name	Position	Grade	Height	Weight
1	Payton Richardson	WR/CB	11	6-4	170
4	Tyler Parr	QB/LB	12	6-1	200
7	Eli Jackson	WR/CB	12	6-4	170
8	Harvey Hoff	RB/LB	12	5-6	155
10	Noah Groom	QB/DB	9	5-7	130
11	Dylan Nyseth	TE/LB	11	5-9	155
12	Keenan Graham	QB/DB	10	6-1	150
14	Michael Duncan	WR/K	12	5-9	150
16	Roberto Olague	RB/LB	10	5-8	150
17	Cody Dyche	RB/LB	11	6-1	191
18	Alrik Moore	WR/DB	9	5-8	140
20	West Streeter	RB/LB	12	5-7	200
21	Braxton Morgan	RB/LB	9	5-8	155
22	Wyatt Hatch	RB/LB	9	5-9	155
23	Cameron Weigart	WR/CB	11	5-9	145
24	Brian Hatch	RB/LB	12	5-7	150
25	Seth Valencia	RB/NG	12	5-6	155
30	Nas Abzakh	RB/LB	11	5-9	150
32	Enrique Martinez	RB/LB	9	5-10	168
33	Jonathan Mather	RB/LB	12	6-0	190
36	George Hatch	QB/DB	10	5-11	146
40	Logan Grove	RB/LB	9	5-9	155
42	Sergio Alba	TE/LB	9	5-7	160
44	Russel Brown	RB/LB	11	5-11	175
50	Nick McMullen	OG/DL	10	5-10	230
51	Hunter Barber	C/DL	9	5-6	170
52	Jordan Dyche	OT/NG	12	5-6	250
54	Kyle Rice	OT/DT	9	6-0	185
55	Jeffrey Coleman	OG/DT	12	6-0	255
56	Christian Wald	OG/LB	12	5-9	190
57	Blake Wilson	OG/LB	10	5-11	165
58	Wyett Yocum	OL/DL	9	5-10	200
60	Robby Scharf	OG/DT	12	6-0	260
62	Phillip West	OL/LB	10	6-1	195
64	Ashton Pappas	OL/RB	10	5-7	175
65	Khaled Aydallad	OG/LB	11	5-10	165
73	Justin Vido	C/DT	12	5-9	295
75	Jacob Bernards	OT/DE	11	6-3	273
76	Lucas May	OL/DL	11	6-3	289
77	Federico Donati	K	11	5-9	165
78	Andrew Paine	OL/DL	12	6-2	300
80	Hayden Reeves	WR/DB	10	5-9	135
81	Trevor Smith	WR/LB	12	6-1	195
85	Brady Hall	WR/DE	9	5-8	165
87	Josh Wart	TE/LB	10	6-5	200
88	Diego Briones	TE/LB	9	5-9	185

Tigers start strong, show progress despite volleyball loss at Warrenton

Jim Fossum

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September 28, 2018

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Tigers start strong, show progress despite volleyball loss at Warrenton

Taft senior Charlotte Huppert in a home game last week against Willamina (File photo by Lon French)

The Taft High volleyball team claimed one set but fell to Warrenton 3-1 Thursday behind a revamped lineup that showed signs of progress as the Tigers continue in search of their first match-win of the season.

“The girls played really well last night,” Taft Coach Kelsey Hart said following a 25-23, 25-17. 21-25, 25-8 Coastal Range League defeat that left the squad 0-11. “They are still working to find their rhythm with the new grouping we have after losing several players. Last night they came the closest I have seen them to playing like the team I know they really are.”

Hart said Taft opened with its best start of the season with a first-set rally despite falling, 25-23.

“We came out strong, and after getting into a bit of a hole, the girls fought their way back,” she said.

If the opening set was good, the third game (25-21 Taft) was better – “the best I have seen this group play – ever,” Hart said.

“We had a powerful offense, with four kills and five aces,” she said. “Players complemented each other on their increased hustle after balls and willingness to save balls and hit the floor. We were much scrappier than we have been in other games this season.”

Hart said the Tigers experienced some tension in the fourth set, “which caused us to have some unforced errors and skill breakdowns.”

Taft returns to the court Tuesday for a league match at Rainier.

“We will be working the next few practices on our ability to push through the stress and pressure to overcome this challenge,” she said. “I am very proud of the girls and how they played last night. They are a very young team, and the upperclassmen have really stepped up as leaders, while the underclassmen have stepped up to fill the roles we need them to. I look forward to the rest of our season, and expect us to keep growing and chasing the ‘W’ we want so bad.”

Taft boys put clamps on Salem Academy in shutout league soccer win

Jim Fossum

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September 27, 2018

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William Calderon (File photo Lon French)

The Taft High boys soccer team used goals from Alex Del Valle and William Calderon and shutout goalkeeping for a 2-0 victory Thursday over Salem Academy at Voris Field.

“We played an excellent game against Salem tonight,” Taft coach Ryan Ulicni said. “With our boys having to play two games back to back [Taft tied Delphian 2-2 at home Wednesday], I was able to pull up some JV players to give some of my players some much-needed and much-deserved rest.”

The Tigers improved to 5-2-2 overall and 4-2-2 in Class 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 play with the win, while Salem Academy fell to 1-6.

“It was very nice to be able to play some younger kids to give them the experience at the varsity level,” Ulicni said. “It is a faster pace and a more physical game that they responded well to. I couldn’t be more proud of all of our players.”

The Tigers return to action for a 6 p.m. league home match Monday against Yamhill-Carlton.

Tigers net girls soccer win, remain intent on earning playoff bid

Jim Fossum

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September 27, 2018

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Tigers net girls soccer win, remain intent on earning playoff bid

Playing in control from start to finish, the Taft High girls soccer team snapped a six-match winless streak Thursday with a 3-0 home league victory over Salem Academy/Crosshill Christian.

“Finally, a breakthrough victory,” Taft coach Joey Arce-Torres exclaimed after his team improved to 2-6-1 overall and 2-5-1 in Class 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 play with its first victory since Sept. 4.

“We controlled the match the entire 80 minutes,” he said. “We dominated play at every position. The strikers were flying past their defenders and the midfielders were winning loose balls all afternoon. Our back-line communication was audible and they smothered all threats by Salem Academy with tenacious intensity.”

Junior co-captain Sammy Halferty scored two second-half goals and freshman Aubrey Sciarrotta one in the opening half as Salem Academy fell to 2-6. Nicole Reyes assisted on two of Taft’s goals.

“Nicole’s passes were beautiful and well-paced,” Arce-Torres said. “Ana Ortiz and Lydia Prins played superior defense and kept their attacker’s away from the box.”

The third-year Taft coach said the key word for the Tigers was “intention.”

“Pass with intent and shoot with intention,” he said. “Every athlete made it on the pitch today, and the girls played with confidence and high energy.”

Taft returns to action to host Yamhill-Carlton in another league match at 4 p.m. Monday at Voris Field with a major boost in confidence, Arce-Torres said.

“We needed this match to keep the opportunity to participate in the conference playoffs alive,” he said. “We are still in a learning phase, but we are athletic enough to compete and challenge. Like I have said from the beginning — stay healthy and peak at the right time.”

Arce-Torres thanked his assistants, Joshua Vredburg and Kate Quinn, for their contributions and support

“They are not only solid coaches, but great humans.” he said. “The kids look up to them and glean great fundamentals.

“As for myself, matches like today remind me why I coach, love competition, love kids and love seeing parents attend matches but release their kids to the program and coaching staff. I feel blessed and privileged to be a part of the Taft family.”

Department of Forestry controlled burn today at Cascade Head

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Justin Werner

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September 27, 2018

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Oregon Department of Forestry will execute a controlled natural habitat burn starting at 10 a.m. today at the top of Cascade Head. Lincoln City residents may see smoke today and possibly tomorrow.

The Nature Conservatory has been plagued by two invasive species of plant life: Orchardgrass and Coyote Brush.

Orchardgrass

Dactylis glomerata, also known as cock’s-foot, orchard grass, or cat grass (due to its popularity for use with domestic cats) is a common species of grass in the genus Dactylis. It is a cool-season perennial C₃ bunchgrass native throughout most of Europe, temperate Asia, and northern Africa.

Cock’s-foot is widely used as a hay grass and for pastures because of its high yields and sugar content, which makes it sweeter than most other temperate grasses. In dry areas as in much of Australia, Mediterranean subspecies such as subsp. hispanica are preferred for their greater drought tolerance.

In some areas to which it has been introduced, cock’s-foot has become an invasive weed, notably some areas of the eastern United States.

As with other grasses, the pollen can cause allergic rhinitis (hay fever) in some people.

The grass is popularly grown to satisfy the craving of domestic cats to chew grass, hence its colloquial name cat grass.

The seeds were first collected by Rogers Parker in Hertfordshire; this was then developed by the agricultural reformer Coke of Norfolk. Parker’s estate, Munden, near Bricket Wood, was inherited by the botanist George Hibbert.

Coyote Brush

Baccharis pilularis, called coyote brush (or bush), chaparral broom, and bush baccharis, is a shrub in the daisy family native to California, Oregon, Washington, and Baja California. There are reports of isolated populations in New Mexico, most likely introduced.

The plants are found in a variety of habitats, from coastal bluffs, oak woodlands, and grasslands, including on hillsides and in canyons, below 2,000 feet (610 m).

Coyote brush is known as a secondary pioneer plant in communities such as coastal sage scrub and chaparral. It does not regenerate under a closed shrub canopy because seedling growth is poor in the shade. Coast live oak, California bay, Rhus integrifolia, and other shade producing species replace coastal sage scrub and other coyote bush-dominated areas, particularly when there hasn’t been a wildfire or heavy grazing.

In California grasslands, it comes in late and invades and increases in the absence of fire or grazing. Coyote bush invasion of grasslands is important because it helps the establishment of other coastal sage species.

Tigers, Delphian play to league boys soccer tie at Voris Field

Jim Fossum

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September 26, 2018

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Tigers, Delphian play to league boys soccer tie at Voris Field

Photos by Lonnie French

There were winners on both ends of the pitch, in Taft coach Ryan Ulini’s estimation, Wednesday as his Tigers and Delphian played to a 2-2 tie in boys league soccer action at Voris Field.

“Tonight’s game was a fantastic game all the way around,” the first-year Taft coach said after watching his team move to 4-2-2 overall and 3-2-2 in Class 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 play.

Sophomore Alex Del Valle opened the scoring for the Tigers, who kept up the pace for most of the first half. But Delphian (2-2-1 overall, 2-1-1 SD2) fired back and with some good offensive play to even the score by halftime.

Delphian took the lead in the second half before the Tigers rallied with an attacking barrage of passes and shots — 30 for the game — and some “fantastic defensive work from our goalie,” senior tri-captain William Brooks, who amassed eight saves.

Fellow captain Edson Fuentes, a junior midfielder, scored on a solo run–and-finish to level the score.

“With that swing of momentum, our boys wouldn’t settle for a tie and still pushed towards a win, only to be stopped by the clock,” Ulicni said. “The entire team was proud of everyone’s effort, and they made sure to acknowledge each others’ game. I can’t wait to see how they take on the rest of the season.”

Taft returns to action at 6 p.m. Thursday at home against Salem Academy.

PHOTO GALLERY: Tiger Cubs (JV) earn stripes in wild win

Homepage Staff

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September 26, 2018

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Gang tackling was the key Monday when the Taft junior varsity upstaged Amity 44-40 on the road

The Taft High junior varsity football team emerged Monday with a wild 44-40 victory at Amity.

The Taft varsity hopes for similar results at 7 p.m. Friday when the No. 1-ranked Warriors visit Voris Field in the Tigers’ Class 3A Special District 1 West Conference opener.

Photos by Lonnie French

Bomar promoted to sergeant with Lincoln City Police Department

Homepage Staff

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September 26, 2018

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Bomar promoted to sergeant with Lincoln City Police Department

Officer Robert “Bobby” Bomar was sworn in Tuesday as sergeant with the Lincoln City Police Department during a ceremony at City Hall.

With his promotion, Bomar said he hopes to continue the solid and trusting relationship he has built with the community and to provide supported mentoring for his fellow officers.

Bomar said he is honored to join LCPD’s leadership team. His said his goal is to contribute to a positive environment that encourages the retention of new and current officers, offering them a place where they desire to work.

Bomar, whose law enforcement career spans over 24 years, has been with LCPD since 2005. After completing enlistment with the Army, his initial goal was to work in the medic/firefighting field.

While employed with a private company performing loss prevention around Portland and Salem, he worked closely with law enforcement and became a reserve officer with the Gervais Police Department in 1994. He said he enjoyed the work so much he decided to pursue a law enforcement career.

After spending one year in Gervais, he was hired by the Newport Police Department in 1995. He spent 10 years there before joining LCPD in 2005.

During his career he has served as a Field Training Officer, a Bicycle Enforcement Officer, a Defensive Tactics instructor, a SWAT Officer and in the offices of the president and vice president for the Lincoln City Police Employees Association.

Bomar has been recognized for his service with numerous letters of commendation. In 2016, he received the Life Saving Award from the Oregon Police Officer Association.

Oregon State Police seeking public assistance in sex crime near Waldport

Homepage Staff

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September 26, 2018

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Oregon State Police Major Crimes Section has arrested Don Lee McAlpine Jr. for Rape in the 1st Degree. McAlpine allegedly raped a 26-year-old mentally disabled female at Beachside State Park between Aug. 10 and Aug. 12.

OSP is requesting the public’s assistance in obtaining information from anyone who might have stayed at or passed through Beachside State Park near Waldport from Aug. 10 through Aug. 12.

Please contact the Oregon State Police Northern Command Center at (503) 731-3030 and reference case number SP18-340959.

OSP will like to thank our partner agencies: McMinnville Police Department, Dallas Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Reyes’ early goal helps Taft to 1-1 girls soccer tie with Amity

Jim Fossum

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September 25, 2018

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Taft High freshman Nicole Reyes scored early on an assist from junior Sammy Halferty, and the Tigers overcame an early second-half goal Tuesday to earn a 1-1 home league tie with Amity in girls soccer action.

“Another great conference matchup tonight,” Taft coach Joey Arce-Torres said. “Both teams have similar strengths and weaknesses.”

With the wind to its back, Taft scored first when Reyes, the team’s leading scorer, converted a corner kick to the right side on a deep and high pass from Halferty.

Amity took advantage with the wind to its back in the second half, scoring the tying goal less than two minutes in.

“The defense was solid, and we got strong play by Ana Ortiz in controlling the ball and finding runs down the side,” Arce-Torres said. “It looked like we were going to find a few more scores by half, but came up short. We probably had another 10 or so shots on goal, but their goalie denied us.”

Taft moved to 1-6-1 overall and 1-5-1 in the Class 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 match, while the Bulldogs stand 1-5-1, 1-5-1.

“I was happy that all the athletes had considerable playing time today and that the efforts were strong.”

Taft returns to action at 4 p.m. Thursday at home against Salem Academy.

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