PHOTOS BY ERIC DEMELLO

Jack Stempel and Cody Knott hit three-run home runs in support of a one-hit, nine-strikeout pitching performance from senior right-hander Caleb King as host Taft High defeated Amity 10-0 in five innings Friday in West Valley League baseball action.

Stempel, hitting cleanup, had three hits and scored three runs as the top-ranked Tigers (10-2, 3-0) scored three times in the first, third and fourth innings against the sixth-rated Warriors (4-3, 2-1).

“I’ve been in a little bit of a slump lately, so that was a nice way to pull myself out of it,” Stempel, a senior first baseman, said. “Caleb threw an outstanding game and our hitters were there to back him up.”

Amity sophomore leadoff hitter Luke Johnston had the only hit off King, who walked none in a game shortened to five innings by the 10-run mercy rule.

Senior Josh Salsbery and juniors Kam Kessler and Tyee Fisher also drove in runs for Taft, winners of four straight. Sophomore Caleb Jones joined second baseman Knott with two hits apiece for the Tigers, while Knott and King scored two runs each.

Sophomore Brody Roberts, who surrendered 12 hits, took the loss for the Warriors.

Taft, which hosts Santiam Christian at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, had its game Saturday against Wahkiakum, Wash., canceled due to severe weather warnings.

Taft 10, Amity 0

AMITY                AB  R  H BI
Luke Johnston       2  0  1  0
Alex Nyseth           1  0  0  0
Brody Roberts         2  0  0  0
West Streeter         1  0  0  0
Russel Brown          2  0  0  0
Nate Clark            2  0  0  0
Brian Hatch           2  0  0  0
Dylan Nyseth          1  0  0  0
Keenum Grahm      1  0  0  0
TOTALS               14  0  1  0

TAFT 2018          AB  R  H BI
Josh Salsbery         3  0  1  1
Eli DeMello            3  1  1  0
Eli DeMello            3  1  1  0
Caleb King            2  2  1  0
Jack Stempel          3  3  3  3
Cody Knott            3  2  2  3
Kam Kessler           3  0  0  1
Tyee Fisher            3  1  1  1
Caleb Jones           3  1  2  0
Trenton Fisher        3  0  1  0
TOTALS               26 10 12  9

AMITY                         000 00 — 0
TAFT                          313 3x — 10

LOB–AMITY 1, TAFT 6. ERR–Brian Hatch. 2B—Cody Knott. HR–Cody Knott, Jack Stempel. HBP–West Streeter, Josh Salsbery, Caleb King. SACB–Alex Nyseth. SB—Caleb King.

AMITY                           IP    H    R   ER   BB   SO   HR
Brody Roberts (L)           4.00   12   10    9    0    1    2
TAFT
Caleb King (W)               5.00    1    0    0    0    9    0
PB–Jacob Bernards. WP–Caleb King.

Taft roster/schedule
Amity roster/ schedule
Class 3A West Valley League standings
Class 3A OSAA rankings