Baseball: Gonzalez, Vikings Blank Middletown to Keep Perfect Season Going

Written by Braydin Adams 

Adams is a senior at Northern Lebanon High School.

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Gonzalez, Vikings Blank Middletown to Keep Perfect Season Going

Northern Lebanon took its unbeaten season on the road Saturday and kept it rolling. Behind a dominant outing from Adrian Gonzalez, the Vikings shut out Middletown, 5-0, to improve to 12-0 on the year.

After a scoreless 1st and 2nd, Northern Lebanon broke through in the 3rd inning. Landon Copenhaver drew his second walk of the day and later helped spark the rally as the Vikings finally found some traction offensively. Gonzalez delivered the key blow in the inning, driving in a run to give Northern Lebanon a 2-0 lead and early control.

The Vikings added to their lead in the 5th. Andrew Via opened the inning with a double, moved to 3rd on a groundout, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Owen Fahringer to make it 3-0. Northern Lebanon then added two more runs in the 7th to create even more separation, with Gonzalez again coming through offensively.

On the mound, Gonzalez was in command all afternoon. The senior tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits while striking out seven and walking one. Following the win, Gonzalez stood at 5-0 on the season with a 0.57 ERA, 59 strikeouts, and 47.1 innings pitched. Just as impressively, he has issued only eight walks all season, continuing to show the kind of control that has made him one of the Vikings’ most reliable weapons. Saturday’s effort also marked Gonzalez’s 2nd complete-game shutout of the spring.

Northern Lebanon finished with six hits in the win. Gonzalez led the way with three hits and two RBI, while Fahringeradded two hits, a sacrifice fly, and two stolen bases. Via doubled and scored, and Copenhaver reached base multiple times to help keep pressure on Middletown.

Middletown managed singles from Mitchell Miscevich, Jacob Miller, and Tyson Snyder, but the Blue Raiders were unable to string much together against Gonzalez, who worked efficiently and kept the hosts off balance from start to finish.

Northern Lebanon (12-0) will host Lancaster Mennonite at 6:30 p.m. on Monday on Senior Night.

Northern Lebanon 5, Middletown 0

Northern Lebanon Leaders

Adrian Gonzalez: 3-3, 2 RBI
Owen Fahringer: 2-3, RBI, SF, 2 SB
Andrew Via: 1-4, R, 2B
Landon Copenhaver: 0-2, 2 BB, R

Pitching
Adrian Gonzalez (W): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K

Middletown Leaders

Mitchell Miscevich: 1-3
Jacob Miller: 1-3
Tyson Snyder: 1-3

Pitching
Mason Reigle (L): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
Caleb Cleckner: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Full Box Score

Last Game: Northern Lebanon’s Bats Wake Up in Win Over Annville-Cleona