Baseball: Via, Long Lead Vikings Past Lancaster Catholic as Northern Lebanon Clinches Section Championship

Written by Braydin Adams 

Adams is a senior at Northern Lebanon High School.

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The Northern Lebanon baseball team kept its unbeaten season rolling on Monday, using early pressure at the plate and a dominant outing from Aidan Long to defeat Lancaster Catholic 10-0 in five innings.

The win extended the Vikings’ winning streak to 16 games, moved them to 16-0, and secured the Section 4 Championship.

Long was in control from the start, striking out the side in the 1st and never allowing Lancaster Catholic to build momentum. The senior went all 5.0 innings, allowing just 2 hits while striking out 10 and walking none.

Northern Lebanon gave him immediate support in the bottom of the 1st. Andrew Via opened the inning with a walk, Landon Copenhaver and Adrian Gonzalez also worked walks, and the Vikings used patience, pressure, and situational execution to jump ahead 3-0. Kaden Beamesderfer grounded into a fielder’s choice to bring home the first run, Blake Burdick walked with the bases loaded, and Conner Stoltz lifted a sacrifice fly to give Northern Lebanon early control.

Lancaster Catholic tried to answer in the 2nd when Zach Zuber doubled, but Long responded by recording three more strikeouts to keep the shutout intact.

The Vikings added on in the bottom of the 2nd. Christian Anspach doubled to start the inning, Via reached on an error, and Copenhaver laid down a sacrifice bunt to make it 4-0. Owen Fahringer then singled to center field to drive in another run, pushing Northern Lebanon’s lead to 5-0.

Northern Lebanon broke the game open in the 3rd. Conner Stoltz walked and stole second, Anspach reached with a bunt single, and Via delivered the biggest swing of the day with a three-run home run to left field that stretched the lead to 8-0.

After a scoreless 4th, the Vikings finished it in the 5th. Anspach walked, moved up on a wild pitch, stole third, and Viadrove him in with an RBI triple. Fahringer followed with an RBI single to bring home the final run and end the game by mercy rule.

Via led Northern Lebanon’s offense with 4 RBI on 2 hits, including the home run and triple. Anspach also collected 2 hits and stole 2 bases, while the Vikings worked 7 walks, stole 6 bases, and played error-free defense. Stoltz handled the most chances in the field with 10.

“Consistency is key,” Via said after helping lead the offense.

Long, who threw a complete-game shutout, kept his postgame thoughts simple: “I just wanted to pitch more.” The senior is now 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA.

Coach Travis Thome said the win was another important step for the Vikings as they continue to build toward the postseason.

“It’s nice to know that we’re playing at home next Thursday,” Thome said. “So now we can just focus on getting better as a team. Aidan threw a gem, and we scored in 4 out of the 5 innings, so that translates to a win.”

Northern Lebanon (16-0) will travel to Pequea Valley on Wednesday.

Northern Lebanon 10, Lancaster Catholic 0

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Northern Lebanon Leaders

Andrew Via: 2-3, 4 R, 4 RBI, 3B, HR, BB
Christian Anspach: 2-2, 3 R, 2B, BB, 2 SB
Owen Fahringer: 1-4, 2 RBI
Kaden Beamesderfer: 1-2, R, RBI, HBP
Adrian Gonzalez: 1-2, BB, SB
Landon Copenhaver: 1 RBI, BB
Conner Stoltz: RBI, BB, SB
Blake Burdick: RBI, BB, SB

Pitching
Aidan Long (W): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K

Lancaster Catholic Leaders

Zach Zuber: 2-2, 2B
Bryer Valenzo: HBP

Pitching
Gabe Garcia (L): 2.0 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 1 K
Max Straub: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Full Box Score

Last Game: Gonzalez, Vikings Pass Huge Test Against Blue Mountain to Stay Unbeaten