Coming off of a 20-8 season in 2022, the Oakmont Vikings’ baseball team is back for more in 2023. 

The Vikings captured a Foothill Valley League Championship in 2022 and a playoff berth, with a disappointing first round exit at home at the hands of the Downey Knights. The Vikings lost twelve seniors who graduated in 2022, returning only five players. 

Due to this, the Vikings have had to bring up many underclassmen to fill out the roster; however, this is nothing to dwell on, as the young group will be crucial to the Vikings success.

Out of the five returners, four of them were seniors – Kurt Marton, Adam Reyes, Noah Rush, and Andrew Perry – and one junior, Tony Lira. 

Although the Vikings are young, the underclassmen on the team will provide a much-needed boost for the Vikings’ success. 

The Vikings have a deep 12-man pitching staff, led by Kurt Marton, who is planning to further his academic and athletic career at UC Riverside. The Vikings also will have a strong defense with Adam Reyes, a three-year varsity starter, captaining the infield. 

The Vikings always have a tough preseason, non-league schedule before they start league play in late March, and this season was no different. 

The Vikings will kick off the 2023 season against the cross-town rival Roseville Tigers. Later that week, the Vikings will travel to play a strong Delta League opponent, the Pleasant Grove Eagles of Elk Grove. The Vikings’ opening day game will be against the reigning Division 3 Sac-Joaquin Section Champions, the Del Campo Cougars. This is a rematch from last year, which was a 7-6 game where the Cougars came out on top in extra innings. 

The Vikings will also play against the Kelseyville Knights at home during week two of the season. 

To kick off week three of the season, the Vikings will travel to Modesto, California to try to avenge the heartbreaking loss against the Downey Knights. Later that week, the Vikings will be home against the Del Oro Golden Eagles, before traveling to another Sac-Joaquin Section Champion and town rival, Granite Bay Grizzlies. 

After facing the Grizzlies, the Vikings get a shot at the Division one Sac-Joaquin Section Champion Whitney Wildcats. 

To round out the non-league schedule, the Vikings will face the Woodcreek Timberwolves back at Sutter Health Park, home of the San Francisco Giants AAA team, the Sacramento River Cats.  

“Having a hard preseason schedule before league [play] is good, because it prepares us a lot for league,” Lira said. “[It helps us] with our strategy and drives us competitively, since many opponents are in town rivals.” 

“Having a tough preseason schedule helps us see the best right off the bat,” said Noah Rush. The teams that the Vikings play are very good, hence they are playing three defending section champions. 

The Vikings’ league schedule will be a little different this year, as they will be playing their games on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. This differs from last year, when games would be played on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

“I feel like we have a good shot to go back-to-back,” Lira said. “We are young, but we have a lot of talent that will help us win.” 

The Vikings are looking forward to the 2023 season, and hopefully furthering their success from last year.