Staff file photo / Brian Yauger. LaBrae senior Nathan Goldner runs home during a game against Garfield during the 2024 season. Goldner is one of five seniors on the Vikings' roster this season.

Despite battling with the weather early in the season, things are shaping up to be a good season for the LaBrae Vikings.

With one game under their belt so far, a 10-3 victory over league rival Champion, coach Ed Anthony and company are hoping to make a deep postseason push in 2025.

Like most area teams looking to extend their seasons into the summer months, it all starts on the mound.

The Vikings have a platoon of pitchers in rotation this season, but junior Landon Brunstetter is set to be the top man.

Clocking in the high-80s, Brunstetter will provide some much-desired heat for LaBrae.

Austin Rowe, Vince Delvecchio and Owen Boone are expected to round out the rotation.

Behind the dish is arguably the most important spot on the field for LaBrae, and it’s a spot where they’ve got to fill a hole. Replacing Brogan Collins from last season is a tall task, but the Vikings have Easton Armstrong and Keith Smallsreed to split the role.

“We demand a lot from our catching, whether it’s a senior, a junior, a sophomore, freshman,” Anthony said. “It’s really tough, because he has several signs that he gives on bunting situations every time there’s a guy on, or even when there’s a guy not on. We have a system that we go to on signs on what the bunting coverage is, plus he has availability to see what’s working with the pitchers, and we usually communicate in between innings, especially the first couple. We love to let, for the most part, our catchers call the game, but if we want something, we have a signal for that too if we want a specific call.

“The last two years, we didn’t have to work on that as much, because Brogan was the starting catcher for the last three years and he was outstanding at that. So we’re working with (Armstrong and Smallsreed) getting them to that point, but we demand a lot from our catcher. That’s something that we’re gonna have to continue to get better with, because we do put so much demand on (that position).”

Lucas Glaser returns to his spot at first base and has already shown plenty of improvement.

“He was probably one of the best first baseman defensively in the league, and he’s actually starting to hit a lot better,” Anthony said. “He came on last year, but he’s really doing well in the scrimmage games there.”

Nathan Goldner is set to play at second, Rowe will play shortstop or third when not pitching and Brunstetter will also spend time at third when not on the mound.

Boone, who hit near the .400 mark last season, returns to anchor the outfield in center. Ethan Magoulick will play leftfield and Colton Hall is set to play in rightfield.

The Northeast district pool in Division VI is one of the toughest in the state regardless of division, so it’s not going to be easy for the Vikings to push, but Anthony is confident that his group has the stuff to make it over the hump.

“The team unity is there. I love seeing this, because a lot of the older kids have taken the younger kids under their wings a little bit, and that’s how you develop a program,” Anthony said. “I think the hitting, of my three years here, I think this is the best hitting LaBrae team I’ve had. It seems like we have a nice mixture of power and contact hitting. And you know as well as I do, in baseball, you’ve got to move the runners. We had to go to small ball and bunt a couple times and get guys over or contact and move the runners (against Champion on Tuesday). It was a nice mix.”

Going through an intense schedule featuring teams like Kennedy, Howland, Mineral Ridge and South Range, who the Vikings were supposed to play on Wednesday if not for the rain, is another feather in the cap for LaBrae.

The Vikings’ next scheduled game is set for Monday against league rival Garfield. The teams have some history, battling for the league crown last year. Garfield will serve as a major obstacle for LaBrae as its look to go back-to-back-to-back as league champions.

First pitch is set for 5 p.m. Monday at home.