Sports

2025-26: Baseball Season Preview

The Vikings Look To Make It Back to the Playoffs

Calvin Zapien, Staff Writer

March 13, 2026

Quick Stats

Sport: Baseball

Coach: Dan Kratz

Key Players: Hal Eaton, Tristan Fanning, Teddy Walmsley

New Faces: Michael Tomsho

Games to Watch: Upper Merion Vikings VS Upper Perk Indians at Home on March 30th

Overview

Upper Merion Vikings Baseball is coming off an amazing season playing in District Playoffs for the first time since 2017 and the programs first PAC Final Four Playoffs. The Vikings look to get back to the PAC Final Four and District Playoffs but with the departure of Seniors Dylan Fowler, David Peck, and John Tomsho the challenges will immediately show. Fowler, captain third baseman last season, kept the team in games with his outstanding defense and even putting down a go-ahead suicide squeeze against Pottsgrove last year. Peck had many timely hits including a walk-off double against the Upper Perk Indians. Tomsho, an All-PAC Infielder, led the team in hits and had 2 home runs against Pottstown and Pottsgrove. Their absence will show both on the fielddefensively and at the plate as well as in the dugout. Even though the Vikings are coming off a strong season with a lot of history made, the hunger for the PAC and District Playoff title remains strong. After losing to Upper Perk in District Playoffs, a rivalry is growing between the two teams. The Vikings have marked the March 30th home game against Upper Perk on their schedule as a must win game.

Offseason Workouts

The team worked hard over the offseason holding lifts and batting practice to help build off last season’s hitting struggles. The winter weather only allowed the team practice outside on the turf a few times, but were able to make the best with what they had inside. Coach Kratz, Del, and Hite all worked with all of the players to help fix their swings to get better results with the given conditions. The bats were hot as teams were seeing better results than they were before. Players who were already hitting the ball hard found more power in them. The team adopted an “Each One Teach One” mentality meaning that anyone at any skill level can help each other out. While working on hitting, The team had also been working on their greatest strength, pitching. The team’s pitching staff had little changes from last season, keeping Tristan Fanning, Cole Wellington, Nathan Gordon, Henry DeStefano and adding Roland Oris. Coach Kratz said “Veteran pitching and senior leadership” is the team’s greatest strength going into the season. The Vikings have 11 seniors all looking for starting spots and lead the team in their own way.

Tristan Fanning Delivering a Strike on the Mound

The Leaders and Newcomers

While the entire squad has put in work over the offseason, the anchors of the team that has seen the most change. Eaton is a senior outfielder who has displayed great leadership across multiple sports such as football and baseball earning the right to continue as a captain this season. When asked about his personal goal this season, Eaton said he wants to “lead the team to another successful season”. Tristan Fanning is the number 1 starter as he has earned many accolades across his career including being the first pitcher at Upper Merion to reach 100 strikeouts since the inception of the pitch count in his second season. Fanning is looking to add to that number in his final year. Teddy Walmsley, senior infielder, was recently named as the second captain for his strong leadership and looks to be aggressive at the plate to generate runs with his power. While the team is mostly made of seniors, one sophomore stuck out as a strong player to join the squad. Michael Tomsho, sophomore outfielder, is a threat at the plate and on the bases. His speed allows him to out run what would normally be a routine groundout. The Vikings carry a sign from game to game that says “Expect To Win” given by Coach Hite to motivate the team. No matter who is in the other dugout, the team expects to win.

Mark The Calenders

Beyond winning games, getting back to PACs and Districts is the main goal. The schedule they were given at the start of the season will not be the schedule they’ll have in May. After getting a taste of PAC Final Fours last season, the craving for the title grew. The Vikings will play with the same effort every game, and they have marked many games on their calendars. The April 27 Home game against Pope John Paul II could decide the Frontier Division Title, The Vikings need everyone to show out to increase the home field advantage. The team also looks for their revenge on the Upper Perk Indians after a tough Playoff loss. The first game of the season is home against The Lower Merion Aces on Friday March 13th.

About the Contributor

Calvin Zapien, Media Production

Calvin, a senior and first-year staffer, serves as a staff writer for The Viking Call, primarily contributing to the Multimedia section. His main focus of his stories is Media Production. Calvin is most proud of his Rocket Week piece where he interviewed a Physics teacher and wrote a short piece about it. He is a member of the Upper Merion baseball team, German Club, and Link Crew. When he is not writing for The Viking Call, he is playing video games, watching movies, or playing baseball. A fun fact about him is that he has gone to St. Thomas, his favorite memory being looking off the mountain top at Magens Bay. After high school, Calvin plans to study sports media and communications.