(Photo/Courtesy of Morgan Hamilton’17)

After a season that seemed destined for a long post-season run, the Vikings are eager to get the bad taste out of their mouth with a fresh start in 2017.

The Vikings ended the 2016 year with a loss in the district semifinal against Fairbanks High School. It was a shocking loss, a tough way to end the season.

Academy had taken home a share of the Mid State League title, splitting the honor with Bexley. The Vikings gained the number one overall seed in the division 3 central district tournament.

Head coach Todd Dunkle, who received last year’s District Coach Honors, has the team ready for a successful run. Headlined by seniors Darren Bates, Lou Burns, Matthew Schmitz, and Nick Stringer, the Vikes look strong.

Juniors Davis Friedman and Matthew Saling and sophomores Hayden Compton and Nick Rothmann will be stepping up in the starting pitching rotations.

The sophomore class will be an important part to the team this year, with Evan Scott and Compton stepping into the starting lineup.

The Vikes have a good mesh of young talent and veteran leaders that could prove to be extremely helpful at making another deep postseason run this year.

The Vikes started off the season with tough losses in a double header against Champion High School.

Academy takes the field again at home on Wednesday, March 29, against Bloom Carroll at 5:30pm.