TOMS RIVER, NJ - Throughout history, there have been many theories on who would win a battle between a Spartan and a Viking. Historians say that,
"The Vikings were bigger than the Spartans. Upper body strength would be in the Vikings side of the equation. Most of the Spartan spears would be rendered useless by the Viking swords and axes. Neither the Spartan armor nor their swords will withstand an attack by a steel weapon" ...
History was definitely not on the Northampton Spartans side having to face the Ocean County College Vikings ... luckily, this battle was on the baseball field and the 5th ranked Spartans downed the Vikings, 13-8 on Tuesday afternoon.
Trailing 2-0 entering the top of the 4th inning, the Spartans put 5 runs on the board as
Colton Hooker (Warrington, PA/Upper Moreland) smashed a solo homerun, his 6th of the year,
Zane Vargason (Milan, PA/Athens) had a RBI single and
Cody Brown (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock) hit a 2 run single to highlight the inning. The Spartans added 5 more runs in the 5th, sparked by a
Franklin Ramirez (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) double.
The Spartans put their final 3 runs on the board in the 6th inning, led by a RBI sacrifice fly from
Cody Brown (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock). Ocean plated 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th off of reliever
Erick Reyes (Allentown, PA/William Allen), but could get no closer than the final of 13-8.
Liam Grande (Trappe, PA/Perkiomen Valley) earned the win for Northampton, throwing 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits and striking out 7, improving to 4-0.
Colton Langworthy (Alpha, NJ/Phillipsburg (NJ)) got in one inning of work, allowing no runs on 2 hits. Reyes allowed 4 runs on 2 hits with 2 walks during his stint and was then relieved by
Tyler Caraway (Riegelsville, PA/Palisades) who finished the contest, going 2 innings, allowing no runs, 1 hit and striking out 5.
Ramirez finished 3 for 4 at the plate with 4 RBI,
Cody Brown (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock) had 3 RBI,
Michael Ferrara (Cresco, PA/Pocono Mt. East) finished 3 for 5 with a stolen base and
Zane Vargason (Milan, PA/Athens) ended the day 1 for 2 with 2 RBI, 2 walks and 3 runs scored.
The 5th ranked Spartans improve to 28-5 overall and 14-2 in Region XIX.
Ocean falls to 19-18 overall and 9-14 in Region XIX.
The Spartans are back in action on Thursday when they travel to Scranton, PA to face NJCAA Division II member Lackawanna College in a 3:30pm single 9 non-conference matchup.
