Valencia opened the 2025-26 spring season at home against Oaks Christian and ran into a sharp opposing staff, dropping a 2-0 decision. The Vikings collected five hits and drew four walks but could not string together the timely hit, stranding their chances across all seven innings.

Justin Gaisford set the tone on the mound. The senior left-hander worked four innings, struck out four, walked none, and was charged with a single run, the kind of efficient, strike-throwing start that gives a team a chance. Tennysen Enneking matched him out of the bullpen, spinning two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and allowing just one hit. Together they held a quality Oaks Christian lineup to two runs.

Valencia had its chances. In the second the Vikings loaded the bases with two outs on walks to Santino Cascione and Francisco Velazquez Jr. and a Brady Ruffner single, but could not break through. They threatened again in the fifth with runners at the corners and in the sixth after Evan Conrad's double, the Vikings' lone extra-base hit, but Oaks Christian starter Connor Sahagun (five strikeouts over 4.2 innings) and reliever Gavin Geyer worked out of every jam. Zach Davis, Tyler Wertz, and Gaisford added singles in the effort.

Oaks Christian made the most of its two rallies. In the third, Dane Disney singled and scored on Carson Sheffer's RBI double. In the seventh, the Lions manufactured an insurance run against Dexton Otton, drawing three walks before Luke Puls singled home Disney with two outs. Sheffer finished 3-for-3 with two doubles.

It was a hard-luck opener: a tight, well-pitched game that turned on a few innings. The Vikings would look to get the bats going as the spring season got underway.