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Every graduation marks the end of an era, and so it will be for five amigos on the Siuslaw Vikings baseball team.

Kenny Thrall, Caleb Paredes, Scotty Gordon, Mike Mason and Ryan Denning have been playing together since kindergarten and T-ball.

The Vikings played their final game in a Vikings uniform Tuesday, falling at South Umpqua 9-6 in their Far West League finale.

"I'm very proud of our seniors," coach Tony Castro said. "It's been a difficult year. But they continued to hustle and try hard, and that's all a coach can expect.

"My hat goes off to them, and I wish them the best in the future."

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Castro said all five were an inspiration to their teammates.

"They were all good leaders," he said. "But the most important thing to me, being a mentor to them ... it's tough. You coach, but you coach from the heart, too.

"I just enjoyed these guys tremendously. And I do wish them the best."

Tuesday will be a bittersweet moment indeed.

"This whole senior group, we played together since kindergarten," Thrall said. "We've been together since growing up."

And they grew up wanting to be Vikings.

"We've always been together," Mason said. "Really, really fortunate for that."

Said Denning:

"It's weird that it's going to be over. But it had to end sometime."

All five graciously endured a Q&A Monday before their final practice together as Vikings.

Given name:

• Kenneth Richard Thrall, 18
• Caleb Sean Paredes, 17, 18 in August
• Scott James Gordon, 18
• Michael Allen Mason, 17, 18 in June
• Ryan Ray Denning, 17, 18 later in May

Favorite sport to play:

• Thrall: baseball
• Paredes: baseball
• Gordon: baseball
• Mason: tough between football and baseball, but have to go baseball
• Denning: football

Favorite sport to watch:

• Thrall: baseball
• Paredes: probably baseball
• Gordon: football or baseball
• Mason: football, NFL
• Denning: football. Denver Broncos is my family's team, so it was great to watch them win the Super Bowl.

On football coach Tim Dodson's retirement:

• Thrall: It's weird thinking about him not being out there. It's going to be very odd next year. We'll see what the new era brings.
• Paredes: It's not shocking, but at the same time shocking. I thought he may stay another year.
• Gordon: I'm really glad he stayed that last year. That meant a lot. I heard rumors that he was retiring since I was a sophomore. I'm really glad he stayed. It was an honor to play under him. It really was.
• Mason: We're all fortunate we got him for our senior year. I think he's a great coach. He taught us a lot. Taught me a lot about being a man. He's just a really good coach, and I'm happy for him.
• Denning: It's the end of a great era, that's for sure. It was awesome to be part of it, all through my high school years. It's hard to see someone go out. But it's always exciting to see what someone else can bring to the program. It was bound to happen. It was cool it was our last year.

Favorite sports figure:

• Thrall: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox designated hitter
• Paredes: Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder
• Gordon: I like watching the little guys. Julian Edelman in the NFL. Tom Brady, I like Tom Brady.
• Mason: I do really look up to Dodson. He's helped me a lot. Peyton Manning. Got to go with one of the great QBs of all time.
• Denning: I like Tim Tebow. I like how he kept himself, and never let the fame get to him. Also Trindon Holiday. Returner. He's 5-5, and one of the smallest players to ever play in the NFL. He's crazy fast. I like how he carries himself.

Best moment as a Viking:

• Thrall: Homecoming, playing football all those years. The lights, the firetrucks. It was a lot of fun.
• Paredes: That Marshfield overtime game was pretty fun, even though we lost. Double overtime. Lots of excitement.
• Gordon: Honestly, I'd have to say my whole senior football season. Something I was always looking up to, since I was growing up.
• Mason: This year, Marshfield, we played here, and went into double overtime. Crazy game. Craziest memory. It will always be with me. We lost, but it was nonstop excitement the whole game. My best memory by far.
• Denning: I liked being with the guys for football. Honestly, you build relationships you can't describe. It's just really great to have a brotherhood. You know they would help you, no matter the situation you're in. ... You get stronger with the guys you've always been with.

Future plans, summer version:

• Thrall: playing baseball for a AAA team in Newport. May 21 is the tryout.
• Paredes: work, and go to Walt Disney World and the Epcot Center.
• Gordon: working construction
• Mason: working a couple jobs, working at Mo's
• Denning: work

Future plans, fall and beyond:

• Thrall: Linn-Benton Community College, in Albany, then get a degree at Oregon State in forestry.
• Paredes: Southwestern Oregon Community College, I want to be a teacher and a coach.
• Gordon: I plan on going to Linn-Benton with Kenny and Mike Mason. I want to study exercise science, and hope to become an athletic trainer. I definitely want to stay in sports. Always enjoyed learning how to exercise.
• Mason: Linn-Benton. Get an apartment together with Scott and Kenny. I want to be a teacher, and a football coach.
• Denning: Exchange student to Spain for a year. I don't speak Spanish, but I'll come back fluent. It's going to be a great opportunity. I'll be without my family for a year. It will give me an experience so I can grow as a person. The Rotary Club here has been awesome, helping me with all the paperwork.