Blue Devils Weather Early Storm, Outlast Elk Lake in 7–5 Victory to Advance to District Final
By: Matt Flanagan | Sportzwire | May 28, 2025 | Photo courtesy Sportzwire
Elk Lake came out swinging, but it was Old Forge who came out on top—and now they’re headed to the district championship.
Despite being outhit 12–6, the Old Forge Varsity Blue Devils used timely hitting, patience at the plate, and a gritty pitching performance to edge the Elk Lake Warriors, 7–5, in Tuesday’s District 2 Class 2A semifinal matchup.
Elk Lake wasted no time grabbing the lead. After Old Forge plated one run in the top of the first on a Frank Pero RBI single, Elk Lake responded with four runs in the bottom half. Noah Gesford, Dawson Sherman, and Cohen Orlandini each delivered RBI singles to give the Warriors a 4–1 advantage.
But the Blue Devils didn’t flinch.
Old Forge tied the game in the third, capitalizing on a pair of hit-by-pitches and a walk to make it 4–4. In the fourth, a groundout by Pero gave them a 5–4 lead, and two more runs in the sixth extended the cushion to 7–4.
Elk Lake scratched one more across in the sixth, but couldn’t close the gap.
On the mound, TJ DiMattia battled through six innings for Old Forge, allowing 12 hits and five earned runs, while striking out 10 and walking two. Joe DiStasi tossed a clean seventh with one strikeout to earn the save.
Offensively, Old Forge leaned on production from Cam Krushnowski and Pero, who each drove in two runs. Pero led the team with a 2-for-4 performance, while DiMattia reached base three times via walks and scored twice. The Blue Devils were disciplined at the plate, drawing 11 walks and committing zero errors in the field—Jake Iacavazzi led the defense with 11 putouts.
Elk Lake’s offense was red-hot, with Brayden McMicken, Gesford, and Alden Felker each collecting three hits. Orlandini went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Gesford also added an RBI and played a key role in the early rally. Despite the offensive output, the Warriors struggled to capitalize in key moments.
Brayden Miller started on the mound for Elk Lake, allowing three runs over two innings with five walks. McMicken handled the final three innings and gave up two unearned runs while striking out two.
With the win, Old Forge advances to the District 2 championship game, where they will face Holy Redeemer this Friday.
