Hassaj’s Perfect Day Powers Holy Cross in 15-0 Rout of Lackawanna Trail
By: Brad Loff | Sportzwire | March 26, 2025 | Photo courtesy Holy Cross
DUNMORE — On a crisp Tuesday afternoon, the Holy Cross Varsity Crusaders softball team put on an absolute clinic, rolling past Lackawanna Trail in a dominant 15-0 win in just four innings.
Senior standout Meghan Hassaj led the charge with an unstoppable performance at the plate. Hassaj went a perfect 3-for-3, collecting three RBIs and three runs scored. She delivered a towering home run to left field in the second inning, doubled in the fourth, and added a single in the same explosive second inning that saw the Crusaders plate nine runs.
But Hassaj wasn’t the only Crusader who shined. Junior Ava Schmidt was lights out in the circle, tossing a complete-game no-hitter. She struck out eight batters in four innings without allowing a single walk or hit, facing just 13 batters — one over the minimum. Schmidt also chipped in offensively with a double and an RBI.
Sophmore Jules Galella also showed her offensive strength, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and one RBI. Senior Chloe Mendicino and senior Grace Rogers each recorded multiple hits and drove in two runs apiece. Lila Kolcharno was another key contributor, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including a double.
The Crusaders put the game away early with a nine-run second inning and added six more in the fourth to seal the mercy-rule victory. In total, Holy Cross racked up 15 hits and didn’t commit a single error.
Lackawanna Trail struggled to generate any offense against Schmidt’s pinpoint control. The Lady Lions’ pitcher Madison Pietrzak gave up 20 hits and 15 earned runs over 3 2/3 innings of work, with minimal defensive support behind her.
With the win, Holy Cross continues to look like a powerhouse in the early going of the 2025 season, showing strong team chemistry, aggressive baserunning, and dominant pitching.
Top Scorers and Stats Breakdown:
Holy Cross:
• Meghan Hassaj: 3-for-3, HR, double, single, 3 RBIs, 3 runs
• Jules Galella: 3-for-3, 1 RBI, 3 runs
• Chloe Mendicino: 3-for-3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs
• Grace Rogers: 2-for-3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs
• Lila Kolcharno: 2-for-4, double, 2 RBIs
• Ava Schmidt: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K; 1-for-4 with double, RBI
