SportzWire
2026 News
Holy Cross Shuts Out Old Forge For 1A District 2 Championship

Holy Cross Shuts Out Old Forge For 1A District 2 Championship

By: Brad Loff | SportzWire | May 26, 2026 | Photo courtesy Jordyn Arnold

Well, folks, it was a championship showdown that promised fireworks, but in the end, the reigning champions proved why they wear the crown! Nate Johns had his crystal ball out pregame, predicting a Holy Cross victory, and boy, did they deliver, sweeping the 1A District 2 Championship with an emphatic 8-0 win over the Old Forge Blue Devils.

From the jump, the Holy Cross Lady Crusaders meant business, showing exactly why they're one of the district's elite. Ava Schmidt kicked things off with a bang in the first inning, smacking a double to center field and then scoring on a hard ground ball single from Jules Galella, giving Holy Cross an early lead. The Lady Crusaders added another run in the third when Ava Schmidt doubled again and then came home on another single from Jules Galella.

Old Forge's Kamryn Notari was in the circle, battling hard, but the Holy Cross lineup just kept finding ways to get on base. The Blue Devils’ offense struggled to get going against Holy Cross ace Ava Schmidt, who was absolutely dominant. Schmidt pitched a complete game, allowing just two hits and one walk while racking up 10 strikeouts. Old Forge's Lilianna Lenceski managed a single in the fifth, and Kamryn Notari added a single of her own in the seventh, but they just couldn't string together enough offense to cross the plate.

The Holy Cross offense exploded in the fifth and sixth innings, putting the game out of reach. In the bottom of the fifth, Claire Helring and McKinley Griffiths both singled, setting the stage for Keira Bauman, who delivered a two-run single that scored both Helring and Griffiths. Maya DeSantis then added a pop fly single, but the damage was done, putting Holy Cross up 5-0. They piled on three more in the sixth. Peyton Graboske drew a walk, and Jules Galella was hit by a pitch. Then McKinley Griffiths sliced a line drive single that, coupled with an error by center fielder Kate O'Hearn, allowed Graboske to score and Helring to advance to third. Maya DeSantis then capped the scoring with a pop fly single that brought home both McKinley Griffiths and Claire Helring, making it 8-0. Old Forge tried to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, with Kamryn Notari reaching second on a wild pitch after singling, but ultimately, they couldn't convert, sealing the championship for Holy Cross

Photography by Jordyn Arnold @JordynArnoldPhoto

Player of the Game Headline:

Ava Schmidt earned Player of the Game honors with an absolutely masterful performance. Not only did she shut down the Old Forge offense, pitching a complete game two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts, but she also led her team offensively, going three for four with two doubles and scoring two runs. When your ace is dealing this much, it's tough for any opponent to find a rhythm.

Holy Cross Lady Crusaders

Ava Schmidt: 3 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 Doubles

Maya DeSantis: 3 Hits, 2 RBIs

Jules Galella: 2 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 RBIs

Keira Bauman: 2 Hits, 2 RBIs, 1 Run

McKinley Griffiths: 2 Hits, 2 Runs

Old Forge Blue Devils

Lilianna Lenceski: 1 Hit

Kamryn Notari: 1 Hit

Juliette DeStefano: 1 Walk

Ariana Davitt: 3 At Bats

Ava Arnold: 3 At Bats