Old Forge Dominates Crusaders with Early Offense and Stellar Pitching
By: Danielle Petros | SportzWire | April 8, 2026 | Photo courtesy Danielle Petros
Old Forge left no doubt about their command on Wednesday, silencing Holy Cross Varsity Crusaders in a convincing 10-0 shutout victory. The Blue Devils offense ignited early and kept the pressure on, while their pitching staff delivered a masterful performance, keeping the Crusaders bats quiet throughout the contest.
The game's tone was set in the very first inning as Old Forge wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Will Wozniak opened the scoring with a single, followed by Luke Olivieri's ground out that brought in another run. Jake Bartnikowski then singled down the right field line, adding a third run to give Old Forge an immediate advantage. They weren't done, extending their lead in the third inning when Jake Bartnikowski once again came through with a single down the left field line, and Colin Mulkerin followed suit with a single of his own, each contributing to Old Forge's growing lead.
On the mound, Luke Olivieri was the undisputed star for Old Forge. He delivered a superb outing, completely shutting down the Holy Cross lineup. Luke Olivieri surrendered just three hits and zero runs over six dominant innings, racking up an impressive 10 strikeouts and not issuing a single walk. His performance was a key factor in keeping the Crusaders off balance and unable to mount any offensive threat.
For Holy Cross, Chase Rutkoski took the start, battling through four innings. He allowed nine hits and six runs, striking out two and walking one. Despite the score, the Holy Cross defense was clean, playing a sure-handed game. Matthew Fox was a busy man on the field, leading the team with five crucial plays. Offensively, Cole Gavin provided a small spark for Holy Cross, leading the team with two hits in three at bats.
Old Forge's offense was a relentless force, collecting a remarkable 15 hits in total. Colin Mulkerin was particularly impactful, driving in three runs on a perfect 3-for-4 day from the plate. Will Wozniak and Jake Bartnikowski also matched Colin Mulkerin's impressive three-hit tally. Cam Krushnowski, Luke Olivieri, and Elio Castaldi each contributed multiple hits, showcasing the depth of Old Forge's batting order. The Blue Devils also wreaked havoc on the basepaths, stealing a total of eight bases, with Cam Krushnowski and Colin Mulkerin each swiping multiple bags.
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