Old Forge Blue Devils

The lineup cards are still being filled out and the season isn’t over just yet, but in Old Forge, the realization is beginning to settle in. One of the community’s own is preparing to step away from the dugout. Before the final chapter closes, Doug Noldy caught up with longtime Blue Devils head coach Tony DiMattia to reflect on a baseball journey rooted in family, pride, and the heartbeat of a small town.

If you like pitching duels, this probably wasn’t your game. But if offense, momentum swings, and nonstop action are your thing, Thursday’s clash between No. 9 Dunmore and No. 8 Old Forge delivered plenty of entertainment from the first pitch to the final out.

In what started as a tight game early on, the Crusaders exploded in the third inning, putting up 10 runs and completely shifting the momentum on their way to a 12-0 win over Old Forge on Sunday.

The 2025-26 Pennsylvania Boys All-State Basketball Teams have officially dropped, and local talent made serious noise across the Commonwealth. Nico Antoniacci headlines the list as Class 3A Player of the Year, Old Forge landed two players on the 2A First Team with Logan Fanning and Cameron Parker, while J.J. Thomas was named Class 2A Co-Coach of the Year. District 4 and District 11 also added to a loaded regional showing. Full teams now live!

Blue Devils reign! Old Forge dominates Holy Cross 10-0 with 15 hits and Luke Olivieri's 10-K shutout gem.

Cloudy afternoon. Pre-break feel. Quiet crowd. Then one swing changed everything. Natalie Hricenak cleared the bases with a fifth-inning grand slam and just like that, No. 3 Mid Valley created separation in a game that felt tighter than the final score.

After a slow start and an emotional moment when senior Ryan DeMarco was forced to leave the game with an injury, the Blue Devils regrouped and delivered a gritty comeback to defeat Delone Catholic, 51–39, in the PIAA Class 2A Quarterfinals, punching their ticket to the state Final Four.

OLD FORGE — The postseason opened with authority Saturday night as Old Forge delivered a commanding performance in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A state playoffs, defeating East Juniata 79–37.

On the biggest stage in District 2 at the Mohegan Sun Arena, Old Forge didn’t just win the 2A boys championship — they owned it. The Blue Devils raced out to a 26-4 lead after one quarter, stretched it to 43-12 at halftime, and never let the moment slip away in a 69-34 victory over Susquehanna.

Because front row isn’t just a seat in the arena, it’s a place in the story. And the story is still being written.

From the opening possession, it felt less like a semifinal and more like a reminder. Old Forge didn’t wait to see how the night would unfold, they dictated it. Threes fell, the paint was owned, and by the time the third quarter closed, the message was clear: the road to the 2A crown still runs through Old Forge.

She wasn’t chasing a record. She was chasing the next dive. When Kate O’Hearn stepped onto the board at Pittston Area, the record book wasn’t on her mind. Focus was. Rhythm was. The next step forward was. And yet by the end of the day, the board beneath her feet told a different story. Five varsity sports. Honor roll academics. Year-round competition. At Old Forge, O’Hearn isn’t just busy, she’s essential. In small-school athletics, multi-sport athletes don’t just thrive. They carry programs. So when she broke Pittston Area’s diving record, and then broke it again, it wasn’t coincidence. It was confidence meeting preparation. “It goes so much faster than you think,” she said. And somehow, in a career packed with seasons, teammates, and milestones, she made every moment count, one leap at a time.

Bright lights. Packed house. No margin for error. And once again, Riverside found a way. In a game that felt like postseason basketball in early February, the Vikings leaned on composure and shot-making to escape Old Forge with a hard-earned win.

OLD FORGE, PA — Old Forge picked up a hard-fought Division II victory Thursday night, edging Lakeland 54–51 behind a standout all-around performance from senior center Logan Fanning.

If there was any question about how Old Forge would respond after its rivalry loss earlier in the week, it was answered almost immediately. One quarter in, the message was clear, this one wasn’t going to be close.