Written by Mahaley Wise

Fighting for a spot in the CRSCBL semifinals, the Cropdusters faced off against the Thunderbolts. The No. 7 seed Thunderbolts were coming off a win against the Giants, while the No. 3 seed Cropdusters were coming off a four-game end of season winning streak. Both teams were looking to advance to the next round. In the end, the Cropdusters came out on top, 5-3, after an exciting game filled with powerful hits and clutch pitching.

The Cropdusters were the first to score in the second inning. Angel Santiago Cruz (Richmond) came to bat. With a 2-2 count he swung. The ball took a big jump off Cruz’s bat, arching into the air and over the wall. The stadium erupted with cheers. As Cruz skipped into home plate, he was stampeded by his teammates and a shower of water from a water gun. The home run put the Cropdusters in the lead against the scoreless Thunderbolts, 1-0. 

With one out in the third, Jimmy Kirk (Millersville) came to bat. After punishing baseballs for four years in the CRSCBL, he’s a pitcher’s worst nightmare. He remained steady at the plate watching two balls come through. Then, Kirk saw the pitch come through the strike zone and took it yard, sending the fans into a frenzy. He dashed around the bases, crossing home with a big push. He waved his hands in the air, signaling to the fans to get louder. The crowd went wild as the fan favorite fired them up, giving Olney a 2-0 lead. 

“I was sitting on the fast ball and I just wanted it in the middle of the plate and I was lucky enough to get it,” Kirk said about his approach at the plate. “I was thinking drive it the other way.” 

When asked about his celebration, he stated, “I was just trying to get them amped up and excited. It's a big game so I was just trying to get everybody into it.”

The Cropdusters tacked on another in the third inning, relying on sharp baserunning rather than big hits. Austin Stalker (West Chester) worked a walk and quickly moved to second on a stolen base. An error by the Thunderbolts' second baseman allowed Stalker to score, giving the Cropdusters their third run of the game, 3-0. 

Back-to-back singles by Griffin Puvel (Rider) and Jack McCarthy (Marymount) generated some momentum for the Thunderbolts in the fourth. Next up to bat was Brady Grimes (Millersville). On the fourth pitch, he attacked the ball, sending it over the left field wall for a three-run home run. Despite having fewer fans in the stadium, the Thunderbolts still let out thunderous cheers, shaking the stands. The game was now tied, 3-3. 

However, the Cropdusters continued to score, breaking the tie in the bottom of the inning. Brian Scott (Frostburg State) singled, followed by a walk to Zakye Hawkins (University of Utah). With a man in scoring position, Kirk approached the plate, taking a first-pitch ball. He drove the next pitch to center field for a double as Hawkins and Scott cruised home. The Cropdusters had taken the lead again, one that they hoped they could hold onto, 5-3. 

“It was great to get the first runs on, try to get us a lead and then they came back. The fact is those last two on were pretty big,” said Cropdusters Head Coach Adam Leader about his team's clutch hitting.

The Thunderbolts loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth inning, putting pressure on the Cropdusters. Pitcher Gavin Lill (Millersville), who had come in at the start of the inning, began to settle in at the fourth batter of the frame, striking him out for the first out. The runners were stalled at the bases as Lill worked a second strikeout. The sixth batter came to the plate with bases still loaded. Lill was focused, showing no signs of anxiety. He powered a third strikeout with just three pitches, working his way out of a tough spot. The ballpark cheered, Lill being the loudest as he stormed off the mound in excitement. 

“I mean the fact that he was able to keep his composure in that situation and strike three guys out in a row was incredible,” Leader said. “As a coach you expect them to score at least one run there. But he kept his composure…and I am so proud of the way he handled that.

The game’s momentum slowed as the team geared up defensively, allowing no runners to cross home plate in the final five frames. The Cropdusters hoped to earn more security runs, while the Thunderbolts tried to take the lead, creating undeniable tension on the field and in the stands. Every baserunner stayed aggressive but none could get past third base. The batters fought hard to create a rally but none emerged. 

Finally in the ninth inning, the Cropdusters sought to shut the game down to clinch a spot in the semifinals. Despite the Thunderbolts best efforts, Shawn Rosemond (Salisbury) delivered a perfect inning to pick up the save. The Cropdusters now advance to play the Aces in the semifinals, while the Thunderbolts are sent home after a long season. 

“I just told them I was really really proud of them,” Leader said of his conversation with the team after the game. “I loved the way that they fought today and… bring the same energy tomorrow."