The Olney Cropdusters capped a breakthrough summer by securing the 2026 Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League championship, defeating the Bethesda Big Train 11-3 in the decisive game.
A Historic Summer for Olney
Olney entered the postseason as the league’s top seed after finishing the regular season 26-12, capturing both the North Division crown and the regular-season title, and then swept the Metro South County Braves in the semifinals.
Although the Cropdusters dropped the opening championship game 6-5 in ten innings, they rallied with a 15-7 victory in Game 2 and closed out the series with an eight-run win, showcasing resilience that defined their campaign.
Cade Walter emerged as the offensive engine, batting .351 with six homers and 15 stolen bases heading into the finals, and he delivered a three-home-run, seven-RBI performance in the regular-season finale that clinched the division title.
Logan Hartman, a CRSCBL All-Star, posted a 2.33 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 27 innings, while Logan Baratta contributed a .309 average, two homers, 23 RBIs and 13 steals across 21 games.
The championship marks the first division, regular-season and league titles in Olney’s five-year franchise history, and it adds a rare triple-crown achievement to a summer that also saw the club claim three championships in a single season.
Based in Jacksonville and supported by Jacksonville University, the team’s success reflects the growing talent pipeline in the region, a partnership highlighted by the university’s involvement and the league’s national profile.