JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball players Logan Hartman, Cade Walter and Logan Baratta helped the Olney Cropdusters capture the 2026 Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League championship.
Olney secured the first league title in the summer franchise's five-year history with an 11-3 victory over the Bethesda Big Train in the deciding game of the championship series. The Cropdusters finished the regular season 26-12, won the North Division and regular-season championships and entered the postseason as the league's No. 1 overall seed.
After sweeping the Metro South County Braves in the semifinals, Olney dropped the opening game of the championship series, 6-5, in 10 innings. The Cropdusters responded with a 15-7 victory in Game 2 before closing the series with the eight-run win in the finale.
Walter played a major role in Olney's championship run. The Jacksonville outfielder entered the finals leading the Cropdusters with a .351 batting average and six home runs while also recording 15 stolen bases. His three-home run, seven-RBI performance against Bethesda in the regular-season finale helped Olney clinch the North Division title and the postseason's top seed.
Walter continued producing during the championship series, leading the Cropdusters with three RBIs in their Game 2 victory. He added an RBI single in the deciding game as Olney completed its title run.
Baratta provided another productive bat throughout the summer. The Jacksonville infielder appeared in 21 games and hit .309 with two home runs, 23 RBIs, 19 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.
Hartman was selected as a CRSCBL All-Star after becoming one of Olney's most dependable starting pitchers. The right-hander posted a 2.33 ERA and recorded 23 strikeouts over 27 innings while making seven starts for the Cropdusters.
The championship completed a historic summer for the Cropdusters, who claimed their first division, regular-season and league championships since joining the CRSCBL in 2022.
