By Steve Svetovich
Olivia Krupski was one of the leaders as the Holy Cross Lady Crusaders won a district softball title and advanced to the state semifinals, but now she is taking her star to Kings College in Wilkes Barre.
Olivia, a Times-Tribune all-star second baseman, batted close to .400 with five homers, 34 RBIs and a team leading nine doubles.
Daughter of Donna and Tim Krupski, Olivia, 18, graduated from Holy Cross High School at the end of May and will now hone her softball skills at Kings where she will major in biology.
She credits her late grandfather, Paul Krupski, former sports writer for the defunct Scrantonian Tribune, for getting her interested in sports. Her grandfather was a local basketball referee and baseball and softball umpire.
“He died when I was seven,” said Olivia. “But he and my dad were always talking about sports and got me interested. My grandfather is the primary reason I started playing sports. He got me into sports,”
Olivia played four years of both softball and soccer at Holy Cross. She was an all-star soccer player as a senior when she suffered a torn meniscus in the middle of the season.
She was a second team all-star in softball as a junior.
Olivia said she would like to use a biology degree to get into lab research or possibly eventually become a nurse anesthetist.
Holy Cross lost the state semi final game, 9-0, to Brandywine Heights after defeating Conwell Egan, 11-0, in the opening round at Arcadia.
Holy Cross won its third straight District 2 title, 10-3, over Northwest Area, Thursday, May 30, at University of Scranton Magis Field.
Olivia hit a clutch sacrifice fly in a five-run first inning to start the game as star junior pitcher Jenna Bradley cruised with a complete game five-hitter, striking out 11 and walking none.
Holy Cross finished the season with an 18-6 record.
Olivia, who participated in the Field of Dreams softball game last month, had a 3.3 grade point average at Holy Cross. Her favorite subject is math.
“I loved my four years at Holy Cross,” she said. “It was honestly great. I came from a public school at Mid Valley, so I went from a very large school to a small school. Holy Cross is so loving and caring. We are all like family. There are no clicks. We are all friends with each other. Everyone knows you, but like a caring family.”
Olivia, well spoken and articulate, said her parents taught her a lot about composure. “They taught me about preparation and having a positive attitude. In the beginning during games, I would get hard on myself. They would tell me to pick myself up. I would look into the stands and they would give me a signal to pick it up. I could see them telling me to take it off and pick it up. That meant the world to me.”
Olivia, full of enthusiasm, said she attributes the success of the Holy Cross softball team this year to coach Joe Ross. “Coach Ross coached the seniors during our entire four years. He took over after XE McAndrew died, so my senior class was his first team. I remember like it was yesterday when he came in to talk to us. He wanted to carry on the softball tradition at Holy Cross in the memory of XE McAndrew.
“Coach Ross gives the best speeches. He is a great coach and is carrying on the XE McAndrew legacy. He is starting his own legacy in memory of XE McAndrew.”
Olivia loves listening to music in her spare time and is hoping to see Fleetwood Mac in concert soon. “I was supposed to see them recently, but it was postponed until the fall. I am supposed to go with my parents.”
Olivia looks to her future with great anticipation. “I will be playing softball and studying biology. It will not be easy studying a science in college, so I need to stay on top of things. I need to find the right balance between softball and my school work. I want to stay organized and stay on top of both. I have to balance my time well. I am looking forward to it all, but will certainly miss my great times at Holy Cross.”
