The University of Virginia’s nationally-ranked baseball team handily defeated in-state rival Longwood. There wasn’t much drama on the field, with the Cavaliers winning 26-2. But one play did stand out.
In the second inning, Virginia third baseman Jake Gelof hit a ball to deep center. Lancers centerfielder Michael Dolberry seemed to have a beat on the ball, though. Unfortunately for Dolberry, the opportunity to make a nice play turned into a blooper.
Dolberry made a leaping attempt to catch the ball but his timing was just off. With that, the ball hit off of his glove, bounced over the fence and off of the hitter’s backdrop.
After a moment of confusion, Gelof — who had stopped at second — was awarded a home run.
Jake Gelof's shortest career HR.
Hoos up 6-0 after 2.
📺: ACCNX | #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/nJUQsBO4Y3
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) February 21, 2023
This memorably happened with then-Texas Rangers outfielder Jose Canseco in a 1993 game. That comparison was not lost on the people who saw Dolberry’s gaffe.
Jake Gelof with a home run infused with the spirit of Jose Canseco https://t.co/W0EPZI5IWw
— Elizabeth Muratore (@nymfan97) February 21, 2023
Well at least it didn’t go off his head https://t.co/CtiY2WAo4j
— Steven (@akulawolf) February 21, 2023
Home run with a tip in. https://t.co/iDqdYJVdTn
— Devon's Shoe (@DevonsShoe) February 21, 2023
— STL Baseball (@STLUVaBaseball) February 21, 2023
There are worse times to make a blooper. Ideally, a player is going to commit a blooper, it would come in a game that his or her team wins anyway. That wasn’t the case here, but it did fall into the next-best scenario — a blowout loss. At least Dolberry knows that this mistake didn’t cost his team the game. For his sake, though, we can only hope that his timing can improve going forward.
[Virginia Baseball on Twitter]