Gelof brothers have memorable run with Virginia at College World Series
By Andy WalterIf this is the Gelof brothers last baseball season together, it was a memorable one.
The Gelofs and their Virginia teammates had their season end late Thursday night with a 6-2 loss to Texas in the College World Series.
The Cavaliers finished 1-2 in the NCAA championship tournament in Omaha, Neb. That included a heart-breaking 6-5 setback to Mississippi State on Tuesday in which Virginia led 4-0 and took a no-hitter into the eighth inning.
Still, it was just the program’s fifth appearance in the World Series. And it came with Cape Henlopen High products Zack and Jake Gelof starting at third and first base, respectively.
With the NCAA tournament on national TV, it was a proud moment for the Delaware beach community.
“Everyone from the Cape community was invested and following the games,” said Cape coach Ben Evick. “I was getting texts from tons of people in the community and all over the state. It seemed everyone was behind them and supporting them on.”
Evick realized it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments. So he made the trip to see Virginia play in both the Super Regional in South Carolina and the World Series in Omaha.
“It’s been a lot of fun to watch them play,” said Evick. “Their team and families had such good energy. After they won that series (against Dallas Baptist) I couldn’t miss the opportunity to head to Omaha for the World Series. It was such a great experience to see them play in that environment. It was a heartbreaker to drop that game against Mississippi State.”
The loss to No. 2 Texas didn’t end until 1:59 a.m. ET because of a four-hour rain delay.
Batting leadoff, Zack went 7-for-12 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI in the three Series games. Jake, a freshman, adding a pair of hits and scored a run in the Series.
Zack will probably have to decide whether to return for his senior season at Virginia if he’s drafted again, as expected. This year’s Major League draft starts on July 11.
Gelof was taken in the 38th round by the Cleveland Indians coming out of Cape but that was after he had committed to the Cavaliers.
“Obviously I think it’s a dream to get drafted,” Zack said last April. “But it’s all about helping my team win and doing everything I can to get the team back to Omaha (for the College World Series). That’s where we belong at the University of Virginia.”
DSU golf in SLC
The Delaware State women’s golf program had its share of accomplishments this spring.
Now the Hornets think they’re ready to challenge themselves even more.
On Thursday, DSU announced that it is joining the Southland Conference as an affiliate member in women’s golf only. It will be the first time the Hornets have been members of a conference in golf.
“I couldn’t be more excited to have our team join the outstanding Southland Conference as an affiliate member,” said Delaware State coach Rick McCall, Jr. “The benefits of conference affiliation are numerous, including the opportunity to compete for league and national championships, along with individual and team awards.
“It will also aid our program in the areas of recruiting and scheduling. I’m grateful to Delaware State’s administration and the Southland Conference for this exciting move.”
The Southland tournament champion receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Division I women’s tournament.
In the league, Delaware State will be competing against Augusta, Houston Baptist, Incarnate Word and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
DSU, which has had a golf program since 2014, saw Baipor Khunsri win the PGA WORKS Minority Collegiate Women’s Singles championship this spring, while the Hornets were second among eight teams in the tournament. Delaware State also won the Navy Spring Invitational.
UD’s Rawak gets new deal
University of Delaware athletic director Chrissi Rawak has signed a contract extension through 2026.
The former Michigan athletic administrator has been at UD since 2016.
“Our student-athletes thrive as a result of the care and consideration she brings to their development, wellbeing and academic success,” said Delaware president Dennis Assanis. “I have no doubt that Chrissi and her team will continue to lead our athletic program to even greater heights.”
The Blue Hens won four Colonial Athletic Association this past school year. In the five years that Rawak has been at UD, the Hens’ overall winning percentage for all 21 varsity teams has risen from 50 percent in 2016-17 to 61 percent in 2020-21.
The athletics’ department also raised $38 million in 20 months to build the newly-opened Whitney Athletic Center and renovate the west side of Delaware Stadium. Other major capital projects completed in Rawak’s tenure include new lights at Bob Hannah Stadium, the first videoboard in the Carpenter Center and locker room renovations for all teams in the Delaware Field House.
“Delaware is an incredibly special place, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished together,” said Rawak. “I could not be more excited about our future as we work to achieve excellence together.”
Notes
After reaching the NCAA Division I FCS semifinals this spring, the Delaware football team was picked fifth in the Athlon Sports’ Preseason FCS Top 25 for the fall campaign. ... Former Cape Henlopen High field hockey standout Alia Marshall, a sophomore midfielder at Northwestern, was recently named to the U.S. Women’s Team. The 36-player squad is next slated to take part in the Pan American Cup in January in Santiago, Chile. ... Eden Davis, the former Dover High basketball All-Stater, has put his name in the transfer portal after one season at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He’ll still have four years of eligibility remaining after averaging 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10 games for the Islanders. ... Smyrna High grad Myrissa McFolling-Young, who finished second in the discus (44.72m), was one of 10 UD track and field athletes to earn All-Colonial Athletic Association honors.
