Getty Image / Shane Bevel
No sport seems to have as many weird and unique superstitions as baseball/softball. But, the 2024 Florida Gators may take the cake for the weirdest one this year.
The Gators are taking on three-time defending national champion Oklahoma in a winner-take-all game to advance to the best-of-three finals of the Women’s College World Series against Texas in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They’ve hit three home runs in the first three innings, but the wedgies they’re handing out to their teammates who go yard are catching people’s eyes.
Take a look at this home run by Florida freshman Ariel Kowaleski to give Florida a 4-2 lead. Keep an eye on what happens at home plate and watch #1, Brooke Barnard
Top 1st: Florida 2-run home run
Bot 1st: Oklahoma 2-run home run
Top 2nd: Florida 2-run home runARE YOU KIDDING ME? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Gr1K7RstiS
— ESPN (@espn) June 4, 2024
She’s giving her a wedgie! That’s weird, but in real time I’m sure many thought it was just a one-time thing or some light freshman hazing towards Kowaleski after one of the biggest hits of her life.
Turns out, according to an ESPN mini-segment that aired shortly after, they’ve been doling out wedgies the entire season! Viewers are absolutely stunned.
Interesting. At the Florida softball team tradition, when a player hits a home run, the players give that player a “WEDGIE”, huh?
— L. Cruz/outdoors is fun (@cruzzeroutdoors) June 4, 2024
lmaooo Florida softball giving home run wedgies is hilarious
— Tyler Lester (@redraidertyler) June 4, 2024
They’ve had to give out a lot of wedgies, too. Their third home run in Tuesday’s game was their 100th on the season.
The superstition seems to be working, as they’re closing in on their first finals series appearance since 2017.