Highland fielder bounces fly ball off head for homer
Butler designated hitter Tanay Vyas turned a routine fly ball into a two-run homer when it struck Highland center fielder Jake Shields in the head and sailed over the outfield wall. The miscue occurred in the bottom of the third inning with a runner on first and two outs, giving Butler a 3-1 lead in its 8-4 win over Highland in the opener of a Thursday doubleheader at McDonald Stadium in Kansas. Shields had tracked the high ball to right-center but misjudged it while shielding the sun with his glove and sunglasses.
The blunder evoked Jose Canseco's infamous 1993 incident, when Texas Rangers right fielder Canseco let Cleveland Indians designated hitter Carlos Martinez's fly ball carom off his head and over the fence for a home run. Shields, well short of the warning track, watched the ball travel at least 30 feet after impact. An announcer noted, "Oh! Right off his forehead. Oh my, Jake Shields is going to feel that for a long time," as Shields bent over holding his head.
Highland fell 8-4 in the first game. Butler swept the ensuing four-game series from the Scotties.
The loss marked the start of a difficult stretch for Highland against the Grizzlies.
