Depending on the season, Jay Woolfolk wears either No. 4 or No. 16 for the University of Virginia.

In blue and orange No. 4, the former Benedictine standout is a tip-top reason why the Cavaliers might go far in this year’s NCAA baseball playoffs.

Wearing No. 16 this fall, the 6-foot, 200-pound right-hander may figure heavily in Virginia’s hopes for rising football fortunes.

As a legitimate two-sport athlete, Woolfolk represents a diminishing breed on the high end of NCAA Division 1 sports.

It’s no easy matter, even for someone as gifted as Woolfolk, the son of former Jefferson-Huguenot-Wythe and University of Richmond basketball star Pete Woolfolk.

The baseball season and spring football overlap in Charlottesville.

That means Woolfolk had to split time this past spring between being the baseball pitching closer (he leads team in saves) and auditioning to be the Cavaliers’ No. 1 QB when the gridiron season opens Sept. 2 at Tennessee.

If all goes well for Virgnia baseball, the Cavaliers could be playing through the end of June at the College World Series in Omaha. The Cavaliers defeated East Carolina to win the Charlottes- ville Region and now await the Conway (S.C.) Region champ for the Super Regional June 9-11 in Charlottesville.

The Super Regional winner advances to the College World series in Omaha.

Formal football practices under second-year coach Tony Ellis will commence about the first of August, but football training on the FBS level is year-round.

After two seasons backing up U.Va. quarterback Brennan Armstrong, Wool- folk now figures to be dueling with transfer Tony Muskett for the starting call.

An All-Big South selection, Muskett came to Charlottesville following some record-setting aerial performances at Monmouth University, N.J.

Woolfolk, blessed with a fastball approaching 98 miles an hour, has been the shin- ing star of the bullpen this season for U.Va. Coach Brian O’Connor.

He does his best work at “closing time,” generally in the ninth inning of a close game. With a team-high 26 appearances, he has a 2-0 record, a 2.48 earned run average and 38 strikeouts in 32.2 innings.

Woolfolk leads the Cavaliers with nine saves and is an intimidating figure coming out of the bullpen.

As a football player, Woolfolk has seen limited duty. But in 2021, facing Notre Dame, he became the first true freshman to start at QB since 1977.

As a freshman in 2022, he was 3-0 with a 2.87 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 37.2 innings but wasn’t used as much in game-ending situations.

Wearing football pads, Woolfolk has seen limited duty. But in 2021, facing Notre Dame, he became the first true U.Va. freshman to start at QB since 1977.

Woolfolk was the epitome of a two-sport hero at Benedictine. He hurled the Cadets to State Independent Schools titles in 2019 and 2021 and was State Gatorade player of the Year in 2021.

On the gridiron, the Cadets were 28-2 in his three seasons. There was no 2020 season due to COVID.

His sister, Mia, is following in big brother’s tradition. The 6-foot-2 junior at Manchester High was All-State her sophomore softball season and was All-State in basketball this past winter, helping the Lancers to the State Class 6 finals. Like her brother, Mia may also be qualified and destined to play two sports on the NCAA