True Sportsmanship

I had pretty much had today's blog done in my head earlier in the week, then a few days ago I heard about one of the greatest sportsman like conducts any of us have heard in a while....

Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University uncorked her best swing and did something she had never done, in high school or college. Her first home run cleared the center-field fence.

But it appeared to be the shortest of dreams come true when she missed first base, started back to tag it and collapsed with a knee injury.

She crawled back to first but could do no more. The first-base coach said she would be called out if her teammates tried to help her. Or, the umpire said, a pinch runner could be called in, and the homer would count as a single.

Then, members of the Central Washington University softball team stunned spectators by carrying Tucholsky around the bases Saturday so the three-run homer would count — an act that contributed to their own elimination from the playoffs.

Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, the career home run leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help Tucholsky.

The umpire said there was no rule against it.

So the two opposing team members carried her around the bases telling her to be sure to put her good leg down and touch each base. Now for the really impressing part - the two girls that carried her had no idea at all that Sara was a Senior or that this was her first run ever. In their minds she hit it over the fence and she deserved the home run. Many players were in tears as the 3 girls got to home plate.

Mallory and Liz you showed us all this week how to be good sports, good teammates and most importantly good people. Hats off to you ladies!!!