These good sports stand alone
May 15th, 2008, 9:44 am · Post a Comment · posted by phayes
I’m back from vacation - Southern California has nothing on the good ol’ River Bend! But now, it’s back to spouting off at the keyboard…
This space is often used to list the past week’s top five good sports and bad sports. But a recent act of good sportsmanship deserves to stand alone and gets a big salute from this corner.
In a recent women’s college softball game between Western Oregon University and Central Washington in Ellensberg, Wash., players from Central Washington were caught in the act of showing more class than I’ve ever witnessed.
Here’s what happened: Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon hit her first career home run, but tore a knee ligament after missing first base and turning back to tag it. She went down in a heap, unable to go on. Her first-base coach said she would be called out if teammates tried to help her. An umpire said using a pinch runner would reduce the hit to a single. What to do?
Enter the best sports I’ve ever seen. Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace carried Tucholsky around the bases to a three-run homer that helped beat their team 4-2 and knock it from the playoffs. The umpires said that while it would be illegale for teamates to help her, there was no rule against the opponents coming to Tucholsky around the bases. As they reached home plate, both teams were in tears. There’s a video link at the bottom of this blog.
The Illinois High School Association has promoted tons of programs to promote good sportsmanship among players, coaches and fans. It’s a worthy cause.
Evidently, they know a thing or two about sportsmanship in Washington state, too. (I hope the “other Washington” is watching - it could use a lot more good sports.)
Tucholsky, a senior, suffered a torn ACL on the play - the dramatic scene was play of her college softball career. But thanks to some pretty darned-good sports, it’s something she’ll never forget.
I won’t either.
To see this act of good sportsmanship, click this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlKtI7yd…
