Here's something you don't see every day...

Willie Boy · 05-06-2008, 07:40 PM

Opponents carry injured home-run hitter around bases: April 30, 2008, 7:40 PM EST PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - With two runners on base and a strike against her, 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 Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholsky's legs, and she put her arms over their shoulders. The three headed around the base paths, stopping to let Tucholsky touch each base with her good leg.

"The only thing I remember is that Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt," Tucholsky said. "I told her it was my right leg and she said, 'OK, we're going to drop you down gently and you need to touch it with your left leg,' and I said 'OK, thank you very much."'

"She said, 'You deserve it, you hit it over the fence,' and we all kind of just laughed."

"We started laughing when we touched second base," Holtman said. "I said, 'I wonder what this must look like to other people."'

"We didn't know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run," Wallace said Wednesday. "That makes the story more touching than it was. We just wanted to help her."

Holtman said she and Wallace weren't thinking about the playoff spot, and didn't consider the gesture something others wouldn't do.

As for Tucholsky, the 5-foot-2 right fielder was focused on her pain.

"I really didn't say too much. I was trying to breathe," she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday.

"I didn't realize what was going on until I had time to sit down and let the pain relax a little bit," she said. "Then I realized the extent of what I actually did."

"I hope I would do the same for her in the same situation," Tucholsky added.

As the trio reached home plate, Tucholsky said, the entire Western Oregon team was in tears.

Central Washington coach Gary Frederick, a 14-year coaching veteran, called the act of sportsmanship "unbelievable."

For Western Oregon coach Pam Knox, the gesture resolved the dilemma Tucholsky's injury presented.

"She was going to kill me if we sub and take (the home run) away. But at the same time I was concerned for her. I didn't know what to do," Knox said.

Tucholsky's injury is a possible torn ligament that will sideline her for the rest of the season, and she plans to graduate in the spring with a degree in business. Her home run sent Western Oregon to a 4-2 victory, ending Central Washington's chances of winning the conference and advancing to the playoffs.

"In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much," Holtman said. "It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run."

**Mako** · 05-06-2008, 08:00 PM

GenericAngler · 05-06-2008, 10:55 PM

nice!

Adam R · 05-07-2008, 12:48 AM

Some of these million dollar althletes should take a lesson from those girls.

LundLover · 05-07-2008, 06:20 AM

I heard about that story. Very classy. I think that will make an impression on a lot of athletes.

Willie Boy · 05-07-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LundLover

I heard about that story. Very classy. I think that will make an impression on a lot of athletes.

wonder if something like this could/would ever happen outside of women's athletics and little league?

Can't imagine something like this happening in, say, college football...

OldBaldGuy · 05-07-2008, 10:39 AM

That one has my vote for "Best Sports Story of the Year," possibly the decade. And they should give a big raise to Central Washington coach Gary Frederick for creating the kind of team that would think of such a sportsmanlike gesture.

CanoeGuru · 05-07-2008, 11:14 AM

Now THAT'S the kind of news I like to read. It should make headlines. Nice to see some good news published.

BoB_25 · 05-07-2008, 03:57 PM

That is awesome.

LundLover · 05-07-2008, 09:08 PM

Here's a link to a video on the story...

Ultimate act of sportsmanship

Sorry, I couldn't find the original ESPN feed, but did on this site.

BellevueBassAngler · 05-08-2008, 10:25 AM

I saw this story on Sportscenter on Tuesday morning. What a great story.
BTW, they also said that by rules, they could have used a pinch runner and allowed the homerun--still doesn't take anything away from what these girls did.

**holdemplyer** · 05-08-2008, 10:33 AM

This was a fantastic story, at work, we are seeing ton's of emails saying it's deserving of a ESPY.

Catfish Kid · 05-16-2008, 08:56 PM

Great Sportsmanship!

05-06-2008, 07:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Willie Boy Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: West Omaha Posts: 2,534 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Here's something you don't see every day... Opponents carry injured home-run hitter around bases: April 30, 2008, 7:40 PM EST PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - With two runners on base and a strike against her, 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 Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholsky's legs, and she put her arms over their shoulders. The three headed around the base paths, stopping to let Tucholsky touch each base with her good leg. "The only thing I remember is that Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt," Tucholsky said. "I told her it was my right leg and she said, 'OK, we're going to drop you down gently and you need to touch it with your left leg,' and I said 'OK, thank you very much."' "She said, 'You deserve it, you hit it over the fence,' and we all kind of just laughed." "We started laughing when we touched second base," Holtman said. "I said, 'I wonder what this must look like to other people."' "We didn't know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run," Wallace said Wednesday. "That makes the story more touching than it was. We just wanted to help her." Holtman said she and Wallace weren't thinking about the playoff spot, and didn't consider the gesture something others wouldn't do. As for Tucholsky, the 5-foot-2 right fielder was focused on her pain. "I really didn't say too much. I was trying to breathe," she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday. "I didn't realize what was going on until I had time to sit down and let the pain relax a little bit," she said. "Then I realized the extent of what I actually did." "I hope I would do the same for her in the same situation," Tucholsky added. As the trio reached home plate, Tucholsky said, the entire Western Oregon team was in tears. Central Washington coach Gary Frederick, a 14-year coaching veteran, called the act of sportsmanship "unbelievable." For Western Oregon coach Pam Knox, the gesture resolved the dilemma Tucholsky's injury presented. "She was going to kill me if we sub and take (the home run) away. But at the same time I was concerned for her. I didn't know what to do," Knox said. Tucholsky's injury is a possible torn ligament that will sideline her for the rest of the season, and she plans to graduate in the spring with a degree in business. Her home run sent Western Oregon to a 4-2 victory, ending Central Washington's chances of winning the conference and advancing to the playoffs. "In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much," Holtman said. "It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run." __________________ I don't care what job I have, until I am king of the world I will be 'underemployed' :wRazzing:

05-06-2008, 08:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mako Director Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: A bit further south... Posts: 4,462 Thanks: 2 Thanked 16 Times in 14 Posts	__________________ I've got the "MOJO" in my trunk.

05-06-2008, 10:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
GenericAngler Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the Weeping Water Posts: 1,330 Thanks: 15 Thanked 9 Times in 5 Posts	nice! __________________ And the vision was of open water. And the date was the 22nd of Feb., in the year of 2009.

05-07-2008, 12:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
Adam R Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Omaha Posts: 381 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Some of these million dollar althletes should take a lesson from those girls. __________________ Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

05-07-2008, 06:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
LundLover Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 3,872 Thanks: 32 Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts	I heard about that story. Very classy. I think that will make an impression on a lot of athletes. __________________ I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions. - Augusten Burroughs

05-07-2008, 10:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
OldBaldGuy Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The paradise formerly known as Elkhorn Certified Youth Fishing Instructor NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 5,551 Thanks: 59 Thanked 151 Times in 81 Posts	That one has my vote for "Best Sports Story of the Year," possibly the decade. And they should give a big raise to Central Washington coach Gary Frederick for creating the kind of team that would think of such a sportsmanlike gesture. __________________ “I think every happy memory plucks a hair from your head; if you see an old bald guy, he’s probably had a great life.” –-Red Green

05-07-2008, 11:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
CanoeGuru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 1,210 Thanks: 4 Thanked 19 Times in 18 Posts	Now THAT'S the kind of news I like to read. It should make headlines. Nice to see some good news published. __________________ "Survival depends on being able to suppress anxiety and replace it with calm, clear, quick and correct reasoning..." -Sheck Exley

05-07-2008, 03:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
BoB_25 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellevue NE Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 1,765 Thanks: 24 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	That is awesome. __________________ 2008's Total Catch: LMB:205 - SMB:83 - Wiper: 24 - Rock Bass: 6 - Yellow Bass: 9 - White Bass: 4 - Eye:10 - Sauger:7 - Saugeye: 12 - Crappie:77 - Perch:5 - White Perch:6 - Gill:47 - Cats:9 - Drum: 16 - Bull Frog: 1 2008 Hunting Pheasant: 8 - Chukar: 5 - Canadian Goose: 12 - Mallard: 15 - Green Wing Teal: 3 - Shovelers: 2 - Widgeon: 1 - WoodC: 1 - WT/Buck: 1 - WT/Doe: 1

05-07-2008, 09:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
LundLover Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 3,872 Thanks: 32 Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts	Here's a link to a video on the story... Ultimate act of sportsmanship Sorry, I couldn't find the original ESPN feed, but did on this site. __________________ I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions. - Augusten Burroughs

05-08-2008, 10:25 AM	#11 (permalink)
BellevueBassAngler Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bellevue, NE Posts: 163 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I saw this story on Sportscenter on Tuesday morning. What a great story. BTW, they also said that by rules, they could have used a pinch runner and allowed the homerun--still doesn't take anything away from what these girls did. __________________ Fishing is such great fun, I have often felt, that it really ought to be done in bed. John Voelker

05-08-2008, 10:33 AM	#12 (permalink)
holdemplyer Director Join Date: May 2007 Location: hunting for Kenzies MA gill!!! Certified Youth Fishing Instructor NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 2,400 Thanks: 103 Thanked 137 Times in 79 Posts	This was a fantastic story, at work, we are seeing ton's of emails saying it's deserving of a ESPY. __________________ And one of the Disciples of the Float Tube said, Feb. 22nd, 2009, there shall be open water. So it was said, so it shall be.

05-16-2008, 08:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
Catfish Kid Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE & Middle Island too Posts: 407 Thanks: 14 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Great Sportsmanship! __________________ Everybody wants to go to heaven; but nobody wants to die.

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