Sportsmanship
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:49 am by Susie
I love stories like this. It made me cry:
In the second game of a doubleheader, WOU’s Sara Tucholsky slammed what appeared to be a three-run homer over the centerfield fence, the senior’s first in either high school or college. But Tucholsky wrenched her knee at first base and collapsed.
Umpires ruled that a pinch-runner could replace Tucholsky, but she would be credited with a single and only two runs would count. After being assured there was no rule against it, Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace carried Tucholsky around the bases, completing her homer and adding a run to a 4-2 loss that eliminated the Wildcats from postseason.
As word of the game spread, Tucholsky and Holtman have been featured on national television and radio, and written about in newspapers across the country.
“It has been magical and crazy at the same time,” Tucholsky said Thursday. “I’m surprised at how many people have paid attention to this and how far the story has gone. But there are so many negative images of athletes now. Here is one with a positive image.”
Holtman, who had the idea to assist Tucholsky, has also been caught off guard by the ripples.
“At the time, we never thought it would be that big a deal. It just seemed like something anyone would have done,” Holtman said. “I’ve probably had 50 e-mails and text messages from people I’ve never met, thanking me. It’s really cool that people have responded to this so positively.”
Not all the responses have been pleasant. One person labeled Holtman a selfish player who did not consider her teammates. Tucholsky received an e-mail criticizing women’s lack of competitive spirit.
“That really bothered me,” said Tucholsky, who fears she has a torn ligament that will end her career. “We are very definitely competitive, but this was a situation where sportsmanship overrode our competitiveness.”
[...] Wolves’ coach Pam Knox has tried to prepare her team for its championship push while putting Saturday’s game in perspective.
“When it happened I knew it was the best moment in my coaching career,” she said. “I started calling my friends and family and they cried when I told them the story. So I knew this was something bigger than just me being emotional.
“Some people are trying to say this is something men would never have done. I think that’s an unfair statement. You would hope guys would have the character to do the right thing at the right time.”
More details here.
Thanks Susie. In this era of overpaid athletes who spit on little girls and hit mascots with bats, this was a touching story. I’ve passed it on.
Today this is all over the blogs. Doesn’t anyone read the NYT sports section, which had it in a George Vecsey column on Wednesday?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/30/sports/baseball/30vecsey.html?scp=1&sq=softball&st=nyt
I didn’t realize until I saw the pictures that it was people from the opposing team that did the carrying.
There is still hope.
when surrounded by so much negativity, it is a positive emotional story.
Sadly though, there are stll people ready to apply the negative.
Thanks Susie!
Made me tear up.
All those people criticizing Holtman probably need to be told that the ump actually got it wrong; the homer counted and the team could have substituted another runner without losing the run.
That is a beautiful moment. Another reason for glee, the Liebury gets a kick from that church the war criminals want to associate with them; http://cabdrollery.blogspot.com/2008/05/hope-for-smu.html
That’s how we do things out here…