Winning isn't everything...

 I was checking my email earlier when a video clip caught my attention.  I watched it and was just amazed about what I saw.  This story was just to amazing not to share.  It aired on ABC's Good Morning America as well on ESPN 2, and has been reported on several other online and hard copy media outlets as well.  It's a true reflection about good sportsmanship and brotherhood (sisterhood in this case) and compassion.

Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University hit her first homerun EVER!  To make things even better, two of her team mates were already on base when she hit her historic homer!  The shot that cleared the center field fence gave her and her team a 4-2 victory over their opponents, Central Washington University.  Unfortunately, as she rounded first, her knee gave out and she collapsed at first, unable to go any further.  She was told that if her teammates helped her, she would be considered out and if a pinch runner came in to run for her, her maiden homerun would be marked as a mere single.

Then, to the surprise of everyone, two players from CWU, asked the umpire if they could help Tucholsky.  The umpire said that there was no rule against it, so CWU first baseman Mallory Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace carried their opponent around the bases, making sure that she touched each one with her good leg, until they got back to home plate where they were greeted by Tucholsky's teammates!  The amazing thing:  not only did that homerun win the came for Western Oregon University, but it eliminated Central Washington University chances of winning the conference title and advancing into the playoffs.

Holtman, who happens to be the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's career home run leader, said, "In the end, it's not about winning or losing so much.  It was about this girl.  She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run."

As much as this team could have taken advantage of this situation and capitalize on the misfortune of the player, they did the right thing.  Even though doing the right thing meant elimination from the playoffs and the conference title, rather than letting a technicality give them an opportunity to win, the did the respectable thing and did what was right.  We could learn a lot from these ladies and their teams about compassion, sportsmanship, and being a good neighbor to everyone!

God bless and good night!

James Jeter