When Winning Isn’t Everything

The following story isn’t about dentistry, but it’s a heartwarming tale…

At stake: the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title. Western Oregon University’s women’s softball team faced rival Central Washington University. With two players on base, WOU player Sara Tucholsky hit the first home run of her career.

But at first base, she blew out her knee and fell to the ground. Rules prohibit her own teammates from assisting her. With Tucholsky unable to round the bases herself, she would only get credit for hitting a single.

Then a member of the opposing team asked the umpire a question. “Would it be okay if we carried her around and she touched each base?” With nothing in the rulebooks against it, two members of the Central Washington team picked up their injured rival and carried her around the bases.

Central Washington lost that game. They also lost their shot at the title. However, they’ve received a lot of good press for being an example of what sportsmanlike behavior ought to be.

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