Softball Sportsmanship - Pictures and video of the unusual softball sportsmanship displayed by the Central Washington University softball team as they carried an injured opponent around the bases, helping her score the winning run against them.

Softball sportsmanship as Central Washington players carry injured Western Oregon player to home plate

The softball sportsmanship displayed by Central Washington University players Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace as they carried Western Oregon’s Sara Tucholsky all the way home after she had injured her knee while rounding first base after hitting a three-run homer, an act of sportsmanship which brought a standing ovation from the Central Washington home crowd and tears to the eyes of the entire Western Oregon softball team.

Western Oregon softball player Sara Tucholsky carried around bases after knee injury

Here’s how this wonderful example of sportsmanship in college softball unfolded. Sara Tucholsky, a tiny 5′ 2″ reserve player with just 3 hits in 34 at bats this season, hit a three-run homer in this NCAA Divison II playoff game, something she’d never done before in high school or college.

In her excitement, Western Oregon’s Tucholsky missed first base and as she turned back halfway to second base to go touch it, collapsed in pain as the ACL in her right knee tore.

Softball rules prevent going to the aid of a player on the basepaths, even if they are injured, so her only option was to crawl back to first base and settle for a single. And that’s where the shining example of softball sportsmanship by Central Washington players Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace gave her the proverbial uplift to win the game.

Mallory Holtman and Sara Tucholsky in heartwarming sportsmanship example

Mallory Holtman, a four-year starter who owns just about every major offensive record in Central Washington’s record book and who’d experienced knee injuries herself, stepped up and asked the umpire, “Excuse me, would it be OK if we carried her around and she touched each bag?”

Told that there was no rule against it, Holtman and Wallace carried the injured Western Oregon softball player Sara Tucholsky back to first base and let her touch it with her good left leg.

They repeated the process at second and third, then after letting the dimunitive Tucholsky touch home plate and complete her first ever home run, handed her off safely to her waiting teammates, all of whom were crying at the wonderful gesture of sportsmanship from their playoff opponents.

Softball Sportsmanship Video

Western Oregon won the NCAA Division II softball playoff game 4-2 on the strength of Sara Tucholsky’s three-run homer.

Even though it was Senior Day at Central Washington and the home team lost which ended their season, every player was proud of their teammates Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace.

“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.” 

“It’s a great story,” Western Oregon softball coach Pam Knox told reporters, “something I’ll never forget - the game’s about character and integrity and sportsmanship, and it’s not always about winning and losing.”

“It kept everything in perspective and the fact that we’re never bigger than the game,” Knox said of the experience. “It was such a lesson that we learned — that it’s not all about winning. And we forget that, because as coaches, we’re always trying to get to the top. We forget that. But I will never, ever forget this moment. It’s changed me, and I’m sure it’s changed my players.”

And that’s the latest news on the heartwarming softball sportsmanship.

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