When Losing Is Winning And Winning Is Everything
Sara Tucholsky, a senior at Western Oregon University and a 5-foot-2 right fielder, hit her first ever home run during the second inning while playing Central Washington on April 27, 2008, the second game of a double header when the score was tied 0-0. 
With a career average of .153 and only 34 at bats, Sara Tucholsky nailed that swing with two runners already on base. Sara was so excited, she blew right by first base without tagging it. She zipped right around to tag it, tearing a ligament in the process that will sideline her for the rest of the season. If you’ve never had a torn ligament before, personally I’d rather break something. The pain is obnoxious.
Sara Tucholsky’s pain was so obnoxious she was unable to make it to the remaining bases in order for her team to have the luxury of her once-in-a-lifetime home run. There were a few choices that could be made:
A. Sara could crawl around the bases
B. Hope there is a winner playing on the opposing team
C. A pinch runner could be called in
D. Teammates or her coaches could help her
Let’s discuss these four above options:
A. Sara Tucholsky tried to crawl, the pain made her unable to make it around the bases.
C. If a pinch runner were called in, the umpires determined the Western Oregon team would lose the home run but the homer would count as a single. Umpires stated that the only option available under the rules was to replace Sara Tucholsky at first base with a pinch runner and have the hit recorded as a two-run single instead of a three-run home run.
D. If Sara’s teammates or coaches did help her, Sara would be called out. Any assistance from coaches or trainers while she was an active runner would result in an out.
They couldn’t even touch her.
When I was attending university one option I remember during exam was the “when in doubt, choose B“. Seriously. When we just flat out did not know the answer we chose B.
Works in blogging too. Choose B.
Mallory Holtman is the career home run leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a 
2008 .419 batting average and first base(wo)man on the opposing team, Central Washington. Knowing the answers to A, C and D, she asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help Sara Tucholsky of the Western Oregon University team get around the bases. There was no rule against it, and off they went, Mallory Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace from the Central Washington team, carrying Sara Tucholsky from team Western Oregon University around the bases, all the while helping Sara to touch each bag with her good leg for her very first home run… to a standing ovation from the onlooking audience.
Sara Tucholsky’s home run sent Western Oregon University to a 4-2 victory, ending Central Washington’s chances of advancing to the playoffs, where neither team has ever been before.
Sometimes when we lose, we actually win.
Had you been on the ‘opposing team’, in this case Central Washington, what would you have done, really?
Says Mallory Holtman, “She hit it over the fence, she deserved it. Anybody would have done it. I just beat them to it.” She said she had been taught by her coach, Gary Frederick, that “winning is not everything.”
This story has made it to “The Early Show” on CBS, so I’m thinking this isn’t very common in sports. What other sportsmanship stories are out there I wonder?
It’s good to know selfless acts of kindness, even in sports, is still alive and well.
Note: Regarding ‘C.’ above - As one of the umpires involved in the game between Central Washington and Western Oregon confirmed in an e-mail to ESPN.com, the rule in question was misinterpreted on the field after Sara Tucholsky’s injury and later clarified by the NCAA.
According to page 105, rule 8.5.3.2 of the NCAA softball rule book, “If an injury to a batter-runner or runner prevents her from proceeding to an awarded base, the ball is dead and the substitution can be made. The substitute must legally touch all awarded or missed bases not previously touched.”
Hi Dissfunktional! great stuff here… it’s really a good to hear stories like these in the midst of political commotion everywhere. That Sportsmanship isn’t elusive. It is somewhere down here in all of us. it is just waiting to be tapped.
anyways, i just miss you… i have been away from active blogging these days because of work.
WOW!!! This is why women need to run things!!!
hahaha…. I can think of a few days every month where my fingers just might get a little punchy. Keep that red button far, far away.
Great story though, kudos to their parents as well.
Unreal.
Imagine that..there IS still hope in society.
This is the best version of this wonderful story I have heard! Very well done! Keep up the good work!
What a wonderful compliment… thank you Steve, very much!