It was the last Saturday in April and it was the second game of a doubleheader between Central Washington and Western Oregon. The two teams were competing for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship. Sara Tucholsky, a senior at Western Oregon, began her march to the plate to take her turn at-bat. She was not having a great season at the plate with a record of 4 hits out of 35. At 5’ 2”, she was more of a line-drive hitter and in fact had never hit a home run in her life. At the top of the second inning, with two runners on, Sara did something she had never done before. She connected with the next pitch and sent it over the left-field fence to record her first home run ever.
In her excitement, Sara Tucholsky failed to touch first base and so she quickly turned back. At that moment her leg gave out, she yelled in pain and dropped to the ground. Still, in pain, she crawled back to first base, with what later turned out to be a torn ACL. She was a long way from reaching home plate and fully recording her first home run.
The collegiate rules are clear. If someone on Sara’s team were to help her finish rounding the bases, she would be called out thus not getting her first-ever home run recorded. Everyone didn’t know what to do. That is when Mallory Holtman, a Central Washington player with more home runs than anyone in conference history, spoke to the umpire and asked a question. She asked if there were any rules against the opposing team picking her up and carrying her. The umpire was dumbfounded but said that it is perfectly legal. Holtman enlisted a fellow teammate,
Liz Wallace, and asked Sara if it was alright for them to carry her around the bases. The two began to carry the injured Tucholsky around the bases, only stopping to lower her to touch each base while the three made their way to home plate.
After the three had made their way around the bases and Sara Tucholsky had recorded her first-ever home run, the three looked up to crying faces and cheering crowds. “It's a great moment when someone has character,” says Western Oregon head coach Pam Knox.
Mallory Holtman, Liz Wallace, and the Central Washington team lost the game that day. Sara Tucholsky lost the rest of the season, playoffs, and her career to a knee injury. The spirit of sportsmanship had a greater victory that day. This victory was made from a long trot around the bases. A trip that truly touched the hearts of everyone. Sara wept saying, “I have a lot of respect for her and put her in high regards. Her and her teammates. I can’t thank her enough.”
How we act matters to all involved whether they are watching or participating. Helping our students learn these lessons with Portrait actions and lessons will ultimately support our entire community. Thanks for continuing the work with our students and working on implementing opportunities for our students to have authentic chances to display these traits and practice using them.
You all are amazing. Enjoy your weekend.
Rob