Unbelievable' sportsmanship in softball game (Ore.)

NBC Sports ^ | April 30, 2008

[MarkT]

Wow, how refreshing, a touch of class.

[ClearCase_guy]

That’s great!

[alarm rider]

Truly a touching moment. However, the umpire was in error not stopping the game and having the injured player removed from the field.

Yes, I used to umpire softball.

[SoldierDad]

Wow!!! Won’t see that happen in the pro’s. Both teams are winners IMHO.

[L,TOWM]

Right around the time I conclude our society is accelerating its swirl down the toilet bowl, I see a story like this. Thank you for posting this — it is always good to see the better side of humanity from time to time.

[Dr._Joseph_Warren]

Sara Tucholsky got a lift from Central Washington's Liz Wallace, left, and Mallory Holtman.

[sharkhawk]

Truly a touching moment. However, the umpire was in error not stopping the game and having the injured player removed from the field.

And let a pinch runner complete the home run. The rules of baseball and softball allow a substitute to be used to take the bases earned by a hitter. The most common example is hit by pitch. It happens often in the majors, a guy gets hit, is unable to continue and the team substitutes a runner. I agree it was great sportsmanship shown by the opposing team.

[bobsatwork]

... having the injured player removed from the field.... - Well, she was removed from the field. Should the HR count?

[rawhide]

That is so great!

[tiki]

I know what you mean, I was expecting sarcasm from the title. I didn’t think it was going to be so wonderful.

[aposiopetic]

I predict Nike will suppress this (and Adidas may not).

[Colofornian]

Self-sacrificial. And on that note, very touching.

...an act that contributed to their own elimination from the playoffs.

Still...in the interest of full disclosure...anybody who knows softball knows that in hindsight this was not necessarily an accurate statement...

Certainly at the time this was done, it appeared to be "an act" contributing "to their own elimination from the playoffs." The reality was that had she not been able to round the bases on her own, it would have been a 2-run single instead of a 3-run homer...And the team would have scored 3 runs instead of 4...enough to defeat the other team, 3-2...

Still, it takes absolutely nothing away from what these 2 defensive girls did.

And it's also possible that it did cost them the game, after all...because sometimes the losing coach will coach differently to scrape a run versus 2 or more runs.

[Resolute Conservative]

Just flat awesome!!!!

[SES1066]

From Grantland Rice (sportswriter):
When the Great Scribe comes to write against your name, he marks not that you won or lost, but how you played the game.

While I agree that it appears that the local referees had it in error about what could be done, it was the SPORTSMANSHIP of the opposing team that makes them the good guys here.

[stylin19a]

Not sure which rules they were using.

2008 NCAA Softball rules

8.5.3 Injured-player substitutions. The following regulations govern substitutions for an injured player:

...
8.5.3.2 If an injury to a batter-runner or runner prevents her from proceeding to an awarded base, the ball is dead and substitution may be made. The substitute must legally touch all awarded or missed bases not previously touched.

[longtermmemmory]

This reminds me of the women’s basketball game where they allowed a girl with a broken leg to “score” and get the record.

I think this is not so “inspirational” as it would have been if she had simply hobbled her homer.

[r9etb]

Wow. Serious display of class ... and a clear indication of folks who know the difference between games and real life.

(I went to Central for a couple of years before I transferred ... this is pretty typical behavior for the type of people who go there.)