Last Saturday, a wonderful thing happened on a softball field in a Division II NCAA tournament women’s softball game between two intense rivals, Central Washington and Western Oregon. (It’s altogether fitting and proper that such a thing happen in Division II since Diviision I, both women’s and men’s games resemble professional sports more and more each day.)
With two runners on in the second inning of a scoreless game, Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky came to bat at Central Washington’s 300 seat stadium. She had yet to hit a home run in her college career, and today was her last chance. According to Graham Hays of ESPN.com, she was an easy target for a few hecklers because of her tiny frame and her 3 for 34 season record.
Reporter Hays does a better job than I of telling this story, and I insist you stop reading my feeble account this second and click to his account. You can surely anticipate the satisfying payoff of this story. But you don’t know, as Paul Harvey would say, “the r-r-r-est of the story.”
Ms. Tucholsky swung, dropped her bat, and ran to first, as the ball sailed over the fence in center. Remember, this is not the big leagues. She did not stand and showboat, she ran. And in her excitement, she missed first base, and circled back to touch it. As she turned, her right knee collapsed, and she crumpled to the clay base path reeling in pain.
Covering first that game for Central Washington was senior Mallory Holtman. Ms. Holtman was Central Washington’s Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams all in one. She held nearly every offensive record in Central Washington history. At first base, Sara Tucholsky and Mallory Holtman, two adversaries separated by a few feet and miles of ability.
The rules of softball forbid assistance from a teammate or other member of the injured player’s team. It it happens, the home run is invalidated, and the runners would advance only one base. Western Oregon Pam Knox thought, "If I touch her, she’s gonna kill me. It’s her only home run in four years.”
Within the rules, such instances have been anticipated. The team substitutes another player, who touches all the bases she missed, and the home run stands. Before Coach Knox could replace Ms. Tucholsky, she heard a voice.
“Excuse me,” Ms. Holtman asked. “ Would it be okay if we carried her around and she touched each base?” Like Coach Knox, the umpiring crew could hardly believe what they heard.
Shortstop Liz Wallace ran over and together with Ms. Holtman, they carried Sara Tuchowsky around the bases. A standing ovation from the home fans cascaded over the three travellers as they trudged forward. After she touched home, completing a most extraordinary home run, Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace handed wounded warrior Sara Tucholsky to her teammates
I’ve seen the sun circle this world 53 times. I’ve seen men walk on the moon, Israel and Egypt sign a peace agreement, and Michael Jackson get married. I’ve never seen or heard of anything this astonishing.
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