By Joseph B. Frazier
Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. ó With two runners on base and a strike against her, Western Oregonís Sara Tucholsky uncorked her best swing and did something she had never done, in high school or college.
Her first home run cleared the center-field fence.
But it appeared to be the shortest of dreams come true when she missed first base, started back to tag it and collapsed with a knee injury.
She crawled back to first but could do no more.
The first-base coach said Tucholsky would be called out if her teammates tried to help her. Or, the umpire said, a pinch runner could be called in and the homer would count as a single.
Then, members of the Central Washington softball team stunned spectators by carrying Tucholsky around the bases Saturday so the three-run homer would count ó an act that contributed to their own elimination from the playoffs.
Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, the career home run leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help Tucholsky.
The umpire said there was no rule against it.
So Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholskyís legs, and Tucholsky put her arms over their shoulders. The three headed around the base paths, stopping to let Tucholsky touch each base with her good leg.
iThe only thing I remember is that Mallory asked me which leg was the one that hurt,î Tucholsky said. iI told her it was my right leg and she said, ëOK, weíre going to drop you down gently, and you need to touch it with your left leg.í I said, ëOK, thank you very much.í
iShe said, ëYou deserve it; you hit it over the fence,í and we all kind of just laughed.î
Said Holtman, iWe started laughing when we touched second base. I said, ëI wonder what this must look like to other people.í î
Added Wallace, iWe didnít know that she was a senior or that this was her first home run. That makes the story more touching than it was. We just wanted to help her.î
Holtman said she and Wallace werenít thinking about the playoff spot and didnít consider the gesture as something others wouldnít do.
As for Tucholsky, the 5-foot-2 right fielder was focused on her pain.
iI really didnít say too much. I was trying to breathe,î she said Wednesday. iI didnít realize what was going on until I had time to sit down and let the pain relax a little bit. Then I realized the extent of what I actually did.
iI hope I would do the same for her in the same situation.î
As the trio reached home plate, Tucholsky said, the entire Western Oregon team was in tears.
Central Washington coach Gary Frederick, a 14-year veteran, called the act of sportsmanship iunbelievable.î
For Western Oregon coach Pam Knox, the gesture resolved the dilemma Tucholskyís injury presented.
iShe was going to kill me if we sub and take (the home run) away,î Knox said. iBut at the same time I was concerned for her. I didnít know what to do.î
The injury is a possible torn ligament that will sideline Tucholsky for the rest of the season, and she plans to graduate in the spring with a degree in business.
Her homer sent Western Oregon to a 4-2 victory, ending Central Washingtonís chances of winning the conference and advancing to the playoffs.
iIn the end, it is not about winning and losing so much,î Holtman said. iIt was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run.î