Drood, what was the point of your post. This story is about the good sportsmanship of Mallory Holtman, not about the rules. Go hang out with the heartless people on metafilter.
Drood, as a licensed sports official, I hate when people quote single articles from rule without knowing the full context of the rule book. Further reading would show that a hit ball not caught is awarded first base. Hitting the ball over the fence is not a 4 base award, but the runner can advance beyond first without assistance or interference. Hence the ruling on the field was correct. Supporting amatzek's post, it isn't about the rule book. Even in your scenario, the score would be creditied to the runner crossing home. The girl had not hit a home run in her career, ending in that moment, and good sportsmanship and humanity prevailed to give her what she deserved. Excellent story.
What do the people on MetaFilter know about sports? That's like asking a D&D party for dating hints.
Now see amatzek, I got schooled by jmurphyin. THERE is the point of my post. I find it hilarious you say the "heartless people on metafilter" when there is such a crossover here from there. (Hey mr_crash_davis, he's calling you heartless!) And my original comment did say "This is a great tale of sportsmanship, but..." But I figured folk would be intelligent enough to figure that much out so left it off. Guess I overestimated there.
New York Times picks up the story and it includes a picture of Tucholsky being carried by Holtman and Wallace. Come on fellow SpoFites. Let's not argue and point fingers in this feel-good thread. Please?
I love stories like this. Vecsey found a comparable example from a much higher level of sport: "In 1999, Arsene Wenger, the French coach of Arsenal of the English Premier League, insisted upon a replay of a cup match after a young Arsenal player had unwittingly set up a goal in violation of the unwritten code when an opponent is injured."
"I'd rather lose with honor than win with none."
A very good story. Enjoyed it.
Yeah, I mentioned this story to our school's chaplain yesterday and he's building a talk around it right now. Yay!
Wow!! Mallorys' parents must be proud. That is an awesome story.
When we grow up this will not seem out of the ordinary.
You know...as more and more kids see players with big money contracts and huge endorsements its nice to see that the "spirit of the game" still has a place in it all.
When we grow up this will not seem out of the ordinary. billsaysthis Maybe on the big softball field in heaven, but many of us have grown up and this is extaordinary. I'm pretty/really old and I cannot remember another story like this. Mallory should be recognized world wide for this because it is a lesson 99.9% of the people on this earth could learn from (though she would hate that I'm sure). All the talk of athletes not being role models, we all just found one!
It's gone national- the girls were on Good Morning America in person this morning, and the story was reported on by the other major networks.
Also, all credit to the opposing team, not just Holtman. It took Holtman and a teammate to carry the injured Tucholsky. And their coach could've said "No." Holtman's team went on to lose the game, and a possible chance to add to her own list of achievements in her college's record books. Great story, great post, apoch.
this remind me of the time when an olympic runner pulled a hamstring during the olympics ands his dad jumped out of the stands to help him finish the raqce, thats what sports are all about.
ESPN has video. Nice little package, including the initial hit and the walk around the bases.
Thanks for posting that video, Bryant. It's absolutely as emotional as the written story. Again, unbelievable show of sportsmanship.
