The epitome of sportsmanship!!!
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http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/story/357537.html
A long, famed trip around bases
WENDY CARPENTER; wendy.carpenter@thenewstribune.com
Published: May 11th, 2008 01:00 AM
http://media.thenewstribune.com/smedia/2008/05/11/01/721-spt0511_Softhurt_P1.highlight.prod_affiliate.5.jpg
WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
Misfortune for Western Oregon’s Sara Tucholsky led to a surprise star turn for two Central Washington players.
http://media.thenewstribune.com/smedia/2008/05/11/01/857-SPT0511_CWUSOFT_P2.highlight.prod_affiliate.5.jpg
BLAKE WOLF/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
Central Washington’s Liz Wallace, left, and Mallory Holtman escort Western Oregon’s Sara Tucholsky around the bases.
Two days after Central Washington University first baseman Mallory Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace helped an injured opponent around the bases to ensure that her home run counted, Holtman prepared to do an interview about her role in what was seen as an unusual act of sportsmanship.
“I thought it would be an interview with a local newspaper,” Mallory said this week. “And it turned out to be The New York Times.”
Life has been busy for Holtman, Wallace and the Wildcats softball team lately. They have appeared on ESPN’s SportsCenter, ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS’ The Early Show, ESPN2’s First Take and The Ellen DeGeneres Show in addition to giving countless interviews to other media outlets around the country.
“It’s been surreal,” Holtman said. “I never thought this would leave the Northwest. I’m still trying to figure out what the big deal is.”
In the second game of an April 26 doubleheader, Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky belted a home run – the first of her collegiate career – to center field. Tucholsky missed first base on her first pass, and when she turned back to touch the bag, her knee gave out.
Umpires said the rules decreed that Tucholsky be replaced at first base with a pinch runner. Her drive would then count as a two-run single instead of a three-run homer. Her own teammates, coaches or trainers could not interfere and assist her around the bases. As soon as one touched her, she would be out.
That’s when Holtman stepped in, asking if she could carry Tucholsky, and have her touch each base so her home run would count.
“That’s what so weird about this – she hit it over the fence, it’s not like she hit a double or a triple,” Holtman recalls. “It’s something anyone could have done.”
But it was Holtman – with Wallace’s help – who carried Tucholsky around the bases, making sure she touched each one.
“After the game, (the Western Oregon) coach came over and thanked us for what we did, and our coach told us we did the right thing but didn’t make a big deal out of it,” Holtman said. “And (a Western Oregon) fan came over and thanked us, and I remember thinking how thoughtful that was.”
The next day the Wildcats played at Seattle University, and by the time they returned home, Holtman and Wallace say they forgot about what had happened.
“We sat in our (sports information director’s) office (the next week) and his phone was ringing off the hook, people looking to interview us,” Wallace said. “His cell phone was ringing like crazy, and he’d get off of the phone and have five messages.
“Now it’s become a moment in time.”
A moment that has extended to two weeks of media attention, which will continue into the summer. Holtman and Wallace have been invited to attend the ESPYs – ESPN’s annual awards show – in July and will be going to a sportsmanship conference in St. Louis this summer.
“My favorite part is when teachers or coaches use us as an example of sportsmanship,” Wallace said. “People look for and appreciate a story like this.”
But what they did hasn’t been without criticism. For example, some responses to the ESPN.com story criticized what happened, saying the softball players weren’t acting competitively.
“I have read some of the negative things,” Holtman said. “And I want to ask those people if they’ve ever played sports. You don’t necessarily even remember the score from when you played but how you played.”
Holtman – a senior from White Salmon who was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball player of the year – knows that being in the spotlight won’t last forever.
“I never wanted to be famous,” Holtman said. “I feel surprised and confused about all of this. It’s not normal – you don’t tell your professor that you can’t make class because you’re doing The Ellen DeGeneres Show. (For which she and Wallace were flown to Los Angeles on Monday before returning home Tuesday)
“But I got to take my mom with me (to L.A.) and it made for a pretty cool Mother’s Day present.”
One that likely won’t be duplicated.
Wendy Carpenter: 253-597-8680
A long, famed trip around bases
WENDY CARPENTER; wendy.carpenter@thenewstribune.com
Published: May 11th, 2008 01:00 AM
http://media.thenewstribune.com/smedia/2008/05/11/01/721-spt0511_Softhurt_P1.highlight.prod_affiliate.5.jpg
WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
Misfortune for Western Oregon’s Sara Tucholsky led to a surprise star turn for two Central Washington players.
http://media.thenewstribune.com/smedia/2008/05/11/01/857-SPT0511_CWUSOFT_P2.highlight.prod_affiliate.5.jpg
BLAKE WOLF/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
Central Washington’s Liz Wallace, left, and Mallory Holtman escort Western Oregon’s Sara Tucholsky around the bases.
Two days after Central Washington University first baseman Mallory Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace helped an injured opponent around the bases to ensure that her home run counted, Holtman prepared to do an interview about her role in what was seen as an unusual act of sportsmanship.
“I thought it would be an interview with a local newspaper,” Mallory said this week. “And it turned out to be The New York Times.”
Life has been busy for Holtman, Wallace and the Wildcats softball team lately. They have appeared on ESPN’s SportsCenter, ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS’ The Early Show, ESPN2’s First Take and The Ellen DeGeneres Show in addition to giving countless interviews to other media outlets around the country.
“It’s been surreal,” Holtman said. “I never thought this would leave the Northwest. I’m still trying to figure out what the big deal is.”
In the second game of an April 26 doubleheader, Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky belted a home run – the first of her collegiate career – to center field. Tucholsky missed first base on her first pass, and when she turned back to touch the bag, her knee gave out.
Umpires said the rules decreed that Tucholsky be replaced at first base with a pinch runner. Her drive would then count as a two-run single instead of a three-run homer. Her own teammates, coaches or trainers could not interfere and assist her around the bases. As soon as one touched her, she would be out.
That’s when Holtman stepped in, asking if she could carry Tucholsky, and have her touch each base so her home run would count.
“That’s what so weird about this – she hit it over the fence, it’s not like she hit a double or a triple,” Holtman recalls. “It’s something anyone could have done.”
But it was Holtman – with Wallace’s help – who carried Tucholsky around the bases, making sure she touched each one.
“After the game, (the Western Oregon) coach came over and thanked us for what we did, and our coach told us we did the right thing but didn’t make a big deal out of it,” Holtman said. “And (a Western Oregon) fan came over and thanked us, and I remember thinking how thoughtful that was.”
The next day the Wildcats played at Seattle University, and by the time they returned home, Holtman and Wallace say they forgot about what had happened.
“We sat in our (sports information director’s) office (the next week) and his phone was ringing off the hook, people looking to interview us,” Wallace said. “His cell phone was ringing like crazy, and he’d get off of the phone and have five messages.
“Now it’s become a moment in time.”
A moment that has extended to two weeks of media attention, which will continue into the summer. Holtman and Wallace have been invited to attend the ESPYs – ESPN’s annual awards show – in July and will be going to a sportsmanship conference in St. Louis this summer.
“My favorite part is when teachers or coaches use us as an example of sportsmanship,” Wallace said. “People look for and appreciate a story like this.”
But what they did hasn’t been without criticism. For example, some responses to the ESPN.com story criticized what happened, saying the softball players weren’t acting competitively.
“I have read some of the negative things,” Holtman said. “And I want to ask those people if they’ve ever played sports. You don’t necessarily even remember the score from when you played but how you played.”
Holtman – a senior from White Salmon who was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball player of the year – knows that being in the spotlight won’t last forever.
“I never wanted to be famous,” Holtman said. “I feel surprised and confused about all of this. It’s not normal – you don’t tell your professor that you can’t make class because you’re doing The Ellen DeGeneres Show. (For which she and Wallace were flown to Los Angeles on Monday before returning home Tuesday)
“But I got to take my mom with me (to L.A.) and it made for a pretty cool Mother’s Day present.”
One that likely won’t be duplicated.
Wendy Carpenter: 253-597-8680
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