Just a reminder: Girls rock
If you've ever doubted the importance of girls playing sports, if you've ever shrugged when funding for girls' volleyball was cut when the high school football team gets new jerseys, if you've ever thought that jocks cared about nothing more than winning and thought movies like Rudy or A League of Their Own showed an idealized view of sportsmanship, then take a look at the story of Sara Tucholsky, a college softball player who was finishing her senior year and entire college career without ever having hit a home run.
It was her goal to finally hit a homer, a goal that was looking not possible to achieve because she's a small girl and has a smaller swing. In a close game, she nailed the ball...zoom! Out of the park! However, as she was rounding first base, she tore a ligament in her knee. Sara crawled back to first base and hugged it, but the umpire said that if any member of her team touched her, the run would count as a two hit run and NOT a home run.
That's when Mallory Holtman, the first base player for the opposing team, asked if it would still count as a home run if members of the opposing team helped Sara finish lapping the bases. The ump agreed and then Mallory and shortstop Liz Wallace physically carried Sara around the bases, pausing and lowering the injured girl so that she could gently tap each base with her uninjured foot. Sara's team won the game and Mallory and Liz helped them do it. Seriously, just watch the video. I never played sports in high school or college, but this? Makes me want to go back in time and pick up a bat. Even writing about it, I get all sniffly and emotional. Go Sara! Go Mallory! You guys rock!
Anyone want to play catch?
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