Sara Tucholsky
Encyclopedia
Sara Tucholsky is an American college softball
player who played for Western Oregon University
, who gained national attention when she was assisted in scoring a home run
by members of the opposing team, when an injury prevented her from completing the play by running the base
s on her own.
In 2008, her senior year, she was the starting right fielder
on the school's softball
team. On Saturday, April 26, 2008 her team was playing a Great Northwest Athletic Conference
game against Central Washington University
in Ellensburg, Washington
, USA. In the second inning of the game a widely admired display of sportsmanship
took place. Tucholsky hit a three-run home run
, the first in her college career, but injured her knee while going back to tag first base after she realized that she did not touch the bag. As per the official rules, none of Tucholsky's teammates could assist her in running the bases. In addition, as per the rules stated by the game's umpires, Tucholsky's hit would only count as a two-run single if she were replaced by a pinch runner. (A story of the occurrence on ESPN.com later revealed that the game umpires misinterpreted rule 8.5.3.2 of the NCAA softball rule book, which states, "If an injury to a batter-runner or runner prevents her from proceeding to an awarded base, the ball is dead and the substitution can be made. The substitute must legally touch all awarded or missed bases not previously touched.")
Mallory Holtman
, the first baseman for Central Washington, then asked the umpires if she could assist Tucholsky to home plate. After a brief discussion the umpires decided it would be acceptable. So Holtman and Liz Wallace carried Tucholsky to home plate, gently dropping her legs at each base they passed. All three players received a standing ovation at home plate. Western Oregon went on to win the game 4-2.
In the weeks following the initial ESPN.com reports, Tucholsky, often with Holtman and/or Wallace, appeared on Inside Edition
, The Early Show
, ESPN First Take
, SportsCenter
, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show
.
John McCutcheon wrote and performs a song, Sara Tucholsky, about this event.
Tucholsky, Holtman, and Wallace won the 2008 Best Moment ESPY Award
.
College softball
College softball is softball as played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education, predominantly in the United States. College softball is normally played by women at the intercollegiate level, whereas college baseball is normally played by men.As with other intercollegiate...
player who played for Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University is a public liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Oregon, United States. It was originally established in 1856 by Oregon pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names include Oregon Normal School, Oregon College of Education, and Western Oregon State College...
, who gained national attention when she was assisted in scoring a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
by members of the opposing team, when an injury prevented her from completing the play by running the base
Baserunning
In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat.In general, baserunning is a tactical part of the game with the goal of eventually reaching home to score a run. In fact, the goal of batting is generally to produce baserunners, or help move...
s on her own.
In 2008, her senior year, she was the starting right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
on the school's softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
team. On Saturday, April 26, 2008 her team was playing a Great Northwest Athletic Conference
Great Northwest Athletic Conference
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which has historically operated in the Northwestern United States, but also currently includes four schools in areas not usually considered part of that region—two in Alaska , one in eastern Montana The Great Northwest...
game against Central Washington University
Central Washington University
Central Washington University, often abbreviated CWU, is a public university in Ellensburg, Washington in the United States.This location was selected by the state legislature as a consolation prize after Ellensburg lost its bid to be state capital...
in Ellensburg, Washington
Ellensburg, Washington
Ellensburg is a city in, and the county seat of, Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 18,174 at the 2010 census. The population was 18,250 at 2011 Estimate from Office of Financial Management. Ellensburg is located just east of the Cascade Range on I-90 and is known as the...
, USA. In the second inning of the game a widely admired display of sportsmanship
Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship is an aspiration or ethos that a sport or activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors...
took place. Tucholsky hit a three-run home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, the first in her college career, but injured her knee while going back to tag first base after she realized that she did not touch the bag. As per the official rules, none of Tucholsky's teammates could assist her in running the bases. In addition, as per the rules stated by the game's umpires, Tucholsky's hit would only count as a two-run single if she were replaced by a pinch runner. (A story of the occurrence on ESPN.com later revealed that the game umpires misinterpreted rule 8.5.3.2 of the NCAA softball rule book, which states, "If an injury to a batter-runner or runner prevents her from proceeding to an awarded base, the ball is dead and the substitution can be made. The substitute must legally touch all awarded or missed bases not previously touched.")
Mallory Holtman
Mallory Holtman
Mallory Holtman is an American college softball coach for Central Washington University. She gained national attention when, as a player for Central Washington, she assisted an opposing player in scoring a home run, when an injury prevented her opponent from completing a play by running the bases...
, the first baseman for Central Washington, then asked the umpires if she could assist Tucholsky to home plate. After a brief discussion the umpires decided it would be acceptable. So Holtman and Liz Wallace carried Tucholsky to home plate, gently dropping her legs at each base they passed. All three players received a standing ovation at home plate. Western Oregon went on to win the game 4-2.
In the weeks following the initial ESPN.com reports, Tucholsky, often with Holtman and/or Wallace, appeared on Inside Edition
Inside Edition
Inside Edition is a thirty-minute American television syndicated news program, first aired on CBS on October 9, 1988. It was originally similar to the programs Hard Copy and A Current Affair, but now more closely resembles a condensed version of breakfast television, exclusively with pre-recorded...
, The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
, ESPN First Take
ESPN First Take
ESPN First Take is an American morning sports talk program on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. The show was formerly known as Cold Pizza. The official switch was made on May 7, 2007. Two back-to-back two-hour episodes air each weekday from Monday through Friday, with the live episode airing from 10 a.m...
, SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
.
John McCutcheon wrote and performs a song, Sara Tucholsky, about this event.
Tucholsky, Holtman, and Wallace won the 2008 Best Moment ESPY Award
Best Moment ESPY Award
The Best Moment ESPY Award has been conferred annually since 2001 on the moment or series of moments transpiring in a play in a single game or individual match or event, across a single regular season or playoff game, or across a season, irrespective of specific sport, contested, in all cases,...
.