Softball

By George Vescey New York Times, 4-30-08

Something remarkable happened in a college softball game last Saturday in Ellensburg, Wash. At least, I am conditioned to think it was remarkable, since it involved an act of sportsmanship, with two players helping an injured opponent complete the home run she had just slugged.

Why this generous act should seem so unusual probably stems from the normal range of bulked-up baseball players, police-blotter football players, diving soccer and hockey players and other high-profile professionals.

The moment of grace came after Sara Tucholsky, a diminutive senior for Western Oregon, hit what looked like a three-run homer against Central Washington. Never in her 21 years had Tucholsky propelled a ball over a fence, so she did not have her home run trot in order, gazing in awe, missing first base. When she turned back to touch the bag, her right knee buckled, and she went down, crying and crawling back to first base.

Pam Knox, the Western Oregon coach, made sure no teammates touched Tucholsky, which would have automatically made her unable to advance. The umpires ruled that if Tucholsky could not make it around the bases, two runs would score but she would be credited with only a single. ("She'll kill me if I take it away from her," Knox thought.)

Then Mallory Holtman, the powerful first baseman for Central Washington, said words that brought a chill to everybody who heard them:

"Excuse me, would it be O.K. if we carried her around and she touched each bag?"

By kelly Lyell

February 5th, 2008

The Coloradoan

 Major-league pitchers and catchers don't report to spring training for three more weeks. Position players report a week later.

Yet youth baseball and softball players in and around Fort Collins have been training for the past two months for their 2008 seasons.  We've been going at it twice a week since December," said Rich O'Donnell, coach of the 13-and-under Fort Collins Cardinals baseball team. "It's not required, but the kids love it. At every practice, we probably have three-quarters of the kids."

O'Donnell and several other competitive baseball and softball teams are practicing regularly at Edge Sports Center, 4450 Denrose Court. They're hitting in batting cages off machines and live pitching, they're throwing and catching and fielding fly balls and grounders.

The Cardinals, who play at the highest level of youth baseball in the state (Division I) for their age group, will play their first tournament the first weekend of March.

Read on...