FanHouse

To be fair, the officiating crew did come out and say they misinterpreted the rules, and instead of having to have a pinch runner at first the runner could touch all bags for the homerun.

Reply

I smell a Rick Reilly column brewing..

Reply

J-Red, there is a difference here. There is no further interaction from the opposing team. Once the ball makes it over the fence, the opposing team can no longer perform in any way to prevent the batter from achieving a home run by running the bases. So, with no further action allowed, the opposing team had 'nothing better to do' but to be human beings with appreciation for the effort of an opposing player and their well hit ball. Caring enough about the thrill of a home run, regardless of whose team the player was on, the opposing team members decided to make sure the batter enjoyed all the fruits of her labor. This is the ultimate of sportsmanship. But you are right, there are probably no men's teams who would do the same, because their focus is purely on the glory they and their team can gain, at the expense of any opposing team. Our society tends to teach that concept in sports, particularly professional sports. Too bad...and I'm a guy who probably would not have helped this young lady without some prompting from others. I think I would be wrong in not helping. I think helping is the greater good. Not for me, but for mankind...or humankind if you prefer. I hear my soapbox creaking, time to step down.

Reply

The reason this would never happen in guys sports is because its not a rule. I doubt its a rule in softball either.

Base running assistance

Have a read of rule 5.10, which states: If an accident to a runner is such as to prevent him from proceeding to a base to which he is entitled, as on a home run hit out of the playing field, or an award of one or more bases, a substitute runner shall be permitted to complete the play.

This can result in some interesting base running scenarios. You may recall the Red Sox Blue Jays game on September 14, 2005 where, with Gabe Kapler on first, Tony Graffanino homered. While rounding second base Kapler ruptured his achillies tendon. Although he tried to get up he couldn’t continue. Graffanino correctly remained 10 feet or so behind Kapler knowing that if he passed him the home run would be struck from the record, Kapler would be out and Graffanino would have to stay on second. After a five minute delay Boston Manager, Terry Francona invoked rule 5.10 to put in a substitute runner, Alejandro Machado, for Kapler. The home run was completed and Boston scored two runs.

Reply

Standing ovation to the Central Washington team! What a tremendous show of SPORTSMANSHIP - which by the way is what sports should be all about! Unfortunately, our society has taken that to a whole different level and anymore it's all about who makes the most money. Bravo, bravo to the players for recognizing a brilliant effort in a well hit ball that deserved the reward of rounding the bases.

Reply

Bad analogy alert. This is not analogous to Welker hurting himself while running down the sidelines. The lady had hit the ball out of the park, so there was no way the opposing team could have prevented the hit from being a home run after the ball left the yard. In Welker's hypothetical situation, however, there was at least a theoretical chance someone could catch him. So the comparison is not apt.

The opposition could have just stood there and let the batter writhe in pain, or maybe stamp their feet and claim NO HR NO HR YOU SUCK AHAHAHA, but they chose the high rode. Not sure why this is bad, and it's unclear what any of this has to do with men's sports.

Reply

This is not about the rules of softball but the sportmenship of the girls involved. Hats off to these players.

Reply

They didn't "help" the opposing team beat them - they helped an injured woman enjoy her first home run. The difference is that there were two people on base, the home run had been hit, and the girl's team couldn't help her around the bases. I'm sure eventually someone would have pointed out the substitute runner rule (because she could sit there at first base for the rest of the day - there's no rule on how long she has to get to home), but the first baseman was the one who had the idea to carry her around.

Also, the definition of sportsmanship also includes "character", which is completely up for interpretation. And quite honestly, helping someone who's down is a great sign of character. My coworker who coaches baseball and is hardcore about his players playing their best and not giving their all - he feels that what these women did was great sportsmanship and a lesson to other coaches and athletes out there, including himself.

Oh, and similar has happened in men's sports. It comes down to the individuals involved at that time, not gender. Some people actually remember that sports are not life and death.

Reply

To hell with the naysayers...it was a classy thing to do.

Besides, it wasn't a corporate NFL or MLB game with huge piles of money riding on outcome...both in terms of standings and Vegas lines.

The analogies are poor because the girl had hit the ball out of the park and the act was only necessary because of a misinterpretation of the rules. The umps got it wrong...the girls got it right.

Kudos....it should be a lesson to us all that some things are still more important than the rules of a game....like the spirit of sportsmanship.

Reply

I congratulate the players of Central Washington and their coach who sould be very proud for having such kind and thoughtful players on his team. Even if one insists in going by the Rules Book that the player must touch the bases in order to score we should keep in mind that the batter did hit a home run (the ball was out of the park) and she deserve the satisfaction to reach home plate, even if she had to be carried there. It translates in the opponent players giving her the recognition she rightfully deserves. This is the ultimate expression of OUTSTANDING SPORTSMANSHIP. Lets all be proud of those who carried her!!!

Reply

That is the reason why women's sports never gets watched and never gets the recognition. It's like children playing in the backyard with no rules.

Reply

The first thing I thought when I read this article was that athletes are a breed all their own. The comradery they displayed for the other player's achievement. I did not think-wow its because they're girls. Competitiveness hasn't bittered them, like in professional sports where it's all about personal glory and how much they get paid. Kudos to Maveness-sports are supposed to be fun. Not life and death. And if the ball is already over the fence-that home run is yours baby!

Reply

As a NCAA Softball Umpire, rule 8.5.3.2 allows for a substitute to be made to and injured runner and a substitute runner put into the game and continue running bases that were awarded to the batter-runner. regardless of the defensive team helping her, she still was intitled to the HR, it just shows that amount of class that is usually displayed in fastpitch softball compared to baseball.

Reply

This is what sports and sportmanship is all about. Unfortunately, money has destroyed most sports and turned most sports into cut throat businesses, on and off the field.

Reply

What happened in this central-Oregon women's college softball team would never, ever happen in the National Football League.

Reply

With all the negativity in this world what a great story. Kudos to all involved, this makes me realize there are still people out there with the mindset of fair play. Instead of hearing about Clemens, Rodman etc, we get to read about athletes that are doing the right thing.

Reply

WOW! Talk about class!! Showing compassion for another human being. Game or no game it is something this country could use more of. The coaches and parents of both teams should be very proud. The girls know there is more to life than winning. What great role models. College athletes play for the love of the game. Because of the NCAA rules you rarely see bad sportsmanship at the college level. The commissioners of the professional leagues should take notice!

Reply

Now thats great sportsmanship. I hope the girl recovers quickly from her knee injury. This is what should happen in all sports.

Reply

If you have never hit a home run then you may not understand. It is special that they players from the other team went out of their way to make sure the batter was able to fully enjoy the home run. If it were my child, I would have loved to see the other team help. The substitute runner would have taken something away from the batter. I am proud of the batter and the players that helped.

Reply

This isn't really great sportsmanship? Oh my goodness....you are part of the problem, aren't you. This is EXACTLY what good sportsmanship is all about.

Look....remember the old adage....it's not whetrher you win or lose, it's how you play the game. And these two girls from Central Washington proved that.

Maybe you can't handle good things happening....I don't know. But this is by far, the best sports story I've heard of in years. Too bad you're too cynical to see that.

Reply