From an Injury, Emerges a Hero

It's not every day that we read a story that touches us to the core. Yesterday I received an e-mail from a close Wall Street friend and my father about an article written by George Vecsey. It was on the cover of The New York Times sports section entitled, "A Sporting Gesture Touches 'Em All."

In a moment that was made for television, two young softball players carried a softball player from the opposing team after she tears her ACL while running the bases in her first home run shot (a three-run homer) in four years at bat as a college senior at Western Oregon.

The senior, Sara Tucholsky, and her right knee gave out just as she was about to tag first base. Umpires confirmed that the only option available under the rules was to replace Tucholsky at first base with a pinch runner. However, this would have the hit recorded as a two-run single instead of a three-run home run. They also said any assistance from coaches, trainers or players from her team (while she was an active runner) would result in an out. Before Coach Pam Knox of Western Oregon made the substitution, Mallory Holtman of the opposing team said “Excuse me, would it be OK if we carried her around and she touched each bag?”

Holtman is a senior at Central Washington and holds almost every offensive record at the school. What’s ironic is that Holtman is actually scheduled for a pair of knee surgeries at the end of the season. Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace lifted Tucholsky and began to circle the bases. Welcomed by a standing ovation from the fans, they finally reached home plate and passed the home run hitter into the arms of her own teammates.

I was so moved by the story that my executive producer, Andrew Hoffman, from The Opening Bell reached out and booked Mallory Holtman, Central Washington's first baseman and the hero in this story. Mallory still thinks anyone would have done what she did and is surprised by all of the attention but thrilled this story is showing the compassionate side of college sports. She is my hero!