With all the crazy happenings in sports, the word sportsmanship has been lost. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I saw a random act of sportsmanship in college or professional sports.

The recent incident that occurred in a women’s college softball game, where the opposing team carried an injured batter around the bases so she could record a home run, should have served as a shinning example of what sports should be about. It should have put a feel good spin on the sports world that’s been tainted as of late with scandal and bad behavior.

However, what appeared to be an act of sportsmanship was simply an act of kindness, nothing more, and nothing less.

Here is what happened. On April 26, Western Oregon and Central Washington were in the second inning of a doubleheader to determine which team would advance in the playoffs. Western Oregon led the game 2-0 in the second inning when Central Washington’s Sara Tucholsky belted a home run with two runners already on base. As Tucholsky rounded first base, celebrating her first-ever home run, she missed the bag. When Sara turned around to touch the base, she blew out her ACL and fell to the ground in agony, unable to continue around the bases.

The umpires affirmed the rules stating that a pinch runner could enter the game for the Tucholsky, but she would only be credited with a single and the two existing base runner’s runs would count. That should have been the end of it, but it wasn’t.

Mallory Holtman, a first baseman for Central Washington, approached the umpires to ask if she and her teammate could carry the injured opponent around the bases to home plate, effectively scoring the go ahead run. The umps conferred and determined it would be a legal “play” and would count in the records books.

A minute later, Tucholsky tapped home plate while in the arms of her opponents. Her team went on to win the game and eliminate Central Washington from playoff contention. (NOTE: For the video account of the incident, check out today’s “Video Clip of the Day”)

I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to tear up a little, very little. Actually, I’m not all, and for many reasons.

First of all, what about the other women on Central Washington’s team? If I had worked my butt off all season to get a chance to be in the playoffs and my teammate took that opportunity away by helping an opposing player score, I am mad as hell. I thought a life-lesson of sports is to teach us that if we work hard and dedicated ourselves to a common goal, success would follow. This notation was dashed by the very kind act of Holtman. Injuries are part of sports. They often determine the outcome of the games and serve as an incentive for top-notch athletes at the collegiate and pro levels to maintain peak physical condition. I contend that had Tucholsky spent that little bit of extra time in the gym, maybe her knee wouldn’t have blown out from such a minor maneuver. Therefore, by helping Tucholsky complete her home run, she caught a break when it came to not being physically prepared to compete at that level.

Perseverance is another virtue that sport instills. Imagine how much more that win would have meant to Tucholsky’s team had they weathered the injury and still came out victorious. If you play for Western Washington, don’t you say to yourself, “That was a cheap win; I’m not sure if I feel real good about it.” It the classic asterisk “W” in the record books, all in the name of compassion.

I understand that we all want to feel good about sports and this story does just that. But make no mistake about it; this is a story about kindness, not sportsmanship. In this instance, sportsmanship would have been to give Tucholsky a round of applause as she got carted away from the first base bag.

I commend the Central Washington for being so nice and giving their opponents the game. They deserve the national attention they are receiving for doing something so damn sweet, but don’t insult the essence of sports by framing this story as a glowing example sportsmanship.

Want fresh content from Mile High Sports Magazine sent directly to your inbox? Click Here to sign up for the The Daily now!