It occurred in a college softball game in Ellensburg, Washington.
Western Oregon was facing Central Washington in the second game of a double header. The game was scoreless when Western Oregon’s Sara Tucholsky stepped to the plate at the top of the second inning with two runners on base. The first pitch was called a strike. She swung at the second pitch and knocked it over the center field fence!
This was Tucholsky’s first-ever home run, and in her jubilation, she missed first base on her home run trot. When she turned back to tag the base, her right knee buckled. Instantly in pain, she managed to crawl back to first base. According to Graham Hays, “Umpires confirmed that the only option available under the rules was to replace Tucholsky at first base with a pinch runner and have the hit recorded as a two-run single instead of a three-run home run. Any assistance from coaches or trainers while she was an active runner would result in an out.” So, Western Oregon Coach Knox “prepared to make the substitution, taking both the run and the memory from Tucholsky.”
Then Coach Knox was asked, “Excuse me. Would it be okay if we carried her around and she touched each bag?” The one asking the question was a member of the opposing team, Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman! The umpires ruled it to be legal, so Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace lifted Tucholsky off the ground and began to carry her around the bases. They stopped at each of the remaining bases and lowered Tucholsky, allowing her to gently tap the base with her left foot. The trio finally reached home plate—and with a standing ovation from the fans—the home run hitter was passed to her own teammates. Western Oregon went on to win the game 4-2, but it is this ultimate act of sportsmanship that will be remembered most.
The selfless actions of Holtman and Wallace picture what Jesus Christ wants to do for each of us: He wants to carry us all the way home to heaven! It’s not that we’ve hit a home run and then injured ourselves along the way. The fact is we have all “struck out” at the plate (Romans 3:23)! Yet God loves us so much that He offers us forgiveness, and, through His Son Jesus, the opportunity to go home. Jesus “carries home” those who believe in Him (Acts 16:30–31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30–31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9–10), and are baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to “carry” those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7). The ultimate act was done when Christ went to the cross to pay the price for our sins (Ephesians 1:7), enabling us—by His grace—to go home to heaven.
Will you allow Him to carry you home through your trusting obedience?
—David A. Sargeant, Mobile, Alabama
Endnote
1www.espn.com/college-sports/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=3372631.
