Nobles and Knaves

OPINION:

Noble: Mallory Holtman, Central Washington University’s Varsity softball first baseman, who carried an opponent around the bases after being injured during a home-run trot.

Sara Tucholsky, a senior at Western Oregon University, was on the receiving end of opposing hecklers. She was at bat last Saturday during the second inning of a scoreless game, the second in a doubleheader against Central Washington. Two runners were on base as Miss Tucholsky was heckled. What followed was a fantasy every taunted player dreams of: She knocked one out of the park. It was the first home run of her career.

In her excitement, Miss Tucholsky missed the base as she was rounding first. As she double-backed to tag the base, her right knee collapsed — a suspected torn ACL. The moment was over. The rules prohibited a coach or teammate touching Miss Tucholsky. A home run only counts if the player tags each base. So, the umpires were forced to call her hit a two-run single. Western’s coach, Pam Knox, was getting ready to call in a pinch runner when Miss Holtman stepped forward and asked: “Excuse me, would it be OK if we carried her around and she touched each bag?”

The umpires said OK. Miss Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace lifted Miss Tucholsky and carried her to each base, gently lowering her body to tap her foot each time. By the time she reached home plate, the entire stadium was in tears. This is one of the most moving sports stories ever, and the entire team at Central Washington deserves a standing ovation.

For showing incredible sportsmanship, Mallory Holtman is the Noble of the Week.

Knave: The slinking criminal who stole collection cans intended to help a family pay for the funeral costs of their young son.

On April 9, Steven Richards was killed in his front yard in Severn, Md., when a tree branch fell on his head. Steven had been playing with his brother, John, 8, when the branch began to fall toward them. The youngster shoved his big brother out of the way, saving him.

At his funeral earlier this month, friends and family gathered to remember Steven. He loved cars and baseball, and his coffin was draped with his Spiderman blanket.

To help defray funeral expenses, collection cans were placed around Glen Burnie. Last week, however, Steven’s family discovered that two of the 10 cans had been stolen. A story by the Associated Press says that one of the cans was taken from a pizza parlor, and it looks as though the thief may get away scot-free. So, Steven’s dad took a second job to help with funeral costs.

If there is such a thing as karma, the crook will get his just deserts.

For stealing from the funeral funds for a family who lost their son, the unnamed thief is the Knave of the Week.