Sportsmanship was put on full display last Saturday when the opposing team carried a Grand View University softball player around the bases following an injury on her homerun trot. A twisted ankle on the way to second base looked like it might derail the grand slam, but players from southeastern university made sure that the runs counted.
Kaitlyn Moss was the Grand View slugger who hit the long bomb with the bases loaded. A player must touch all four bases for the grand slam to count, and Moss fell to the ground, writhing in pain between first and second base. For a moment, it seemed that the highest achievement that a hitter can muster would be put reversed. That was until players from Southeastern University came together to help.
Yesterday we shared a photo of an amazing display of sportsmanship shown by the Southeastern University Softball Team. Watch the attached video to see the exemplary actions that the SEU athletes took to aid our player to complete her homerun. https://t.co/IxlR3JVV7Y
— Grand View University Softball (@GVU_Softball) February 26, 2023
According to the official rulebook of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), a player cannot be aided in rounding the bases by her own teammates. The rules did not, however, bar the opposing team from doing precisely that. So, in a move that shocked players from Grand View University, Southeastern lifted Moss from the ground and began taking her through the motions of the homerun trot, touching all four bases and completing the Grand Slam.
Grand View University Tweeted a picture to commemorate the fantastic act of sportsmanship while also noting that the game’s score was 7 to 4. This was no blowout, and the run that scored when Kaitlyn Moss was carried to home plate played a pivotal role in securing the win for the Grand View:
“GVU wins game 1, 7 to 4. This game was not about the win but about the amazing sportsmanship shown by SEU softball players. After a grand slam by Moses and injury, SEU players carried her to touch each base to allow her run to count.”
GVU wins game 1, 7 to 4. This game was not about the win but about the amazing sportsmanship shown by SEU softball players. After a grand slam by Moses and injury, SEU players carried her to touch each base to allow her run to count. @NAIA_SB @AthleticsViking pic.twitter.com/aA0IkDZruq
— Grand View University Softball (@GVU_Softball) February 25, 2023
Fans on Twitter we greatly impressed with the sportsmanship and integrity of the Southeastern University squad, who refused to take advantage of an opponent’s injury even if it may have meant a better result in the game. Anyone who has rounded the bases on a homerun knows that the adrenaline rush is massive, so whatever injury was sustained by Moss must have been incredibly painful.
One Twitter user said, “1st class program @GVU_Softball. Thanks for your encouragement to our team yesterday. It’s all a great reminder of what winning really looks like. I’d choose this group of girls to take the field with again, and again, and again. Thankful it’s just the beginning!”
The win in this game brought the Grand View team to an even two wins and two losses on the season, while the loss for Southeastern means that the team now sits at three wins and seven losses to start the young season. There is plenty of time left for Southeastern to rebound, and if karma is real or the softball gods were watching this game, they certainly have an excellent opportunity to win some of their upcoming games. Regardless of win-loss records, both of these teams came together to create what will assuredly be the most memorable and impactful moment of the season.
Featured Image: Screenshot from embedded Facebook Video
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