For some winning isn’t everything — it’s the only thing. But for the ladies of Central Washington University softball team compassion was more important than winning.

Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University hit a home run over the center-field fence in a college softball playoff game. There were two runners on base, it was the bottom of the ninth, Western Oregon was down 2 to 1 when the ball sailed into the bleachers it meant that they would win the game 4-2 and move on in the playoffs.

But Sara missed touching first base, realized it and went back to tag it and collapsed with a knee injury. She crawled back to first but could do no more.

She would be called out if her teammates tried to help her. The umpire said the coach could send in a pinch runner, but the homer would only count as a single.

But then members of the opposing team, Central Washington University, stunned spectators by carrying Tucholsky around the bases so the three-run homer would count, thus eliminating them from the playoffs.

Central Washington first baseman Mallory Holtman, the career home run leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference asked the umpire if she and her teammates could help. The umpire said there was no rule against it.

So Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace put their arms under Tucholsky’s legs and she put her arms over their shoulders and the three headed around the base paths stopping to let her touch each base with her good leg.

As the trio reached home plate, the entire Western Oregon team was in tears.

“In the end, it is not about winning and losing so much,” Holtman said. “It was about this girl. She hit it over the fence and was in pain, and she deserved a home run.”

It’s hard enough to find sportsmanship in sports these days, not alone compassion. It was a classy act by the ladies of Central Washington University.