MONMOUTH, Ore. - At Western Oregon University, Sara Tucholsky sat alone in the dugout reflecting on what has been a life-changing experience.

"It's pretty crazy," she said. "I'm from a small town, and this stuff doesn't happen every day."

She had waited her entire life to hit one on the sweet spot. And finally, last Saturday at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, she finally hit her first-ever home run.

"We went crazy, because that's her first ever home run in four years," said Western Oregon coach Pam Knox. "I was so happy for her."

"You know, I looked to see it go over the fence, and that's when I missed first base," Tucholsky said. "So, I have to go back to touch first, and that's when my knee gave out, and I fell."

The pain in her knee was so severe, she knew she'd never make it around the bases. It seemed she'd be denied her inaugural home run trot

"They were all huddled around, talking with the umpire, trying to figure out what was going to happen with me, because if they touch me I would be out," Tucholsky said.

Just when Coach Knox was about to replace Tucholsky with a pinch runner, she heard a voice.

"I knew that we could do it, I knew that she deserved it," said Central Washignton Mallory Holtman, "and I just thought, let's help her out."

"Mallory, the first baseman, asked me which leg was hurt," Tucholsky said. "I had told her the right, so she said, 'OK, we're going to tap your left foot on the bases as we go around.' "

Holtman and Central Washington shortstop Liz Wallace went to work, carrying Tucholsky to each base and letting her down to touch them all. The move made her home run legit - and provided the winning score.

"I was in shock," Knox said. "My mouth dropped. I could not believe that an opposing player would do that for Sara, and for our team."

Part of Tucholsky doesn't understand what all the fuss is about. It was a simple act of sportsmanship, taken for granted in a women's sporting event. But she says that would never have happened in a men's game.

"I think as women, we're able to separate the competition...you know, seeing someone hurt there. We're just able to separate that from the need to do what's right."

"They play hard, they take the game serious, but they also know that there are more important things than softball."

Now out for the season, sara simply wants to help the wolves any way she can even if by simply cheering from the dugout.

"You know, we wanna go to regionals," she said, "and I'm just trying to be here for them, and not be a distraction."

But at the very least, Tucholsky, Holtman and Wallace have become a reminder about what's important in life.