Did you catch the news item about two women's softball teams working as one in an incredible act of sportsmanship? I saw it in the NY Times of April 30, and it has warmed by heart every time I think of it.

It took place during a college softball game between Western Oregon and Central Washington. Sara Tucholsky, a tiny Oregon player, hit what was certainly a three-run homer, over the fence and out of sight. As she trotted to first base, her right knee buckled and she crumpled to the ground, crying with pain as she crawled to touch the base. The Western Oregon coach made certain no teammate touched her, since that would have nullified any further action. What to do now?

By the arcane rules of women's softball, if she could not complete her round of the bases, two runs would be scored but she would only be credited with a single. What a blow to a player who had never before hit a home run and who, since she was a senior, would not have a future chance to hit one.

And then the first baseman for Central Washington made an incredible proposal. Would it be legal for two of the Washington players to carry Sara around the bases, allowing her to tag each one? The umpired conferred and gave the go-ahead. What I would have given to see those players link arms to form a seat for Sara, and to start that odd circling of the bases, carefully lowering her to touch each one.

The spectators gave them a standing ovation, and Western Oregon won 4-2, but it was the incredible sportsmanship of Central Washington that won something more important. Why did they do it? The players said that they played for a coach who taught them that "winning isn't everything." On the field that day they lived his message.

The girl who initiated the action simply shrugged and said: "She hit it over the fence. She deserved it. Anybody would have done it."

Would they? Would rivals make certain that the other team got all the credit they deserved? Are all teams so geared that sportsmanship counts for more than a victory?

In a time when winning at all costs seems to be uppermost, this story has touched me and displaced all the talk of cheating through steroids and taping the practice sessions of an opponent and illegal swimsuits and whatever else currently fills the sports pages.

These young women wrote a golden page in sports annals. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Would that their actions were not so extraordinary that they made headlines.

You can watch a video of the event on Central Washington University's website.