Her team was losing 4-1 in the top of the 5th inning when Grand View University catcher Kaitlyn Moses stepped up to the plate. They were playing their rivals, Southeastern University, in an NAIA matchup, and the bases were loaded.
She wound up and let loose, smashing the ball deep to left center. It was the holy grail of hits. A grand slam.
Kaitlyn took off running.
However, she didn't get far. After rounding first base she stumbled and fell to the ground, an ankle injury literally stopping her in her tracks. The crowd fell silent.
Her teammates watched in horror, unable to help her move around the bases as doing so was against the NAIA rules.
Mere seconds later help arrived in the most unexpected of ways.
How the Opposing Team Stepped Up to Bat
In a stunning display of sportsmanship two members of the opposing team, Leah Gonzalez and Chapel Cunningham, lifted Kaitlyn up and proceeded to carry her across three bases.
They made sure to tap her foot on each base so that the run would count.
Not only did it count, but it also put the Grand View Vikings ahead of the Southeastern Fire, with a score of 5-4. It made all the difference. The Vikings won 7-4.
Even though their actions meant giving up the lead and eventually losing the game, Leah and Chapel have no regrets.
“I just knew it was the right thing to do,” said Chapel. “Here at Southeastern they teach us, or especially on our team, they try to tell us to do the thing that ought to be done and I knew that that was what we should do, so we didn’t really think twice.”
And it's something she hopes another team would do if it ever happened to one of her teammates.
It's Not Whether You Win Or Lose...
The Grand View University Softball team shared the inspirational scene on its social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter. The video has garnered over 200K views.
They captioned it in part, "This game was not about the win but about the amazing sportsmanship shown by SEU softball players."
Kaitlyn agrees. She's grateful for the kindness the opposing team members extended to her in her time of need.
“Words can’t describe how @SEUFireSoftball lifted me up in such a tough moment,” Kaitlyn said on Twitter after the game. “Forever appreciative and greatful for the kindness they showed.”
Grand View Softball Coach Lou Yacinich also praised the Southeastern University team for their selfless actions.
“The display of sportsmanship by the Southeastern University Softball team speaks volumes to their character, humanity, and greater purpose,” Yacinich said. “The result of their actions caused their team in the game to trail by one run, yet that was of minimal concern to those players in that moment.”
A Shining Moment
In a world where sports are often seen as cutthroat and competitive, it is heartening to see moments of true sportsmanship, humanity, and kindness.
At the end of the day, Grand View may have won the game, but the real winner in all of this is the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
The actions of the opposing team during this softball game are a reminder that, no matter how competitive a game may be, we are all human beings and that trumps everything else, even if we are on opposite sides of the field.
After all, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game that counts.
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