Pitcher rushes to batter's side after striking him out for championship win
In sports we see the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. But it’s not often that we see another emotion — compassion for those suffering the agony of defeat.
However, in a Minnesota high school baseball section championship game Wednesday night between Totino-Grace and Mounds View, we saw a great example of that compassion.
For the final out of the game, Mounds View pitcher Ty Koehn struck out Totino-Grace’s Jack Kocon to seal the 17-10 victory that allowed the Mustangs to advance to the state championships.
While his teammates spilled out onto the field to celebrate the thrill of victory, Koehn ran toward the batter he struck out and embraced him, reported Bring Me the News.
Did you see the graciousness of the Mounds View pitcher after recording the final out to advance to the state baseball tournament? This is 100 percent CLASS. https://t.co/ouLiBHknhC
— Bring Me The News (@bringmethenews) June 9, 2018
Then, after consoling the batter, Koehn joined his team in the celebration.
It turns out Koehn and Kocon are good friends.
“We are very close friends,” Koehn told Bring Me the News. “I knew him from all the way back when we were 13. We were on the same little league team. It was tough when we went to separate schools, but we kept in touch.”
As a Coaches you love when your players achieve some of their TEAM GOALS! Section Championship ✅. On to STATE for more! #refusetolose pic.twitter.com/jO008wENzR
— Mounds View Baseball (@mvvarsbaseball) June 9, 2018
“I knew the game was going to keep going or it was going to end right there,” Koehn said.
“I knew I had to say something. Our friendship is more important than just the silly outcome of a game. I had to make sure he knew that before we celebrated. It was more instinct, it just felt right,” he added.
The Mounds View coaching staff is proud of Koehn and his teammates.
“Pitcher Ty Koehn consoling the batter after the last out. Extremely proud of all you have accomplished so far this season. More proud of who you guys are – great teammates and classy young men,” the staff tweeted.
Pitcher Ty Koehn consoling the batter after the last out. Extremely proud of all you have accomplished so far this season. More proud of who you guys are – great teamates and classy young men.
– Coaching Staff ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/n57JhvRVli— Mounds View Baseball (@mvvarsbaseball) June 8, 2018
“Ty’s actions the other night do not surprise me and are reflective of what I might expect from any one of the players on the team,” coach Mark Downey added in an email to Bring Me the News.
“All really great kids, just a joy to be around on a daily basis,” he said.
That’s sportsmanship at its best.
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