(AP Photo/Blake Wolf)

A recent article in Sports Illustrated revisited one of the most inspirational sports stories in years.  You likely have heard or seen the tale of last year’s Western Oregon-Central Washington college softball game.  That’s when the girl from Western Oregon hit a home run, only to tear up her knee rounding first base.  Two Central Washington players carried her around the bases so she get credit for her first college home run.  The two players have received universal praise for their sportsmanship, and even won an ESPY award.

The girl with the idea to help the opponent is Mallory Holtman. In the article, it mentions that she had a college scholarship offer from Canisius, but decided to stay closer to home.  I wondered how a girl from a small town in Oregon would have been on the radar of a school from Buffalo.

So I asked Griffs sofball coach Mike Rappl.  Here is his answer:

Mike’s teams have always included a number of players from the West Coast.  If Mallory had accepted his offer, the Griffs would have had a talented and inspirational player.  But the sports world would have lost one of the most heartwarming stories in years.