HS Pitcher Embraces Batter After Striking Him Out and Cinching Championship, The Reason Why Is Pure Class
Ty Koehn, pitcher for Mounds View High School was down to the last out of the sectional championship game and was looking to wrap up the three-hit shutout and cinch victory for his team.
The batter Koehn was up against was Jack Kocon of Totino-Grace, who he swiftly struck out, nabbing the championship title in a 4-0 victory and earning a trip for his team to the state quarterfinals.
However, rather than immediately start celebrating, there was something else Koehn needed to do first. This is awesome.
But while his Mustangs teammates were understandably ecstatic, jumping up and down and celebrating their hard-earned victory, the pitcher put all that on stand by.
See, Koehn’s strikeout victim — Kocon — has been a close friend for quite a while. And Koehn had no intention of celebrating before heading to home plate to hug his pal.
“I knew him from all the way back when we were 13. We were on the same little league team,” Koehn told Bring Me the News. ” It was tough when we went to separate schools, but we kept in touch.”
“I knew the game was going to keep going or it was going to end right there,” Koehn added to the outlet. “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.”
This high school pitcher chose to hug his childhood friend instead of celebrate his championship-clinching strikeout.
Story: https://t.co/omJqeRk899 pic.twitter.com/gIP5OFHTcp
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 11, 2018
Now that’s class.
Sports are an important part of human culture because they reflect outwardly, so much of what we go through inwardly, much like art such as novels, comics, and films.
The struggle against limitation, whether imposed by our selves or outside forces, the drive to overcome, the will to fight on even when the odds are stacked completely against you are scenarios that we all as human beings face at some point in our lives.
Sports symbolize those struggles and provide a cathartic release for the anxiety of being in situations that are challenging.
Given the emotions that run high during sporting events, it’s always good to see such outstanding sportsmanship. This kid’s parents ought to be proud. They’ve raised an awesome human being.
Source: TheBlaze
