There are so many ways we can “win” in life, and a high school pitcher showed us an unexpected way this past week.
In a Minnesota high school sectional championships game, a high school pitcher struck out his childhood best friend, and instead of immediately celebrating with his team, he first ran to home plate to console his friend.
Mounds View pitcher, Ty Koehn, ran to home plate, wrapping his friend from the Totino-Grace team in a huge showing that friendships can be more important than winning.
In an age of society that lives for the “me”, this was a reminder that people still cherish the “we.”
You can watch the act of genuine love and kindness below:
Check out the amazing sportsmanship at the end of this Minnesota high school baseball final. Full story here: https://t.co/SqoOIiEMXk pic.twitter.com/PnTCq5oqJs
— Bring Me The Sports (@BMTNSports) June 8, 2018
This high school pitcher held off celebrating with his teammates so he could console his childhood friend instead.
(📹: @b757fo_jim) pic.twitter.com/tjGqoz2EPU
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 11, 2018
Instead of joining his team in the on mound celebration, Koehn instead joined his friend for a quick hug. This moment of genuine love and care shows that
Koehn told Bring Me The News:
We are very close friends. 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. I knew the game was going to keep going or it was going to end right there. 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.
Koehns coach, Mrk Downey, said he wasn’t surprised at Tyler’s actions at all, even saying it was expected.
“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. All really great kids, just a joy to be around on a daily basis.”
We should all strive to be a bit more like Ty Koehn, worried less about ourselves, and have more of an outward disposition. That’s what Jesus commanded us to do:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”