Midwest Character
Ty Koehn had just struck out the final batter in a win that sent his high school squad to the state tournament. But as his teammates spilled onto the field to celebrate, leaping with joy and tossing their mitts high in the air, the senior pitcher headed straight for home plate — and shared an extended hug with the dejected batter.
To Koehn, “it just felt right,” because the player he struck out was no mere opponent but a close friend. Captured on video, the extraordinary moment of friendship, not to mention sportsmanship, went viral Monday as it touched the hearts of far more than those in attendance last week at CHS Field in St. Paul, Minn.