A news story caught my eye last week.  It was the one about the softball player who was carried around the bases by her opponents.  It really made me think – especially after my blog last week about the perceptions of the younger generations by management today.  Hiring_Manager_in_"Cluck_and_Commiserate"_Mode?

In case you missed this news story, it was about Western Oregon University’s Sara Tucholsky, a senior on their women’s softball team.  Sara hit a home run – the first - in her high school and college career.  She hit a three run homer over the centerfield fence.  In her exuberance to round the bases, she missed first base and had to back track.  It was then she blew out her knee and was unable to go on. 

If she was touched by her team mates, her home run would be counted as a single and she would automatically be out.  Her team could send in a pinch runner, but only two runs of the three would be counted.  It was then that the shortstop and first baseman from the opposing Central Washington Wildcats approached the umpire with an unusual request.  Unprompted, they asked if they could carry Sara around the base path and have her home run count as it should?

“I knew we could do it.  I knew that she deserved it,” said Mallory Holtman, Central Washington’s First Baseman.  “I just thought, ‘Let’s help her out.’” 

With the umpire’s approval, Holtman and CWU Shortstop, Liz Wallace, carried Tucholsky around the bases carefully touching each base with her left foot.  Her three run homer counted – causing a win for WOU and a split in the double header between the two teams.  The win helped propel Western Oregon into post season.  (WOU has split the Great Northwestern Athletic Conference’s Championship with Seattle University and will be playing in The NCAA Division II Western Regional Tournament this week.) Central Washington was eliminated from post season play. 

How does this pertain to recruiting?  These three players, solidly anchored in the “Generation Y” demographic, will be leaving college soon and joining the workforce.  What they demonstrated was the very best of Generation Y.  The desire to corroborate and work for the greater good of the team.  The desire to contribute and do what is morally right.  And although they play hard and take the game seriously, they knew this was more important than the result of one softball game.  That this unselfish act was far more important than winning.

Yes, it was a big deal and made national news.  But if you want to generalize the characteristics of a whole generation, I’d love to use this.  With all the “clucking and commiserating “ of management about the supposed shortcomings of Generation Y, shouldn’t we be looking at this as an indication that we are moving toward a more ethical  era?  Looking at recent corporate scandals that caused legislation to protect the public, this is a great sign.  I hear candidates of this generation voicing the desire to work for a company that contributes to society.  They want to be proud and admire the companies and the  managers they join. As this generation moves forward in the workforce, let’s hope their high ideals are not dimmed.