The Way It Should Be

"All right," he says. "Do it."

I would like to treat you and your team to a small something, an ice cream, a soft drink, or maybe a slice of pizza. Please accept the enclosed check with that in mind, or if you wish to donate it for another cause, feel free to do that. It is little enough.

I have three daughters, and thank God, I know they would have acted in the same manner as you and your team did, given the opportunity.

PAUL NEWMAN, DERBY, CONN.

P.S. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but though the name is the same, and we live in the same state, I am not the actor, nor am I any relation to him.

Money poured in after the game, along with candy from strangers. Gary Frederick's team got nearly $25,000 in donations, including at least one check from a soldier in Iraq. The university matched every dollar. The Wildcats got new uniforms for 2009 and new protective screens for pitching practice. Instead of riding to away games in three vans driven by the coaches, they were chauffeured around the Pacific Northwest in a luxury charter bus.

Mallory wants to be Central Washington's next head softball coach, whenever Frederick, who turns 72 in July, decides to retire. In the meantime she and Sara have formed a nonprofit organization, the Mallory Holtman and Sara Tucholsky Sportsmanship Defined Foundation, with the aim of doling out scholarships and teaching kids the right way to play. They have a publicist and a booking agent. Corporations pay them to deliver motivational speeches, including a recent appearance in Florida to educate five or six thousand mortgage brokers on character and responsibility.

Her mother says fame has not changed Mallory, not in the least, but Mallory does admit to one prima donna moment. Last summer, when they were on vacation at a cabin in Idaho, Christy asked Mallory to take out the trash. Mallory had just returned from several plane rides—from a televised awards show to the All-Star Game and back—and she complained about being tired.

"Mallory," her mother said, "you're with family now. You need to check yourself." And Mallory took out the trash.

I am 100% disabled with Multiple Sclerosis and anytime someone helps me I do not know whether to be embarrassed or thankful. This was very, very kind of them and very, very wonderful.