ANDERSON — Emcee Bill Pitts opened Tuesday’s Sportsmanship Awards Program at the Anderson Rotary Club with a special story of extreme sportsmanship.

The story involved a college softball player for Western Oregon University who hit a three-run home run in a key conference game against Central Washington University. But the player twisted her knee just after passing first base. She crawled back to first and could go no farther.

Since the rules prohibited her teammates from helping her, it seemed her first career homer would just be a single. But there is no rule about opposing players helping the runner, so two of the Central Washington players carried her around to touch all of the bases to get her home run, even though that extra run was monumental in Central Washington losing the game.

It was an appropriate story for the gathered group, as much of the crowd was made up of sportsmanship winners for both Anderson and Highland high schools. Each varsity coach at each school names the player who exhibits the best sportsmanship for that sport. Then the winners vote on an overall winner from each school.

Anderson softball player Chrissy Stephens was the Indians’ overall winner, and Highland’s track standout Donielle Burton was the Scots’ overall pick.

“We might not have any instances quite so dramatic as that story among today’s honorees,” Pitts said. “But the quality of the character is the same. Nearly all, if not all, will attend college, and several will attend on an athletic scholarship. But more importantly, these young people have always represented their school with dignity and pride, whether or not they win or lose during competition.”

Stephens has a 4.1 grade-point average and has played softball for four years and volleyball for three. She’s also been on the bowling team for three seasons. She was co-captain in softball and volleyball. She will be attending the University of Indianapolis on a volleyball scholarship.

“She is a real asset to the team,” said AHS softball coach Dick Hines. “She is verbally a team leader and a fierce competitor who knows where to draw the line of sportsmanship.”

“This feels great,” said Stephens. “It’s especially true knowing it comes from my peers. I really love all the girls I play with.”

Burton has run track for four years, played volleyball for three years and soccer for one year for Highland.

“She is the type of athlete who will do anything to help the team,” said Highland track coach Jim King. “She’s really a phenomenal athlete. We’re going to miss her next season.”

“I really didn’t have any idea I was going to win this until I got here (Tuesday),” said Burton. “I had some friends told me they voted for me, but I didn’t think that much about it. This is a really great award, and I’ve worked very hard at my sports.”

The Anderson winners were Andrew Shellah (cross county), Adam Morris (football), Mark Loose and Brittany Woschitz (tennis), Spencer Morris and Taylor Madinger (golf), Jeff Eddy and Rachel Warner (swimming), Justin Fuller and Dainyell Durr (track), Troy Taylor and Nellie Eskew (basketball), Drew Hathaway (wrestling), Stephens (softball), Austin Dorff and Meaghan McKee (soccer).

The Highland winners were Chris Jones and Haylei Banister (cross country), Kent Anderson (football), Michael Phillips and Alexandra Hammel (tennis), Austin Stagman and Katie Windlan (golf), Joshua Stephenson and Kayla Byrne (swimming), Ethan Wilkinson and Burton (track), Jake Millikan and Jaleesa Mohr (basketball), Matt Seig (wrestling), Emily Jones (volleyball), Stormy Holder (softball), Kolin Jarrett (baseball), Jeremy Stork and Abigail Beard (soccer).

The ceremony was held at Anderson Country Club.