LINCOLN -- A maroon carpet was graciously rolled out by Lincoln junior varsity softball players for Gentry junior Mekalah Ramsey to run the bases and score a home run on Thursday.
The maroon was appropriate since both schools -- Lincoln, the home team, and Gentry, the visiting team -- sport maroon as part of their school colors and an air of collaboration was present on this night. Lincoln head coach Karen Coleman and her assistant (junior varsity coach) Megan Jobe agreed before the game to a proposal from Gentry head coach Lance Nations and his assistant (junior varsity coach) Danny Corter to allow Mekalah, who has Down syndrome, to run the bases after making contact with the softball. The umpires were part of the agreement and there would be no strikes or fouls or outs of any sort on this play. Lincoln made certain of that.
All played their part to perfection. Nations escorted Mekalah, who was so excited she could hardly contain herself, to the batter's box where she was welcomed by the Lincoln catcher. Mekalah made contact with the second pitch, smashing a short chopper into the dirt.
"Run," cried out Nations, who virtually ushered Mekalah towards first while Lincoln's infielders took their time retrieving the softball. Mekalah was sent on to second and motioned by third base coach Corter to come on. Throws among the infield were stalled and Corter urged Mekalah on home from third, which she reached safely as fast as her legs would carry her, beaming from ear to ear.
Among Lincoln fans watching the collaboration of goodwill and demonstration of sportsmanship was 2014 Lincoln graduate, Kaylee Sandlin, the first person to graduate from Lincoln High School with Down syndrome. Sandlin was honored as 2014 Lincoln basketball homecoming queen when her classmates and fellow candidates agreed to give her the crown prior to the ceremony.
"Did you see that?" asked her father, Johnny Gilford, one of Lincoln's most vocal supporters.
"Yes, and it made me cry," Kaylee replied.
Johnny is not a quiet spectator and he habitually cheers Lincoln on, yet, when Mekalah came up to bat, Johnny yelled for her, "Let's go, 40," referring to Mekalah's jersey number.
As Mekalah swung and ran the bases, Johnny was suitably impressed with the result.
"I'm proud that they do that stuff," Johnny said. "That shocked me when they made Kaylee [his daughter] homecoming queen. I didn't know they were going to do that. The kids went together to do something like that; that's special."
Both teams came out onto the diamond to celebrate and took a joint photo, which included their varsity squads as well. Then Mekalah doled out hugs to each Lincoln player and the coaches. In her moment of triumph, she went home with her home run ball and an experience of sportsmanship -- courtesy of the Lincoln Wolves.
Corter, now in his first season as a volunteer high school coach and having 18 years experience coaching recreational league softball, had Mekalah on his team a few years back in recreational league. Corter says there is a world of difference in her personality.
"She was a lot more withdrawn back then. She's really came out of her shell this year. The girls just love her. She just lights up the room and, every time she comes to practice, they have a lot of fun with her."
Nations came up with the idea of asking opponents and umpires to participate in allowing Mekalah to hit in-the-park home runs and likes to end games in that manner.
"This is the fifth time that she's hit an in-the-park home run this year. We end all of our games that way," Nations said. "All of the teams we've asked have said, 'yes.'"
Mekalah has been given a nickname, "The Big Show," and the coaches tell her she's their secret weapon. She is the daughter of Daniel and Melinda Ramsey, of Gentry, and her older brothers are accomplished athletes, having gone on to compete at the college level. This is Mekalah's year and she is making the most of her opportunities.
Mekalah's mother, Melinda Ramsey, is thankful for Mekala's teammates, who she said have been so good, while Corter credits opponents with paving the way for her break-out season.
"The girls on the other teams have been so great, coming out to take photos with her," Corter said.
"She tells us all the time she's famous cause she's on Facebook and everybody knows who she is."
Sports on 04/22/2015