UTEP senior Kawehiokalani Netane tore her ACL midway through her final season as a Miner. But not even a torn ligament could stop her from stepping to the plate one final time.
In UTEP's final game of the year -- a 10-4 loss in the Conference USA tournament -- Netane hobbled to the plate as a pinch hitter for one last time for one final at-bat. Then, she drove a 1-1 pitch into center field, limping her way to first base, ending her career on a high note. She hugged her first base coach and was promptly lifted for a pinch runner, her teammates and the crowd embracing her.
"Having her get her last at-bat and hit the ball the way she did -- you can't ask for a more storybook ending to finish her career," head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk said. "I'm just so proud of her and glad she got the opportunity to do that."
This is reason No. 9 (her jersey number) for why we love sports today.