High School Baseball Player Embraces Friend He Struck Out to End Championship Game

Friendship is more important than a game. Just ask this pitcher.

A heartfelt moment was shared on a Minnesota field when two friends playing championship baseball on opposing teams embraced at home plate after one recorded the final out.

It all started as Ty Koehn, a senior at Mounds View High School, was pitching against childhood friend, Totino-Grace High School's Jack Kocon, who struck out to end the game. 

While Koehn’s teammates poured onto the field to celebrate their win, taking them to the state finals, Koehn took the moment to comfort and embrace his friend. 

"I didn't think — I just ran over there, instinct," Koehn told CBS News. "It felt like the right thing to do, and I told him I loved him and he's my brother and our friendship will always last longer than this silly game and its outcome."

The pair has been friends since their little league days in elementary school.

Jim Moberg, a family friend, captured the moment on tape. He said he is not surprised about Koehn’s actions.

“It warms your heart," Moberg said. "I think quite a few people noticed. There was a connection that Ty and Jack had that went beyond baseball."

Video of their embrace quickly went viral after Moberg posted it to his Twitter account. 

Kocon said the moment of friendship is something he won’t forget. 

"I was just thinking, in 20 years I'm not gonna remember the score of that game. But I'm gonna remember him coming up to me after that and just kind of being there for me," Kocon told CBS News.

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