Sports heroine

It’s a long way from Paradise to Oklahoma City, particularly if you head through Evanston, Ill. Yet earlier this month, Eileen Canney finally got there. Canney pitched the Northwestern University softball team into the finals of the Women’s College World Series. The Wildcats came up short against seven-time national champion Arizona—but considering Northwestern hadn’t reached the WCWS in 20 years and had never played for an NCAA title, the Cinderella story has a pretty happy ending. Back on campus, still basking in the afterglow, Canney talked about the special end to her junior season and what lies ahead for the All-American and her teammates.

When you were a teen playing around Paradise and Chico, did you ever see yourself pitching in the College World Series?

I honestly never really thought about what it would be like to actually go there, but it’s something I’ve definitely always dreamed about. It’s something that I always viewed as being in my own hands a little bit, and that’s something I used as motivation when I was practicing and working out. I knew that Northwestern was a talented team … once I signed with Northwestern, I knew that was a possibility.

What was it really like?

It was really surreal. It still really hasn’t hit me yet … it was unbelievable being in that stadium and talking to all the kids that were there watching and see their dreams form as they’re watching us play.

What was the highlight for you?

There were definitely a lot of game highlights, like Erin Dyer hitting that home run that tied it up [forcing extra innings in the opening win over Alabama] or us beating great teams, because every team in the tournament was excellent. But I would have to say the opportunity of being there with my family and the other families and being taken in by the people of Oklahoma City, and after the games interacting with the kids. That was probably the highlight—just the whole experience.

Are you more proud of what your team accomplished or disappointed at not winning the title?

I’ve done a lot of thinking about that. I’m always going to be a little disappointed that we didn’t win it all, but I’m very proud of us because we gave it everything we had, and in the end it came down to us not executing and getting it done. We gave like 120 percent, and that just ended up not being enough. So I would definitely say I’m more proud than disappointed.

What’s next?

I’m taking some time off [from softball] for a little bit. I’m taking summer school up here and I think I’ll come home for a month. Toward the end of the summer we’re going to start training, and it’s cool because a lot of my teammates will be staying here. I really think we have the opportunity to make it all the way, make it two games further than we did this year.