CHICAGO, Ill. - Katie Eberling said that unlike some people, she wasn't nervous about throwing out the first pitch at a Major League Baseball game, a rare opportunity she was afforded on April 11 when her hometown Chicago Cubs hosted the San Francisco Giants. Well, at least not once she got to the park.
"Strangely, I was very nervous on the way there, but once I walked on the field, I felt this odd peace," said Eberling.
Maybe it's just because Eberling has spent her fair share of time in the spotlight. After a four-year career as a volleyball player at Western Michigan - a time in which she set Bronco records for most matches and sets played, and helped lead the team to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament - Eberling has gone on to even bigger and better things. The Palos Hills, Illinois native's life path has taken her from the hardwood to the snow track, as Eberling is now a member of the Team USA Olympic Bobsled team as a brakeman. Most recently, Eberling was part of the team that took the silver medal at the World Championships, one year after claiming the bronze medal at the same event.
Eberling planned on taking a brief moment away from her training to spend time with friends and family at home, a time that called for a regular family hobby of taking in a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Once the Cubs heard that the hometown Olympic hopeful would be in attendance, they approached Eberling to throw out the first pitch at one of three games in the series against the Giants.
"I had planned on going, and so they asked me which games I would be attending," said Eberling. "The organization has been taking an interest in including a more hometown feel. It's pretty awesome to have the chance to come back home and appreciate what I've accomplished, but I'm always hungry to do more."
Eberling grew up a lifelong Cubs fan, a tradition that she says dates back several generations.
"One of my first memories was going to a Cubs game with my dad, my grandpa, and my sister," said Eberling. "It runs in our blood. My dad went to many games when he was young, and he taught us from an early age there was no other option!"
But not EVERYONE at home is a Cubs fan.
"My mom grew up as a [Chicago] White Sox fan," said Eberling with a laugh. "We try to accommodate her sometimes."
Despite the jitters on the way to the ballpark, Eberling said the surreal feeling of walking to the mound on the historic field reminded her of the words of a Cubs great, which calmed her tensions.
"I remember a quote from Ron Santo, who said the first time he walked into Wrigley Field, it was like walking on air," said Eberling. "The whole thing was such a blur. I was honored and humbled to be out there, in a place where so many incredible people have been before."
Eberling said she was mostly just concerned with putting the ball across the plate - "Everyone kept telling me, 'Don't bounce it!'" she said - and therefore went with a straightforward toss from the mound.
"Fastball, right down the pipe," said Eberling. "Maybe a change-up."
