As Titiner grows, so does foundation

A year ago Elise Titiner sounded like a young girl over the phone - giddy, high-pitched, a high school sophomore a little shy talking to a reporter.

This week the starting pitcher of Metea Valley's softball team had the phone voice of a young woman. She'd lost none of her charm but sounded more confident, present, owning a huskier tone.

Mustangs coach Kris Kalivas has seen it on the field.

"I think Elise has matured this year," she said. "Not only is she more comfortable being in her second year on varsity, but she knows the ball is going to be in her hands pretty much every game and she has taken on the challenge of being our main pitcher and a leader of this team."

Also, perhaps, her continued efforts toward raising funds and attention to pediatric cancer with the Smashing Walnuts Foundation has added gravitas.

Through connections at the Lombard synagogue Congregation Etz Chaim with the family of 10-year-old Virginian Gabriella Miller - who died in 2013 of pediatric brain cancer a year after diagnosis - Titiner spearheaded a fundraising drive. Through a bake sale, T-shirt sales, raffles, donations, pledges for each strikeout a Metea varsity pitcher recorded, and a joint softball fundraiser with Waubonsie Valley, Titiner raised $6,000 toward the foundation.

"In the last year we've seen the foundation grow so much, and it's really incredible to see," Titiner said.

(The Miller family chose "Smashing Walnuts" as a theme because the tumor that claimed Gabriella's life was roughly the size of a walnut, and crushing the nuts with a frying pan symbolized the Millers' attempts to beat the disease.)

"Last year's game was a success, so we're hoping to keep it going, hopefully bring in some more money," Titiner said.

She happily noted the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in April 2014, that would divert more than $120 million from taxpayer financing of political party conventions to pediatric health initiatives.

The Titiner family, Metea Valley and Waubonsie Valley, will again do their part in a second softball fundraiser scheduled for 4:30 p.m. April 23 at Metea Valley. The Warriors' own continuous efforts raise money for research into ovarian cancer; each of Waubonsie coach Valerie Wood's aunts died from that disease.

"Many of our players have had people close to them affected by cancer and all of them are excited to be a part of such a great event," Kalivas said. "Our players in the entire program work hard to raise money for the Smashing Walnuts Organization and help in the fight against childhood cancer."

The nuts and bolts of the April 23 drive are the same, Titiner said: raffles, bake sale, T-shirt sales, pledges-per-strikeout, sponsorships and the always popular "chuck a duck."

"I'm hoping to continue raising awareness of the cause because it is so important, and I'm hoping people will recognize that it is an issue and take a stand as well," said Titiner, 4-4 on the mound through Tuesday and 3-1 in Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division play.

At the Daily Herald Prep Sports Excellence banquet in May 2014, Titiner and her fellow Metea pitchers won a Spirit of Sportsmanship award. That came as a total surprise she said this week, since she's not seeking attention but "just trying to make a difference."

While becoming a young woman, she has.

"I think my eyes have definitely opened to what has gone on around me over the past year," she said. "I'm finally figuring out how to take things more seriously, which is nice. I'm able to get more done."

Their own cause

Glenbard West girls soccer coach Maciej Kusmierz has announced a "Kick It for Cancer" event to raise awareness, before the Hilltoppers' 4:30 p.m. Thursday home game against Addison Trail.

The Glenbard West athletic office said proceeds from donations and T-shirt sales will go toward cancer research. Both teams will wear special T-shirts, and each player will note before the game how cancer has affected their families.

Top of the class

Naperville Central's Alissa Gorzak was called up to the U.S. Soccer Under-19 Women's National Team Camp, which started April 11 and runs through April 18 in Carson, California.

It's Gorzak's first U-19 camp, but the forward represented the U.S. U-17, U-18 and U-20 national teams at one point or another during the 2014 calendar year, according to Charlie Corr of the Eclipse Select Soccer Club.

Stuck the landing

St. Francis junior Shea Mahoney, who earned bronze medals in floor and beam at the 2014 U.S. Women's National Junior Olympic Championships, is making another run at the gold.

Representing Legacy Elite out of Carol Stream, the Level 10 gymnast won first place in her age group in vault, bars, beam and all-around, and she placed second in floor exercise at the state championships in DeKalb on March 27.

Mahoney advanced to the Region 5 Level 9/10 Regional Championships April 17-19 at the Ralph Infante Wellness Center in Niles, Ohio. Should she finish among the top-seven gymnasts there, she'll return to the national championships May 15-17 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

St. Francis has another gymnast headed to the Region 5 competition. Freshman Bridget Killian, also representing Legacy Elite, is a Level 10 competitor in her age group. She was the floor state champion and finished second on beam, third in all-around and sixth on bars at the state competition in DeKalb.

Net results

Entering Thursday's boys home tennis match against Hinsdale Central at Berens Park, York senior No. 1 singles player Brendan Peterson has won 102 varsity matches. Peterson is chasing York's record of 119 wins set by David Genovese in 1999.

"Brendan definitely has a shot at breaking the record," said York coach Tres Heimann, who played at York and at Carthage. "He is an outstanding competitor and has a great work ethic."

Benet shooters past and future

On Thursday Benet will retire the No. 44 worn by former Redwings player Frank Kaminsky, the consensus All-America center of the University of Wisconsin.

Lisle Mayor Joe Broda has declared April 16 as "Frank Kaminsky Day" in Lisle and will proclaim it as such at a ceremony at the school at about 2:30 p.m.

At Wisconsin the 7-foot Kaminsky epitomized the "stretch-4" position of big men capable of stepping out and hitting perimeter shots. That started at Benet, and the next generation gets its crack in a youth shooting skills clinic 1-4 p.m. April 25-26 at Benet in Lisle.

Benet coach Gene Heidkamp and his predecessor, Marty Gaughan, will be joined by former Brother Rice coach Pat Richardson to instruct players from sixth through eighth grade on their shooting form and footwork, shooting off the dribble and off cuts, even foul shooting.

The cost is $60 for one day, $90 for both. Lock in a slot by reaching him at setmeetgoals@aol.com or (630) 334-0921.

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

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