Plainfield Cancer Survivor To Throw 1st Pitch At Joliet Slammers Game

PLAINFIELD, IL — A Plainfield resident and cancer survivor will be doing the honors of throwing the first pitch at Saturday's Joliet Slammers game.

Frank Wiltse, 59, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April 2021 and is considered a 15-month survivor, according to Audrey Montalto, an event coordinator with Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

"I realized that, maybe I do need to get out of my comfort zone and allow people to know that some days I do need help," Wiltse told Shaw Local. "It’s hard for a Marine Corps veteran to say, 'I need help.'"

It won't be the first time Wiltse throws the first pitch, either. Almost three decades ago, he was the opening day pitcher, at Wrigley Field, on the set of "Rookie of the Year," a 1993 film directed by Daniel Stern.

He's returning to the baseball diamond on Saturday when community ambassadors from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's "Time For Hope" organization are hosting a "Strike Out Pancreatic Cancer" awareness night at Duly Health and Care Field, 1 Mayor Art Schultz Drive. The event is meant to bring attention to one of the world's deadliest cancers, according to a news release.

T-shirts will be for sale at the game, where the Joliet Slammers will face off against the Florence Y'alls starting at 6:05 p.m.

Tickets to the game can be purchased on Joliet Slammer's website.