We get a little worked up each December about the White Rock Marathon. Many love the tradition while others resent the day of street closures and cow bells.

Love it or hate it, the $1 million contribution made a few days ago to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is, in my book, indisputable evidence that this thing is worthwhile.

Last year, when the marathon brought in a mere half-mil (I jest), I wrote about my personal connection to the race and hospital. This year, neighborhood kid Garrett Woodbury was a patient champion and his parents ran the marathon in his honor.

Last year’s numbers were exciting, but this is mind blowing.

Phil Baker, DWRM chairman; Marcus Grunewald, DWRM race director; Bob Walker, TSRHC president and CEO

Last week the Dallas White Rock Marathon board of directors presented the $1 million check to the hospital, making the total amount donated by the race to the TSRH since 1997 $2.8 million.

“We are thrilled to fulfill our pledge of donating $1 million to Texas Scottish Rite, a hospital that does so much amazing work empowering young people in this community and beyond,” says Kevin Snyder, chairman of the DWRM board of directors. “As support for our race continues to grow, our goal is to continue supporting Texas Scottish Rite as our primary beneficiary with significant donations each year.”

Race director, Lake Highlands resident Marcus Grunewald credits the runners, sponsors and volunteers.

Phil Baker, DWRM chairman; Chuck Dannis, 2012 Victory Award recipient

“Our participants are truly supportive of this race and our beneficiary, and for that, we thank them,” says Grunewald. “As a runner, having the patients and families come out to support the event provides a huge source of motivation. They are the reason donations of this size are possible.”

“In addition to our runners, the record-breaking success of the 2011 event would not have been possible without the help of our board, sponsors and volunteers.”

Past DWRM chairman Phil Baker presided over the awards ceremony alongside Walker. In addition to awarding the $1 million donation, the marathon board presented the Victory Award for Excellence to East Dallas resident Chuck Dannis. Runner Ed Jackson received the Spirit Award.

Mark Bateman, (TSRHC), Marcus Grunewald, Phil Baker, Jerry Gilmore (TSRHC), Natalie Hudson, (TSRHC patient champion), Bob Walker, (TSRHC president and CEO) and Garret Woodbury

The Victory Award honors a member of the running community for demonstrating the value of physical fitness and having a positive effect on health and fitness through outstanding effort, determination, commitment and courage. Dannis served as DWRM chairman from 2005 through 2008 and is credited with many of the race’s innovations including the High School Relay Challenge. He now serves as chairman emeritus of the race.

If you’d like to get involved — run, sponsor or volunteer — in next year’s marathon, half marathon or relay, look for opportunities this summer. Registration opens June 1 and the race is expected to sell out.

This time last year, Lake Highlands High School played the infamous baseball game against Samuell, with a final score of, as best anyone could figure, 54-0. Most spectators who attended the game said both teams demonstrated character and sportsmanship. Some who saw only the lopsided score called it ego-run-amok and demanded the ouster of long-time coach Jay Higgins. (The story was picked up by several national news outlets, including Forbes and ABC. Higgins retired at the end of the year after 44 years coaching baseball and a spot in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches’ Hall of Fame.)

Tonight at 6pm, the Wildcats will play their district home opener against, yes, the Samuell Spartans.

Today’s Wildcats are rejuvenated (they’ve fielded three teams this year) and they’re excited to be led by Cory Tucker in his first year as head coach. Significant improvements were made to The CAT, as the on-campus baseball fields are known, including the construction of wood-stained, two-tiered, major-league-style benches. The roof of the home dugout was raised 2 feet, and openings now permit air circulation for warm weather games. Padded, netted railings in front of both dugouts double the amount of space for players and equipment without blocking sightlines or jeopardizing safety, and batting cage restorations include new netting. The outfield wall is covered in 30 5’x10’ banners bearing logos of the LH businesses that made the improvements possible by donating cash or materials. (You can see a photo slideshow of the progress by team dad Kerry Bradley here.)

“I think it’s great that more kids are wanting to play this year, because it shows how well the program is doing and the impact the new coach has had,” said Brandon Terrell, an LHHS junior playing right field and pitcher. “Coach Tucker can relate to all of the players and he knows a lot about the game.”

“A lot of people who used to play for LH always come up to see us and watch the games and they can’t believe how lucky we are with the new changes,” said Senior Captain Trevor Curtis. “Winning district is a great goal we all have in common, and of course doing great in playoffs, but focusing on the regular season is our first priority. On the other hand, it’s baseball, it’s not life or death. It’s supposed to be fun and enjoyable.”

“We’ve been winning games we weren’t supposed to win,” added teammate Beau Barnes, who plays shortstop. “My expectations are that we’re going to be better than last year and about as good as my freshman year, when we were area champs.”

After the Wednesday night district game, the Elks Lodge Tournament will be played at The Cat with LH facing North Garland Thursday at 3pm, North Dallas Thursday at 7:30pm, Bishop Dunne Friday at 7:30pm and Lovejoy Sunday at 7pm. You can check out full schedules here for varsity and both JVs and see rosters with player numbers here. Go Cats!

Kevin Sherrington has the details on the DMN’s high school sports blog. Sherrington mentions that Zoffuto was living at a veterans home in Amarillo, and had been diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2008. He died, sadly, en route to the hospital after choking.

Keith Whitmire highlighted Zoffuto’s LH career a few years ago, mentioning that the Boneyard nickname came about during Zuffuto’s tenure, and that he “became known for the ‘Jerseygate’ game against Richardson in 1992 when a speedy Lake Highlands punt returner switched jerseys with a teammate to throw off the defense. Zoffuto said the player’s original jersey was torn.”

The DMN obit doesn’t mention that he was an LH coach, and the headline notes that he was known for his calls during a TV broadcast of the 1994 Plano East-John Tyler playoff game. A post from Steve Ulmer on the 5atexasfootball.com forum says that Zoffuto was “one heck of coach at Lake Highlands and brought them back as a state power in the late ’80s through the mid ’90s.” Ulmer lamented the focus on his commentating. “He was so much more to many, many student athletes.”

The Dallas Arboretum announced that its mega exhibit of Dale Chihuly’s legendary glass sculptures is coming May 5-Nov. 5.

Talking about loving baseball with someone who doesn’t is like telling a Victoria’s Secret model you love her — both will look at you as if you’re an idiot, and you’ll probably be slapped by at least one.

Many Dallas cyclists stick to the trail system, which has both advantages and challenges. In this video, Hollywood Heights resident and Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist David Lesson takes us on a ride through the newest stretch, the Santa Fe Trail, which connects at the southern tip of White Rock Lake. The cover story of our March 2012 issue, online in a couple of days and on doors and stands shortly thereafter, looks at new developments in our neighborhood’s bicycle culture.

VIDEO | STORY: Riding a bike is good exercise, and it’s fun too. But in bike-unfriendly Dallas, it can be risky.

Taylor Stell got a lot of attention for his athletic accomplishments and ability to make an impact while he played for the Lake Highlands Wildcats, and now he’s getting noticed by folks who follow UT Longhorns baseball, too. Taylor is technically a “walk-on,” since he didn’t receive an athletic scholarship when he joined the team, but the recruiting analysts at Orangebloods are calling his chances of making a significant impact in the coming season 80%.

“It appears like the Horns might have struck gold in Stell,” writes Dustin McComas. “At 6-4, Stell could be the fastest position player on the team, has the ability to emerge as a strong defensive player, and has impressed Texas with his bat…Evidently, this freshman lives at the baseball field putting in tons of extra time, and is winning over the people that matter…he still has a lot of work to do offensively, but it’s safe to say he’s surprised a lot of people on the UT campus in a good way.”

People in Lake Highlands are finished being surprised by Taylor Stell.

Taylor was a dandy football player, but after his sophomore year he focused on his true love – baseball. Then as a senior, he joined his friends and tried out for the basketball team. By the end of the season, he was named 1st Team All District and voted Newcomer of the Year.

Baseball season closed out his senior year, and he was captain of the team, City MVP, 1st Team All District and Academic All State. His combined high school batting average was .471.

“My biggest surprise at UT has been how well the freshmen [on the team] are treated by the upperclassmen,” Taylor told me. “They told us the first day that they knew we could help them win a national championship, so we were viewed as equals.”

“My biggest challenge has definitely been time management,” said Taylor. “The academics are pretty tough and we put in lots of hours on the field.” And he admits he misses seeing his LH friends, many of who went off to colleges all around the country.

“The best thing about being a Longhorn is the atmosphere of the fans down here. They are extremely passionate and make it that much more fun to go out there and give it your all.”

Taylor will have a chance to prove the Orangebloods scouts right when the season begins February 17th with a three game home stand against Duke. They’ll then fly to California to play Stanford. Hook ‘em, Taylor!

Registration begins today for the 9^th Annual Hoops in the Highlands Basketball Tournament to be held Saturday, March 24th. The popular 3-on-3 basketball tournament draws competitors in 1st thru 8th grades from schools all over the Metroplex and raises money for Lake Highlands Junior High and its feeder elementary schools: Lake Highlands, Northlake, Wallace and White Rock.

Besides the athletic competition, Hoops in the Highlands features a party atmosphere with live music, carnival-style food and a Fun Zone for younger kids. In previous years, performers from LHHS, including the Wildcat Wranglers, have entertained the crowds.

Registration forms are available online here and are due March 3rd. The entry fee is $64 per team (typically 4 players) and the fun will take place at Highland Oaks Church of Christ, 10805 Walnut Hill at Plano Road.

If you’d like to become a sponsor or volunteer at the event, email Event Chair Katie Fuerst here.