(4-11-23) Monday night’s win for Crestview baseball was one to remember as Veteran Hall of Fame Coach Jim Wharton picked up his 600th career coaching win as the Knights beat Spencerville in a Northwest Conference (NWC) game 10-0 (6 innings).

OHSAA

Wins, All-Time (minimum 500)

1,011 – Don Thorp, Hebron Lakewood, 1,011-335-3 (1973-2021)
779 – Tom Held, Defiance, 779-177 (Defiance, Bryan, and Elmwood) (1988-)
769 – Dennis T. Woods, Mentor Lake Catholic, Cleveland Heights, Glenville, Cleveland Villa Angela – St. Joseph (1996-1974, 1986-2022) 769-410
768 – Doug Miller, Canton Central Catholic/East Canton, 768-333 (1982-2022)
768 – Ken Gray, Mason, 768-292 (1973-2013)
767 – Mike Cameron, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, 767-304 (1969-2007)
760 – Timothy Engleka, Centerville,760-307-5 (1964-2002) (Retired)
759 – Rich Arbinger, Toledo Start (1976-2009)
750 – Lou Brunswick, Coldwater, 750-166 (1969-1993)
743 – Chuck Harlow, New Lebanon Dixie, (1981-1983)/Clayton Northmont, 743-332-2 (1984-2021), Brookville (2019-)
714 – Bruce Cahill, Tipp City Tippecanoe, 714-301 (1981-2021)
696 – Dave Hall, Perrysburg, 696-357 (through 2021)
687 – John Nelson, Lancaster Fairfield Union, 687-212 (1965-1999)
673 – August Bossu, Cleveland Benedictine, 673-288 (1954-1994)
668 – Dave Klontz, Heath High School, 668-474 (1972-2016)
659 – Don Kober, Toledo St. Francis de Sales, 659-251 (1974-2006)
655 – Dan Bowling, Hamilton, 655-207 (1983-2010) – 16 players drafted
644 – Greg Wilker, Millbury Lake, 644-351 (1985-2021)
640 – Scott Manahan, Columbus Bishop Watterson, Hamilton Township, Ontario, 640-282 (1986-2019)
627 – Fred Heatherington, Steubenville, 627-218 (through 2019)
625 – Dave King, Sidney (1977-2001), Jackson Center (2006-2007), Sidney Lehman Catholic (2008-2019) Retired
624 – John Sarver, 624-381, Akron Kenmore (1980), Archbishop Hoban (1981-1985;1988-1998). Akron Buchtel (1986-1987), Akron Ellet (1999-2022)
611 – Frank Gamble, Massillon Perry, 611-371 (1972-2011)
600 – Jim Wharton, Convoy Crestview, 596-299 (1983 – )

Wharton told the Times-Bulletin after the win-

“This accomplishment means that we have great kids and a great community with great coaches. I’m blessed to be apart of it. The kids have bought into our culture and our hope is that we’ve represented Crestview and northwest Ohio the best way possible.”

Wharton was inducted into the Ohio Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2015.

A 1979 graduate of Ft. Wayne (Indiana) Snider…he was hired in 1984 being blessed at Crestview as a Health/Physical Education teacher along with Head Baseball and Football responsibilities.

While at Crestview the Knights have made three State Final Four appearances (1993, 2013, and 2014). In 2014 Jim was honored by the OHSBCA with his selection as Coach of The Year in Division IV

Wharton and Crestview have won the most NWC titles with 20. (2018, 17, 15, 14, 13, 09, 05, 04, 02, 01, 00, 1998, 96, 95, 94, 93, 90, 87, 86)

1984 Crestview Knights…1st Team Coached At Crestview

1983 Before Crestview…1983 Indiana State Champions Ft. Wayne Northrop

During his student teaching assignment at Ft. Wayne Northrop High School, he coached under Indiana Hall of Fame coach Chris Stavreti while working with a freshman catcher by the name of Eric Wedge (former Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners manager). The Bruins won the Indiana State Baseball Championship.

1979 Ft. Wayne Snider Baseball team…Wharton’s Senior Season

Snider Catcher Jim Wharton in action