Harlow
CLAYTON — Chuck Harlow, who coached at Dixie for three years (36-35), Northmont for 34 years (714-300-2), and Brookville for two full seasons (29-29), was honored Saturday at the 1st annual Chuck Harlow game between Brookville and Northmont.
The game was played at ‘The Yard’ at Northmont High School. The Thunderbolts won the first installment of the game 12-1.
Rather than delivering the first pitch or making an on-field appearance prior to the game as the public address announcer described to fans the significance of the game, Harlow sat behind the backstop with the rest of the fans wearing a Northmont ballcap and a Brookville windbreaker.
He visited with those who approached him and was just there to enjoy the game.
Harlow was inducted into the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014. During his 34 years at Northmont he won 13 sectional titles, 12 conference titles, five district titles and led the Thunderbolts to one regional runner-up.
In 2019, his first season at Brookville, he led the Blue Devils to a 15-12 finish. COVID cancelled the 2020 season. In 2021 Brookville started out 1-7, then won 13 of its next 23 games – including three victories in postseason play before losing 3-2 to Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy to finish 14-17.
When asked how he felt about the event, Harlow said, “I feel very honored. I was lucky to be at three schools and I loved all of them. People have been great to me and I had great kids to coach every place I’ve been. I am just really grateful for the time I’ve spent trying to help these young guys turn into young men.
“It was a lot of fun,” Harlow continued. “I didn’t think that I would coach as long as I did. I thought I would coach ten years, but it got in my blood and I really loved it.”
Harlow is No. 10 on the All-Time wins list among Ohio baseball coaches with 743.
Since the majority of his wins came as head coach of the Thunderbolts, perhaps it was fitting that Northmont won the first annual game named in his honor.
The Thunderbolts scored a 12-1 victory over the Blue Devils by scoring four first inning runs, five in the second and three in the third.
Brookville got a pair of singles in the top of the first from Jace Wood and Braden Chambers, but neither scored. Northmont got a leadoff single by Jamir Ross who reached third base on a throwing error. Brady Lupton singled up the middle to bring Ross home.
Jacob Beck got hit by a pitch and with one out, Chase Fuduloff got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lupton scored on a passed ball with Beck advancing to third and Fuduloff to second. Aiden Pendleton laid down a bunt and reached first on an error by pitcher Coltin Lawson with Beck scoring and Fuduloff advancing to third.
Cooper Lykins drew a walk to load the bases. Austin Welch hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring Fuduloff home for a 4-0 Northmont lead, and the rout was on.
During Northmont’s five run second inning, Drake Sauber stole home to score the Thunderbolts’ eighth run.
Sauber, Jamir Ross, and Brady Lupton each went two for three and scored twice with Lupton and Sauber getting an RBI. Beck went two for two with an RBI and Lykins drove in two runs.
Brookville got its lone run in the top of the third on a single by Jace Wood and an RBI double by Braden Chambers. Jace Wood led the Blue Devils with two hits, a stolen base and one run in three at bats.
Brady Canan earned the victory. He pitched five innings, gave up five hits, one run with one walk and two strike outs.
Lawson took the loss for Brookville. He pitched one and one-third of an inning, gave up six hits, nine runs (four earned), with one walk and no strike outs.
Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].
