With a 3-0 win over Beavercreek Thursday at Vandalia's Butler High School, Elder coach Mark Thompson became the latest Cincinnati-area baseball coach to reach a milestone.
It was win No. 600 for the Panther veteran skipper.
In his 32nd year as head coach, Thompson has seven Greater Catholic League-South titles and has taken Elder to four of their 20 state appearances with two of their 12 state baseball titles (1999, 2005), Elder was state runner-up in 2010 and is looking to return to the state semis after this recent district title.
This year's Panthers are now 21-8. After losing their final two regular-season games, they've defeated Colerain, Turpin and Beavercreek outscoring their opponents 12-1.
They now meet up with GCL-South rival St. Xavier again in a regional semifinal at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at the Dayton Dragons' Day Air Ballpark. Mason and Vandalia Butler play before them at 2 p.m. and the winners will meet in a regional final at 5 p.m. Friday, June 4.
Thompson is a 1980 graduate of Western Hills where he is in the Hall of Fame. He helped the Mustangs to a state title in 1986 as pitching coach. He was a four-year pitcher for the University of Cincinnati graduating in 1985.
Among area coaches, Mason's Ken Gray won 768 between 1973-2010, with Moeller's Mike Cameron winning 767 between 1969-2007. Cameron would continue coaching junior varsity for current Moeller coach Tim Held until just recently.
Thompson is next on the list with 600, followed by Cincinnati Country Day's Tim Dunn with 516 between 1987-2015 and Jack Kuzniczci who retires at 502 after stints at Walnut Hills, Madeira and Clermont Northeastern.
Source link
