Wharton Resigns in Ohio due to stroke
 

Jim Wharton, a veteran of 49 years in softball, announced Thursday evening that he was resigning from his various positions with ASA and Ohio High School Athletic Association, effective July 31.
Wharton told a combined meeting of the board of directors of both the Central Ohio Softball Umpires Association and the HUB of Ohio high school umpires' association, that he was stepping down from the 7/24/365 routine for health reasons. A veteran of 49 years in the game, was hospitalized for four days early last week after appearing to have suffered a stroke upon returning home from a girls' fast-pitch tournament around noon last Sunday.
Suffering chest pains and facial numbness, Wharton was taken to the hospital via emergency squad. There, he was poked, prodded, stuck and x-rayed with no solution to his problems being diagnosed. He was released Wednesday evening and has been mostly resting since.

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Jim, apparently, will be able to resume umpiring next year and that is the good news.

This announcement might not be creating too much chatter on the national scene, but it certainly is locally.

Mr. Wharton is the head of my local ASA group, as well as the assigner for all high school softball in the region. He is the central Ohio ASA district commissioner and a good guy, to boot.

If anyone has dedicated their life to amateur sports, and the sport of softball, Jim Wharton is the guy. Here's wishing him a speedy recovery!