SpringfieldNewsSun.com

DAYTON — It's a bonding of hearts, tears and team camaraderie ... and prayers.

It's also a heartwarming story of a team's love and loyalty for its coach as he battles back from throat cancer.

He was unable to speak or eat during six weeks of radiation last fall, lost more than 120 pounds and still has a feeding tube in his stomach. The cancer spread to his tongue.

But 49-year-old John Sharp, the head baseball coach at Dayton Christian High School for the past eight years, can talk now about the painful and tragic days of last fall — although it's difficult for him to get through a sentence without stopping to wipe away tears.

"You know, I absolutely do not remember Thanksgiving or Christmas of last year," said Sharp, who's also the DC boys reserve soccer coach. "I've been told that a huge weight loss does affect one's memory."

But the amiable and gracious coach will never forget the current spring season and the infinite support he has received from his team and even opposing coaches and their teams. DC — seemingly inspired by his courage — rolled to a 14-5 record, 11-1 in the Metro Buckeye Conference.

The Warriors defeated Dixie 8-7 in eight innings Monday, May 12, in the first round of the Division III sectional. They will play at No. 4 seed Middletown Madison today.

The coach, a Tipp City resident who works for a financial services company, hasn't missed a game. He still has a balancing problem and is assisted to the dugout, where he remains during games.

His Warriors made one of the area prep school appearances this spring at Fifth Third Field, home of the Dragons, defeating Lynchburg Clay. But the highlight was Sharp throwing the first pitch.

His son, Jordan, a junior at DC, helped his father to the mound for the occasion. Another son, Brad, a senior at Mount Vernon College who played for his father at DC, was behind the plate for the traditional pitch.

Sharp spent six weeks last fall at the University of Cincinnati Hospital while undergoing radiation. "It has always meant a lot to me to be with the team, but now my concern for the kids is greater than ever," he said.

"Like always, they keep me young, and the super support and prayers from all of them has meant so much to me. I have always loved Dayton Christian — great kids and great cohorts — and that love has grown even more now."

He remains on a feeding tube because he cannot swallow solid foods and his body isn't producing enough saliva. A recent PET scan was clear.

"My wife (Kelly, also a DC grad) is definitely the glue that keeps our family strength intact," said Sharp.

Contact this reporter at 236-6032 or mickeyz@zoomtown.com.

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