Legendary Coach Stavreti Passes Away

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Considered by many to be the godfather of local high school baseball, legendary coach Chris Stavreti passed away on Friday. Stavreti was 73 years old.

Last year, Stavreti was diagnosed with A.L.S, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.  He was the head coach for the Northrop baseball program from 1972-1997. Prior to his time at Northrop he coached at East Noble high school.

Stavreti was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1991. He retired with a career record of 559 wins and 255 losses. Stavreti led Northrop to the 1983 state title. That team included current Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge.

"Coach Stavreti, he impacted lives," Wedge told WANE-TV an in interview last summer. "Obviously, he impacted mine, on and off the field. You talk about tough? He's a tough cookie. I still stay in touch. I learned a great deal from him. He took a chance on a freshman and put me on the varsity level and we had four great years together. He does so much for so many, and he does it the right way."

A well-regarded educator, Stavreti developed a scholarship program that bears his name. The Stavreti Scholarship is given to a Northrop senior each year.