Joe D'Addario
Founder Islip Travel Baseball 2007

Sports, particularly baseball, were an integral part of my life growing up.  From little league where my dad was my 1st coach through College my experiences ran the gamut, playing on some great, as well as weak teams.  I learned the game from coaches who taught it using their own styles and approaches.  Playing a ton of ball both organized and "pickup," including stickball in the schoolyard also helped. Being around the game at the major league level as a vendor in the stands at Shea stadium from the age of fifteen contributed as well.  Over the years, I played different roles and positions.  As a Sr. at Hillcrest HS in Queens, our team ranked as high as #2 overall in the City of New York while compiling a 19-0 record before we finally lost.

Baseball helped me gain early decision admission into Kenyon College.  Kenyon is a small liberal arts school nestled away in the hills of Ohio known for developing writers.  A beautiful campus with first class playing facilities, the school was half the size of my urban HS which didn't even have a baseball field.  We struggled to compete, but I loved playing ball there and some of my best academic semesters occurred during baseball season.  My sophomore year, we set a then college record for wins with a losing record overall!  We traveled to Alabama on spring break and we formed memories that last a lifetime.  From my Freshman year, I started at third base and was chosen co-captain as a Sr.

Baseball is America’s pastime and as my mother a high school teacher and long term HS chairperson still says, you can also tell the story of America through baseball.

When it came time to teach and to share my love of the game with my children and their friends, I dove in headlong relying upon and using my experiences and knowledge of the game.

Islip Travel Baseball grew out of those experiences.  Our board members and coaches volunteer to give back to the game that we love, as a nod to our past coaches, to pass the torch on to the next generation of ballplayers, umpires, coaches and fans.  The love of baseball and softball is a life long healthy interest.  The lessons learned along the way, how to commit, sacrifice and to be part of a team that is larger than yourself are invaluable.

Since 2007, Islip Travel Baseball has followed a winning model in developing ballplayers and teams.  During that time many different travel baseball organizations on Long Island have come and gone.  As a non-profit youth baseball softball travel organization, we are a rarity, particularly on Long Island.  We take pride in seeing the names of our ball players in the newspapers representing their school teams and communities, committing to and playing College ball and now returning to our program as young men in their twenties.

I am grateful and fortunate to have met so many wonderful people who have given of themselves and worked hard to make Islip Travel Baseball a truly special club.