caption:

 

Addresses

John Iovino ,former baseball coach at Norwich Free Academy, addresses the audience at the TriTown American Legion Baseball Post-Season Banquet. Courtesy photo.

 

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

The TriTown American Legion Baseball teams and the more than 100 guest at the Post-Season Banquett received a firsthand understanding of the game of baseball from the event’s guest speaker John Iovino.  The 2008 Connecticut High School Coach of the Year shared his life philosophy July 25 at American Legion Post #67 in Thompson. 

Iovino, who lives in Norwich and is the director of Student Affairs at Norwich Free Academy, held the audience in the palm of his hands as he delivered a poignant message to the players and regaled the group with baseball stories normally reserved for the Hot Stove League.

For 28 years, from 1979 to 2007 Iovino was the varsity baseball coach at NFA, where he developed a cadre of talented players.  The culmination of Iovino’s coaching career occurred in 2003 when he and his assistant coach Duke Campbell guided the Wildcats to the Connecticut Class LL State Championship.  That team posted a near perfect 23-2 record.

“Early in our season the team travelled to Trumbull for a game that would prove to be the test we had to take to see if we were a legitimate contender.  Our kids put together a victory behind our number two pitcher, verifying the fact that we thought this team was legitimate,” said Iovino.

The proof that their assessment was correct is present today in professional baseball.  Four former Wildcats are either in the Major Leagues or just one step away.  Eric Campbell, a utility player with the New York Mets, has been proving his worth by his versatility and hitting prowess.  Campbell has played every infield position and in two outfield spots for Manager Terry Collins.  He’s currently hitting a lofty .324.

Dominic Leone is a relief pitcher with the Seattle Mariners.  Since being called up early in the season he’s been a valuable member of the Seattle pitching corps.  Leone has a 3-2 record and sports a minuscule 2.39 ERA.  He’s struck out 47 batters in 43 innings pitched.

Andrew Carignan is playing at Fresno in the AAA Pacific Coast League, where he is 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA.  Carignan previously had a stint with the Oakland A’s before he was sidelined by arm trouble, which forced him to have Tommy John surgery.

The surprising player of the group is Zack Zaneski who was recently promoted to Salt Lake City of the Pacific Coast League.  He’s a former four-year player at the University of Rhode Island.  He was signed to a professional contract as a free agent by the parent organization Los Angeles Angels.

Iovino admits that one of the biggest thrills in his lifetime was watching Leone faceoff against Campbell in a televised game between Seattle and the Mets.  

“Think of that, a former high school coach watching two of his players on TV playing against each other.  How good does it get?” said Iovino.

The success that Ionino has experience in academia and in baseball can be attributed to the philosophy he espouses of “taking baseball one pitch, one out and one game at a time.”

He told the TriTown audience, “Remember you can’t do anything about yesterday.  Today is today and do the best you can and don’t worry about tomorrow.”

In baseball and in life living each day to its fullest is the route to success according to Iovino.