Sports Winners

Tony DiRollo

Winner – Sports

Overseeing the 3,000 youth players of the Etobicoke Baseball Association isn’t an easy job – but it’s a rewarding one.

Just ask President Tony Di Rollo, who has helmed the EBA for the last six years, often devoting as many as 30 volunteer hours a week to coordinating the efforts of the association’s six member leagues – Bloordale, Martingrove, Rexdale, Royal York and Weston Baseball, as well as Etobicoke Girls Softball.

“When I started, the leagues all acted separately. My goal was to bring them all together as one, working under one vision,” he said. “When I see that happening, that’s what energizes me to keep going.”

Di Rollo got started with the EBA’s Martingrove league when his daughter and son were young. Now, at ages 24 and 19, his kids have long since moved on, but Di Rollo remains.

It’s that level of commitment that impressed Peter Elliott enough to nominate Di Rollo for an Urban Hero Award.

“That he continues with local baseball despite the fact that his son stopped playing five years ago is very impressive to me,” said Elliott, a member of the Martingrove executive and father of a 10-year-old player.
“I’m in awe of the amount of time he devotes – it’s like a second job to him in the summertime.”

Between providing leadership for all six member leagues, setting the standards and procedures of play, chairing the EBA’s monthly meetings and convening the annual Lloyd McConnie Memorial Rookieball tournament, Di Rollo would have his hands quite tied, if not for the assistance of fellow longtime volunteers – about 20 of whom have 25 years or more of service, he said.

With all that support, Di Rollo has been able to concentrate EBA’s efforts on expanding their registration numbers and bettering the quality of baseball instruction they provide.

“North Etobicoke has a changing demographic, so we’re trying to put together an educational program in local schools to entice kids to learn about baseball,” he said.
“One of our main priorities is the grassroots, house leagues – we want to continue offering good, quality programs to bring those kids back year after year.”

In an effort to do just that, EBA recently teamed up with Etobicoke-based Pro Teach Baseball, a premier teaching organization that offers year-round player and coaching camps at its 10,000 square foot indoor facility.

Through that partnership, Di Rollo has not only allowed for EBA’s elite players to train and learn all year for a more modest price than other programs, but it’s also helped to train those coaches at the house league to better teach the game.

All in a day’s work for a humble Di Rollo, who’d rather work behind the scenes than be in the spotlight.

“I get the pleasure out of what I do. I like to be the one planning the parade, not the flagbearer.”