Nov. 6, 2006
 
University of Dayton head baseball coach Tony Vittorio will take part in a week-long mission trip to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic designed to spread the ideals of Christianity through baseball from Nov. 6-11. The trip was organized by Keith Madison of SCORE International, the former head coach at the University of Kentucky.

Coach Madison in our profession is the best guy I have ever been around." Vittorio said. "When Coach Madison asked me to go, I couldn't turn it down. It felt humbled that he would even ask me to go. There are all types of baseball people going on this trip from college baseball coaches to professional baseball coaches. It is a group of baseball people with a Christian background who want to help underprivileged people."

Vittorio also felt honored to represent the University of Dayton on a trip to Central America.

"The purpose of this trip matches up to the mission of the University and its desire to give back to the community," Vittorio said. "That's a mission of our baseball program too. That's why we do the MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) Telethon and Christmas on Campus. We teach our players to give back to those that are less fortunate than we are."

While in the Dominican Republic, Vittorio will be joined by other college, professional and high school coaches as well as some former professional baseball players. The group will teach baseball to youth for three to four hours each morning with clinics at local parks.

"So many times we pick up a phone or make a monetary donation and that is great," Vittorio said. "On this trip, we get to give our services and help people first hand tie together baseball and Christianity. It's neat. Coach Madison is giving each kid a baseball glove with a bible in it. That is a great way for us to stress that to these children."