For Justin Carlo, baseball was everything, and being a Sachem baseball player was all he ever dreamed of growing up in the community.
Carlo’s dream came true and he was an integral part of Sachem North’s Suffolk County championship team in 2011 during his junior season.
He passed away in June 2014, but his memory will live on in Sachem thanks to the Justin Carlo Memorial Scholarship Award. The inaugural honor was given to Sachem’s Nick Miller on Thursday following a victory against Central Islip at home.
“It’s an honor,” said Vicky Carlo, Justin’s mom. “It’s very important to me that Justin isn’t forgotten. It’s something Justin would be really proud of and would want us to do. It keeps his memory alive.”
Facilitated by Kurt Robinson, Carlo’s former Sachem teammate, as well as Robinson’s father, Kurt, the scholarship will be given annually.
“When things like this happen, there are things you can do to keep a person’s memory alive,” said Sachem baseball coach Tom Gambino. “He was a baseball guy, but he was an even better person. This is a great moment for Justin and his family, but it’s tough for all of us.”
Gambino said his lasting impression of Carlo is of him running into the pile with his teammates as they celebrated beating Commack in the Suffolk County final on the varsity field behind Samoset Middle School.
You can donate to the Justin Carlo Memorial Scholarship Fund by mailing checks or money orders to: The Justin Carlo Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1686 Claas Ave. Holbrook, N.Y. 11741.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro