Baseball: Milano twin brothers eager to be a part of their dad Lee’s 500th win at Nazareth

Roadrunners’ coach is 20 wins away from milestone victory

Anthony Milano has been counting down his dad’s career wins for three years.

Milano and his twin brother, Joseph, are senior baseball players for Nazareth. Their dad, of course, is Lee Milano, Nazareth’s long-time baseball coach, who began his 22nd season in the Roadrunners’ dugout this week.

Anthony and Joseph, the middle two of Lee’s four boys, remember well watching older brother Dominic and Nazareth playing at the state tournament in 2018, when the Roadrunners took third place in Class 3A.

Now is their time to make a great memory with their dad.

Lee Milano entered this season 20 wins away from career win No. 500, and both twin boys can’t wait to be a part of it.

“I think it will be a dream come true,” said Anthony, like his brother Joseph committed to play collegiately at Morton Junior College. “I’ve never played for my dad. I think it’s going to be really special. If we could accomplish everything we want to do it would be that much better.”

Anthony, a first baseman, and Joseph, a left-handed pitcher, weren’t alive when their father took over the Nazareth program in 2000. But they’ve had a first-hand look at most of his wins – including 12 regional championships, seven sectional titles and four state appearances.

Although this particular Nazareth team has just two players returning from the Nazareth team that went 29-9 in 2019, the Milano boys believe they have what it takes to be playing the final weekend of the season in mid-June. Unlike other IHSA sports played this year, traditional spring sports like baseball will have a state series.

“This group has a lot of talent. If we all stay healthy, we can do something special come June 18,” Joseph said. “That is the goal, to play in that final weekend.”

It is, of course, something that Dominic, who committed to play at Butler a month ago after a season at Morton, did in 2018. Lee Milano’s youngest, Nicholas, is a sophomore on Nazareth’s sophomore team.

Lee is quick to give due to his wife, Karen, for making it all possible all these years.

“All the years of coaching, my wife was really the true winner in all of this,” Lee said. “She was the one at all the boys’ travel games everywhere; I never had the opportunity. She has been the one, the glue to keep it all together.”

Milano said the experience of coaching Dominic will hopefully help him and his boys the second time around this spring.

“Dominic was up as a sophomore, it was tough for him internally, a tough situation. We had some injuries and it was not easy but it made him a stronger individual and it made me a better coach,” Lee said. “Obviously now the second time around, I see things a little bit different.”

While Lee will always be a dad to the boys, he is not one to play favorites with players of the same last name.

“With all four of my boys, when I’m coaching them, they’re treated no different than anybody else,” he said. “In reality it’s almost more difficult for them. It’s almost like they have to prove themselves. They have to earn their keep, just like anybody else, I’m not doing them any favors. I’m not preparing them for life by doing that.”

Anthony and Joseph may be twins, but they’re clearly different players.

Anthony used to be a catcher growing up, but frequent injuries in part precipitated a position switch. He had labrum surgery his freshman year, wrist surgery back in the fall, and has settled in at first base.

“My arm is not greatest, with my wrist can’t catch any more, first base is my spot,” he said.

Joseph played outfield and pitcher growing up, but as time wore on talked to his dad and said that if he focused exclusively he could go far in life for that. He played outfield and pitched his sophomore year, but last year was going to make the move to pitcher only. He got in a game Tuesday against Reavis, a collective 15-strikeout effort by multiple pitchers.

“Offseason me and my dad talked, we thought it would be best to just pitch to work on my offspeed,” said Joseph, noting that his slider is his best pitch and his changeup needs a little work. “I feel good throwing and confident. I’m excited.”

Joseph and Anthony are excited about the potential for the season brings, and also for the big milestone win just around the corner for their dad.

“It gives me the chills,” Joseph said. “I think this is the group to do it. We have so much talent. It’s definitely something I think we can do. I want to be on the mound, I want the ball for sure.”

Joshua  Welge

Joshua Welge

I am the Sports Editor for Kendall County Newspapers, the Kane County Chronicle and Suburban Life Media, covering primarily sports in Kendall, Kane, DuPage and western Cook counties. I've been covering high school sports for 24 years. I also assist with our news coverage.