CONCH PRIDE: JOY NULISCH JOINS THE KEYS WEEKLY ‘SIDE TRACKS’ PODCAST TO TALK CONCH BASEBALL, ISLAND LIFE

a couple of women standing next to each other

Joy Nulisch is a lifelong public schools educator, a podcaster, a Key West Conch Baseball expert and leader of the local fandom, a wedding officiant and a proud dog owner of Tito.

https://omny.fm/shows/the-florida-keys-weekly-podcast/joyfinal-pod-0702/embed

In short, she’s a true ‘Conch,’ the term of endearment and historic designation for someone born and raised in Key West.

Joy joined Keys Weekly digital editor Gwen Filosa to talk about the legendary Conch Baseball program, how to make it in Key West, how she adopted her ride-or-die Tito the dog and why no one in the loving, compassionate and fun-loving community of Key West is considered a stranger.

In June, Joy retired from the Monroe County School District after 35 years on the job, having led the IT department.

a group of people standing next to each other on a field
Nine-year-old Joy Nulisch, far left, is captured in this photo as an already diehard Key West Conch Baseball fan at Tommy Roberts Stadium in the 1980s. She’s standing beside her brother, her father George Carey and her stepbrother. JOY NULISCH/contributed

“All along Kennedy Drive, the kids start playing T-ball [and play] all the way up to high school and it’s quality baseball,” Nulisch said of the Key West baseball tradition of working hard and playing for your whole community.

“It’s the best, one of the most elite programs in the country,” she said. “And, if you love baseball, you’re gonna love being out there and seeing the competitive game that’s played.”