He operates an Italian restaurant in a town that suffers no shortage of Italian food, so Roxbury Pizzeria owner Albert Lepore knows he must be on top of his game to keep customers happy and win new ones. Good thing the 51-year-old restaurateur, an athletic guy, thrives in competitive environments.

“I’ve been playing sports since I was a kid,” said Lepore, who competed in college baseball and high school football. When it comes to being a winner — either at sports or at making a perfect pizza — Lepore seems to have the right stuff.