Please Note: This blog was made with the intentions of looking back through our journeys of the first-ever Clemente Cup. It also serves as a visual tour of the events and festivities for those of you who were unable to come along with us.
As with anything that is new or groundbreaking,
there were people that were skeptical about the details of this trip since it
was different than anything that’s ever been done before. As a team, we were more excited than anything
else, especially once we touched down in San Juan. To be able to play baseball in the best climate
for the sport in the world, while also learning from the history, culture, and
people that inhabit the island was something we will never forget. Puerto Rico
was ready for us all upon our arrival in anticipation of hosting the inaugural
Clemente Cup.
Months of preparation from our Coaches and the team prior to The Clemente Cup. (Photos by Mr. Fred Saburro)
Shortly after our trip, Major League Baseball played
a game for the first time in 17 years on the neighboring island of Cuba, as the Tampa Bay Rays faced the Cuban National team. Obviously our
trip did not have nearly the political influence that the game in Cuba had, but
it definitely had a significant historical and economic impact. It was estimated that between the 10 teams,
the tournament generated over $2.5 million dollars within the Puerto Rican
economy.
SUNY Canton's Athletic Director, Mr. Randy Sieminski, meeting with Mrs. Vera Clemente. (Photo by Francesco Palumbo)
The passion from the country
and the people we encountered was motivating; it presented us with an
incredible opportunity to experience the culture that is so enthralled with the
sport of baseball. Every day that we
were there, we encountered adventures that brought our team
together. Had we traveled elsewhere for
our Spring Training, we would not have been able to have had so many of the
experiences that we had in Puerto Rico.
We played in several stadiums across the island that featured full
seating for thousands of people. The
Puerto Rican fans that showed up for our games were always loud and proud, as
they made sure to represent their country’s love of the game with pride. Our teammates Wilson Matos, Christian
Nazario-Cruz, and Bobby Clemente are from Añasco, Nagüabo, and Carolina, Puerto
Rico. It was nice to be a part of the interactions between them and their
families. Wilson, Christian, and Bobby had the amazing opportunity
of representing Puerto Rico, and playing in front of their families and friends
on their home island.
We were all mindful of the role we had as it was the first-ever Clemente Cup, and we hope that the interactions we encountered throughout our journeys established relationships that will help continue to grow and expand the tournament for years to come. It definitely opened our eyes to a culture unlike anything that we are so accustomed to here in the States. Baseball is the national pastime for both of our cultures, so it served as the common ground and the theme for the whole trip, but baseball brought us more than just the sport in the time we were there. Baseball was able to bring about the experiences that we shared in our time in Puerto Rico.
Eddie Vargas, a native of Puerto Rico and former Major League player from the Pittsburgh Pirates, traveled with us throughout the week. He shared countless stories in his time with our team from his life and baseball career. Above is Mr. Vargas [left] with Coach Joe Smith. (Photo on the left by Francesco Palumbo)
The Official Ball that Rawlings provided.
Our trip would not have been possible had it not
been for the cooperation and teamwork that was demonstrated between the coaches
here in the United States and everyone that was involved in Puerto Rico. The Clemente Family and all members of the
Foundation were extremely thorough in working with each of the teams and in
organizing the main details of the tournament.
This included selecting the cities and stadiums that hosted the games
and also signing Rawlings as the sponsor for the Official Ball of The Clemente
Cup.
SUNY Canton’s Assistant Coach Victor Rivera, himself a native of Puerto Rico, was also exceptionally influential in making arrangements for everyone involved in the tournament. Not only did Coach Rivera help our own team find accommodations, such as lodging, food and transportation, he traveled across Puerto Rico for months prior to the tournament in preparation for the arrival of all ten teams. During that time and through his travels, Coach Rivera was especially busy arranging meetings with the mayors of numerous cities, news stations, and ultimately in assuring the tournament would become a reality. SUNY Canton’s Head Coach Joe Carbone was instrumental in contacting the teams and in setting up the scheduling that allowed the tournament to run smoothly in all aspects from start to finish.
Throughout the past eighteen months, Coach Carbone and Coach Rivera made countless phone calls, sent thousands of e-mails, and worked incredibly long, hard hours to make everything come together. To attract more interest in the Clemente Cup, one of the responsibilities I undertook at the outset of the event was to write and forward press releases to each Division III baseball program across the United States. More than three hundred Division III baseball schools across the nation received information regarding the 2016 Clemente Cup.
We would like to sincerely thank the nine other teams that joined us. To all the coaches, ballplayers, assistants and family members who made the trip from Misericordia, Susquehanna, Penn State Abington, Arcadia, Messiah, Pittsburgh-Greensburg, Oneonta, Kean and New Jersey City: “You can all proudly say you were a part of the First Annual Clemente Cup! Without your support and great sportsmanship, this event would not have been nearly as positive an experience as it proved to be for all of us.”
Because of everyone’s trust in Coach Carbone, Coach Rivera, the Clemente Family, and in the importance of this tournament, the inaugural Clemente Cup of 2016 was a successful endeavor which we will look forward to hosting for years to come.
In case you missed it, we made a promotional video to preview the Clemente Cup a few weeks before we left. It was shared across Puerto Rico, and by our team and families here in the United States, and can be seen here:
Day-by-day
The SUNY Canton Baseball Team was loaded and on the bus in the parking lot of the Roos House in Canton, NY, on the morning of Thursday March 3, 2016. With an upcoming stop in New York City to catch our flight to San Juan, and then being a part of the inaugural Clemente Cup, the excitement was definitely in the air. The bus pulled out of the back parking lot, and we took a break from driving just once arriving at JFK airport in NYC.
Happy to be on the bus leaving the winter weather of Canton, NY to play baseball in Puerto Rico.
Driving through the Big Apple.
The bus came to a
stop in front of the Delta section and we unloaded all of our luggage to be
checked. We then entered the security
and check-in area. Each of our ID’s were
checked and our bags were weighed.
The SUNY Canton baseball team poured into the JFK airport, ready for their flight to Puerto Rico.
Nick & his table ate Sushi. (Photos by Nick Demarais)
There were no issues at all with security, and we were shuttled to the terminal down the strip to wait for our 7:45p flight. Once inside the terminal, the team ate at the various locations, which had many options to eat different foods like sushi, Stromboli, fruits, burgers, and smoothies.
We mostly entertained
ourselves by playing games with teammates or watching movies and listening to
music on the electronic tablets placed on the seat ahead of us. There was a large array of movies, and
several options for games, so we were definitely occupied for the duration of
the flight.
A Warm Welcome
"Team en la casa/Team in the house." (Photo by Bobby Clemente)
At 12:50 a.m. (11:50 p.m. EST) on Friday, March 4, we touched down in San Juan, Puerto Rico and had essentially no problems with security or our luggage. As we exited the front doors of the airport with our gear in hand, Mr. Luis Clemente greeted us all to the island. “It’s going to be an incredible experience,” Mr. Clemente assured us. “There are a lot of people looking forward to this and we hope you all feel the hospitality of the people and enjoy your stay here.”
[Left] Mr. Clemente greeting his son, Bobby, after we all landed in San Juan. [Right] Mr. Clemente talking to our team and welcoming us to the island. (Photos by Francesco Palumbo)
The team
piled into several rental vehicles after our luggage was out of the way, and we
headed for our hotel in Añasco. There was a mixture of excitement from actually
being in Puerto Rico, and fatigue from all of the travel of the past 24
hours.
We arrived at the first hotel in Añasco, Puerto Rico. (Photos by Fred Saburro)
What a view that we had from the top row of stands at the stadium in Aguadilla. (Photos by Fred Saburro)
March 4th marked the first day of competition for SUNY Canton in the Clemente Cup tournament. Our game started at 7 p.m., but we had a beautiful Opening Day Ceremony in Aguadilla prior to the game scheduled before ours.Mayor Carlos Méndez Martínez of Aguadilla, Coach Victor Rivera, Luis Clemente, and several other public figures spoke at the ceremony. The National Anthems were beautiful, and resonated with all of the teams. The magnitude of the tournament reached beyond baseball. It is difficult to explain the pride and emotional context felt when the young lady sang out the notes of each of the Anthems. Everyone felt a shiver in their spine once she took the microphone and began to sing.
Roberto Clemente’s wife, Vera, and sons, Luis Roberto, Roberto Jr., and Roberto Enrique, were all present for the games of the Clemente Cup. They each continue to strive to allow his legacy to live on through their work in the Clemente Foundation with various organizations on the island of Puerto Rico. The Clemente Foundation is especially active with the children and gives them an opportunity to better their lives.
We lined the first and third base-paths for the Opening Ceremony in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. (Photos byFred Saburro)
More photos from the Opening Ceremony and the game before ours. [Bottom Left] Wilson Matos on the field with Greg Dobies and the rest of the SUNY Canton Kangaroos during the ceremony. (Photo by Wilson Matos)
Upon the conclusion of the Opening Ceremony, since we didn’t play until 7pm, we headed over to a field across town to
warm up and practice. After that, we went down the road to the local mall and
ate at La Fonda Criolla, which featured a line of different foods from the island. We got to choose from any of the dishes and the cooks filled our plates.
[Left and Center] The team bonding over our meals (La Fonda Criolla - center photo). [Right] A monument in Aguadilla is at the center of a park area (outside the stadium we warmed up in prior to playing) to memorialize the voyage of Christopher Columbus and his crew. (Photos by Francesco Palumbo) _________________________________________________________________________________
Game Time: Play Ball!
Immediately after we ate, we headed back over to the stadium and warmed up for our game versus Pittsburgh-Greensburg. That game showed the potential of our team at many times throughout the nine innings.
Immediately, in our first at-bats, the offense sparked behind dominant pitching from Travis Bigelow. Cristian Cruz led off for us with a double to right-center field. Wilson Matos followed up with a back-to-back double, giving us runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Seth Douglas dropped a single to right-field over the first baseman, scoring Cruz, and giving us the 1-0 lead. Matos scored when Seth caused the Pitt-Greensburg pitcher to throw away a pick-off attempt. In the top of the second inning, Tom Brusca reached, and Travis Schindler singled to left field, putting runners on 1st and 2nd. Junior Malinoski placed a perfect sacrifice bunt down the 1st base line to move the runners up with just one out. Cruz brought a run in on a ground-out. Wilson Matos showcased his power by launching a fastball over the left-field fence for the first SUNY Canton home-run of the season. His two run shot gave the Roos a 5-1 lead. Jeremy Baez and Brandon Welch singled in the 3rd, setting up an RBI single from Brusca to add a run to the Canton lead. In the top of the 4th, Matos singled to center and then stole second base. Immediately after, Seth Douglas blasted a fastball over the left-center field wall. His home-run was a lined shot that nearly cleared the trees behind the fence, and it added yet another two runs for the Roos. In the top of the 6th, Junior singled, but was forced out on a fielder’s choice. Cruz was the base-runner and stole second base. Douglas followed that up with a double to left-center scoring Cristian. Canton’s lead pulled to 9-4.
ROOS
RUNDOWN:Cruz notched a hit, an RBI, 2 runs, and a stolen base; Matos finished the night 3/5, one of which being a home-run. He scored 3 times, stole a bag, and drove in 2 runs. Seth Douglas went 3/5 including a homer as well, scoring once, and driving in 4 runs. Jeremy Baez notched a hit and scored. Brusca finished 2/4, driving in a run and scoring once himself. Schindler scored once, and added a hit of his own. Travis Bigelow pitched dominantly on the rubber for the Roos, as he went 7 strong innings, giving up just 3 hits, and just 1 earned run. He struck out two in the winning effort. Jake St. Mary and Robbie Osterer provided the relief in closing out the game. Robbie went 1 2/3 innings, he struck out 4, and earned the save.
In the time outside of games, we hosted clinics and a showcase for the players of Puerto Rico. (Photo by Fred Saburro)
On Saturday, March 5th,
we played Penn-State Abington in Añasco.
Again, the offense was in good form, and the Roos received an excellent
first start from Luis Caballero, a sophomore from Jacksonville, FL. After 4 complete innings of scoreless
baseball on both sides, Penn State broke through for two runs in the 5th.
In the Kangaroos’ at-bats in the bottom half of the inning, a really special
rally took place. Roenbeck led off the
inning with a walk, and freshman transfer Kirkland Festa reached. Junior Malinoski walked to load the bases for
Canton, with only one out. Cruz drove a
run in to bring the Roos back within one, 2-1.
With the bases still loaded and 1 out, Roos trailing by one, Matos,
playing in his hometown, arrived at the plate.
He drilled the first strike he saw over the left field fence for a GRAND
SLAM. His shot cleared the bases and gave us a 5-2 lead over Penn State. As he rounded the bases, the stands had
erupted and were all cheering their hometown hero along the way. The buzz in the stadium continued, and there
was an unprecedented excitement that came along with the whole situation. It was truly a memorable moment, and
especially touching to see Matos succeed under the pressure, in front of his
community, family, and friends in such a clutch performance. Tom Brusca came on to pitch for 2 innings,
earning the win, while Robbie Osterer followed up in the 9th to earn
his second save in two outings. Osterer
struck a batter out and the Roos won 8-6.
I ended up going out
to eat with Erdous, Cristian and Wilson after the game at a local Italian
restaurant with their families. It was a
really good dinner and it was nice to see and be a part of their interactions
and to experience their culture like that.
I had Mofongos which are a traditional dish of fried plantains, with a side of broth for dipping, and they were very good. Bobby, Cristian, Erdous and I
explored the hotel and talked for a while when we got back.
On Saturday, March 5th, we played Penn State Abington in Añasco. After the game, we headed back to the hotel and got ready for a celebration on the beach of Aguadilla. All ten teams from the Clemente Cup were in attendance. It was an evening full of live music, food, dancing, and entertainment. It was Mrs. Clemente’s 75th birthday. Besides being a welcoming for all the teams to the island, it was a surprise celebration for her birthday.
There were thousands of people at the beach. Towards the end of the night everyone sang “Feliz Cumpleaños” (the Spanish version of “Happy Birthday”) to Mrs. Clemente. A few minutes later, our team surrounded her and sang “Happy Birthday.”
Then we created a dancing circle, and everyone had a chance to dance in the middle one at a time to showcase the salsa dancing skills we had learned since the night began. It was very memorable for us, not only to have been a part of the festivities, but to have been so closely involved with the Clemente Family.
Coach Jody Johnston with Bobby and Vera Clemente at the celebration.
Our coaches took the stage to represent our team, and we chanted their names. Bobby was presented with an award on stage, and we all started chanting his name, too, for everyone to hear. We were proud that our school, coaches, and friend were being represented for the thousands of people who were in attendance to see. The dancing and music were energetic all night long to honor Mrs. Clemente. The next day, we would play SUNY Oneonta for a spot in the Clemente Cup Championship Game.
At 5PM we started what would become an intense pitching battle as
it came down to the last strike. Khalil
Bratton, who had just rejoined us after his trip to Pennsylvania for USCAA basketball
Nationals, started on the mound. He went 7 innings strong and his performance
was incredible. The changeup he mixed in
was untouchable and made Oneonta off-balance all night long. Wilson Matos provided the RBI’s with the
bases loaded, when he lifted a ball over the effort of Oneonta’s left-fielder
off the wall. Again, Matos had cleared
the once-filled base paths. Robbie Osterer came on in relief for the 8th
and 9th. In the ninth inning,
with the Roos up by just a run and runners on 2nd and 3rd,
Robbie got the batter to fly out to the first base side for the final out of
the game. The crowd went wild and we all
stormed the field. It was a great
feeling of celebration and also of relief from the situation. With that
win we had earned a spot in the Clemente Cup Championship Game.
The Clemente Family holding the Clemente Cup.
Prior to the championship game on Wednesday, March 9th, there were ongoing festivities hours before the game started. An orchestra was playing at the tunnel entrance and an echo filled the stadium as the activities began. Organizers had photo booths at the gate entrances for fans and their families. The concessions were up-and-running and the Clemente Family had a table set up with souvenirs. The energy at the field was evident, as both teams entered through the front gates. Fans also started filling into the stadium, and several former Major League Baseball players were in attendance for the game.
The emotions were high prior to the Clemente Cup Championship Game. (Photo by Nate Hart)
The pregame ceremonies were similar to MLB’s All-Star Game. All of the participating teams were recognized. The starting lineups for the Championship game were then announced. Each of the players and coaches from both teams lined the first and third base line. Beautiful renditions of the Aguadilla and Puerto Rican National Anthems were performed by local singers, followed by a stunning version of “The Star Spangled Banner.”
The Puerto Rican natives representing SUNY Canton and their home island. (Photo by Fred Saburro)
Once the anthems were sung, live performers took to the middle of the field surrounding the mound, in between us and Arcadia. A drum section played an epic call-and-response that resounded throughout the stadium. A traditional Puerto Rican dance group joined them in the middle of the field and performed to their music. By the time the dancing and music was through, the teams were all warmed up and ready to play ball.
The Roos lining the 3rd base side of the diamond while the pregame festivities took place. (Photo by Fred Saburro)
The game came down to the very final out. Arcadia came away with the victory in a 6-5 ballgame. They had their photo taken with the championship banner, however, Luis Clemente and Coach Rivera drew both teams in for a group photo. They were the two teams who competed in the Inaugural Clemente Cup Championship. We gathered in with Arcadia behind home plate, and instead of separating ourselves by team, we mixed in with them for the picture. The Clemente Family joined in for the picture as well.
Above: SUNY Canton with Arcadia and the Clemente Family upon the finish of the Clemente Cup Championship Game.
Below: Your 2016 SUNY Canton Kangaroos Baseball team, with the Clementes.
This was a symbolic moment that really exemplified the purpose of the tournament. It wasn’t about the score at the end of the day, and I think Roberto Clemente would have approved of the scene. That moment will live on for years to come. The photograph will be in the archives on display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, along with other game memorabilia.
Over the course of the next few days, we continued to take in the thrill of the opportunity of playing baseball in Puerto Rico. We attended a beach party that was organized for all the teams in Lajas.
Lajas, Puerto Rico
Coach Joe Smith sat and talked with Eddie Vargas for most of the night as the two exchanged stories. Eddie played professionally for the Pirates, and he joined us throughout the week at our games in Cabo Rojo and Aguadilla.
Photo by Zach Cortese David Rodriguez was with us all week long. He is a very kind man, and helped us all throughout the week. His knowledge of the island came in handy to help us get from town to town; He also possesses a technique in which he is to be able to teach by example, while also leading in a manner that exemplifies respect.
David Rodriguez, professional reptile wrangler.
Eddie Rodriguez played professionally for the Dodgers; he now runs and organizes RBI Baseball in Puerto Rico, a league designed to help cultivate the top baseball players of the area.
He helped all tournament long with all of the teams and making sure the stadiums were ready.
I had the privilege of celebrating my birthday with my teammates after our last game in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Fred Saburro)
Some of the Clemente Family's collection of Roberto Clemente memorobilia at their home. (Photo by Bobby Clemente)
Coach Carbone noted that the Clemente Legacy truly lives on through his family. “The whole Clemente family carry themselves in a very honorable way. They are the most down-to-earth people you’ll ever meet. When Bobby is here [playing baseball and going to school at SUNY Canton], he continues to carry on the legacy.” It is intended that through the efforts of this tournament the legacy of Roberto Clemente continues and more people can be influenced through the work of his family. In our time on the island we also hosted clinics and showcases for players ranging from youngsters learning the game to teenagers looking to play in the United States.
Coach Smith with Mr. Luis Clemente (Photo by Francesco Palumbo)
“I am really proud that my grandfather was one of the people that stood up for rights and to help other people,” Bobby Clemente said. “The Hall of Fame and baseball aspect are great, but as a human, for me, it makes me really proud that he was a person that cared about other people and the other nations, not only his.”
Bobby and Luis Clemente and me after the Championship Game (Photo by Bobby Clemente)
Additional Note: Parts of this blog can be found in the St. Lawrence Plaindealer. Upon arriving home from our trip they asked me to write an article for them. It was published and printed on 4/12/2016 for this week's edition.
You have reached the end! Thank you for all of your support and for taking the time to read this. We look forward to the years to come in our travels to Puerto Rico for the Clemente Cup!
I had Mofongos which are a traditional dish of fried plantains, with a side of broth for dipping, and they were very good. Bobby, Cristian, Erdous and I
explored the hotel and talked for a while when we got back. 
He helped all tournament long with all of the teams and making sure the stadiums were ready. 
He helped all tournament long with all of the teams and making sure the stadiums were ready. 
