Clemente Cup
College Baseball Tournament

The Clemente Cup is a college baseball tournament that usually takes place during spring break. The tournament allows Puerto Rican teams to compete against mainland US teams. The Foundation selects the cities and stadiums that host the games and was honored to work with Rawlings as the Official Ball sponsor for 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 teams 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.

Story by: Francesco Palumbo
The Clemente Family holding the Clemente Cup.

The Official Ball that Rawlings provided.
SUNY Canton's Athletic Director, Mr. Randy Sieminski, meeting with Mrs. Vera Clemente. (Photo by Francesco Palumbo)
Eddie Vargas, a native of Puerto Rico and former Major League player from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Mr. Vargas [left] with Coach Joe Smith. (Photo on the left by Francesco Palumbo)
Eddie Vargas, a native of Puerto Rico and former Major League player from the Pittsburgh Pirates
Bobby Clemente, Jake St. Mary, and Travis Bigelow settled into their seats pre-flight. (Photo by Bobby Clemente)
Months of preparation from our Coaches and the team prior to The Clemente Cup. (Photos by Mr. Fred Saburro)
Settling in for a long ride. (Photos by Mr. Fred Saburro)
Mr. Luis 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)
We arrived at the first hotel in Añasco, Puerto Rico. (Photos by Fred Saburro)
Gerald, Dan Coant, Joe Campbell, Vinny Bondinello, and Brett riding to the stadium.
What a view that we had from the top row of stands at the stadium in Aguadilla. (Photos by Fred Saburro)
Mr. Luis Clemente, Coach Carbone and the SUNY Canton coaching staff, and Mayor Carlos Méndez Martínez speaking to the teams and fans prior to the first game during the Opening Ceremony. (Photos by Mr. Fred Saburro)
Kirkland Festa, Cristian Cruz (Naguabo, Puerto Rico) and Wilson Matos (Añasco) wait with the team in the stands. (Photos by Fred Saburro)
We lined the first and third base-paths for the Opening Ceremony in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. (Photos by Fred Saburro)
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)
Cristian Cruz, Wilson Matos, and Bobby Clemente talking to news reporters at a press conference prior to the start of the competitions. (Photo by Nate Hart)
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.
The SUNY Canton Kangaroos Baseball team with Mrs. Clemente and family shortly after singing "Happy Birthday" to her. Included in this photo are Luis Caballero, Gerald Abillar, Christopher Lee, Vinny Bondinello, Cristian Cruz, Wilson Matos, myself, Axel Riviere, Erdous Lebron, Derrick Machado, Travis Bigelow, Greg Dobies, Travis Schindler, and Dan Coant as well as Luis and Vera Clemente. (Photo by Fred Saburro)
Coach Jody Johnston with Bobby and Vera Clemente at the celebration.
The Clemente Family holding the Clemente Cup.
The emotions were high prior to the Clemente Cup Championship Game. (Photo by Nate Hart)
The emotions were high prior to the Clemente Cup Championship Game. (Photo by Nate Hart)
The Puerto Rican natives representing SUNY Canton and their home island. (Photo by Fred Saburro)
The Roos lining the 3rd base side of the diamond while the pregame festivities took place. (Photo by Fred Saburro)
Your 2016 SUNY Canton Kangaroos Baseball team, with the Clementes.
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
Coach Smith with Mr. Luis Clemente (Photo by Francesco Palumbo)
Coach, David Rodriguez & Bobby
Some of the Clemente Family's collection of Roberto Clemente memorobilia at their home. (Photo by Bobby Clemente)
Bobby and Luis Clemente and me after the Championship Game (Photo by Bobby Clemente)
I had the privilege of celebrating my birthday with my teammates after our last game in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Fred Saburro)

Carbone & Rivera's
effort pays off

SUNY Canton’s Head Coach and Roberto Clemente Foundation Board member 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 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. More than three hundred Division III baseball schools across the nation received information regarding the latest Clemente Cup.

We lined the first and third base-paths for the Opening Ceremony in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.  (Photos by Fred Saburro)

Help us produce
the next clemente cup

The Foundation and Clemente Cup team would like to sincerely thank the teams that participated. 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.

Luis Clemente presents a donation check.
Photo: Clemente Family