D.M. Livingston

Published Nov 15, 2025

A Summer to Remember

Waterbury, CT- Before the snow falls, let’s look back at a summer when Waterbury’s South Side came alive — and the Roberto Clemente 12U All-Stars captured the city’s heart.

For 47 years, Roberto Clemente Little League didn’t field an All-Star team in Waterbury. Nearly half a century without a single pitch, without a single cheer, without a single yellow jersey in the postseason.

Until this summer.

What happened next became the heartbeat of the city.
A run so inspiring, so gritty, so Waterbury — it reminded us all what community feels like when it comes alive.

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A League Reborn After Nearly Five Decades

George Tirado Park Sr— the rebuilt South End jewel — became home to a story nobody saw coming. The Roberto Clemente 12U All-Stars stepped onto that field representing not only their league, but the legacy of a neighborhood that has fought for everything it has.

And for one unforgettable summer, the South Side fought right alongside them.

The Waterbury Times was there for the journey: five games, three cities, rain delays, controversy, triumph… and the kind of youth baseball magic people talk about for years.

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THE SEMIFINAL STORM: Clemente 3, Seymour 2

Their run officially began in late June, in the Division 3 Semifinals — a tense, rain-soaked battle in Seymour.

A sudden storm hit mid-game.
Fans scrambled for cover.
But the kids stayed locked in.

Clutch defense in the late innings sealed a 3-2 Victory but the win was overshadowed by a sideline side-show. A Seymour coach filed a challenge claiming a Clemente player was ineligible mid game.

The investigation came back clean.
Waterbury did nothing wrong.

That moment wasn’t just controversy — it was the spark.
People in Waterbury took notice.
A city started paying attention.

Want More Waterbury Sports?

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THE CHAMPIONSHIP RESPONSE: Clemente 9, Seymour 1

The rematch? No drama. No doubt.

Clemente showed up with energy, discipline, and pressure baseball from the first pitch. They stepped on the gas and never let up — cruising to a 9-1 win to punch their ticket to the Sectional Tournament in Southington.

By now, the stands were filling with yellow.
Families. Kids. Public Officals. Neighborhood legends.
The South Side was rolling deep.

Did you know TELEMUNDO cover the team? Here is what they said Here

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SECTIONAL OPENER: The “RALLY ” Clemente 7 Simsbury 5

Simsbury came into Southington confident.
Clemente came in hungry.

In the 4th inning, Clemente trailed 4-1

Did the kids complain?
Nope.
They answered.

They rallied and closed out a gritty  7-5 win to stay alive.

This was the moment everyone realized:
Waterbury wasn’t a Cinderella story. They were a problem.

More SouthSide Waterbury News? Read on Rivera Hughes here

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“The Slide Rule”Southington 6, Clemente 2

The next matchup — Southington vs. Waterbury — was the first game all tournament with:

And it was Clemente’s first loss but not without some questionable interpretation of the rules

Southington, the host, took advantage of home-field energy and handed Waterbury a 6-2 defeat

One loss. Season on the line.
But if you know anything about Waterbury teams…
you knew this fight wasn’t over.

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THE FINAL UNDER THE LIGHTS: CLEMENTE 5 SOUTHINGTON 2

The rematch was everything youth baseball is supposed to be.

Under the lights at Southington Memorial Park, Clemente went toe-to-toe with a powerhouse program.
Big pitches. Big hits. A towering homerun. But no more Summer Magic for Waterbury Southsiders

The All-Stars fought until the very last pitch, but Southington held on for a 5-2 win, ending the ride just one step short of the ESPN Regional stage — one step from the dream of Williamsport.

The long, quiet drive back up Southington Mountain said everything:
Heartbreak, yes.
But pride?
More than this city has felt in a long time.

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A FINAL WORD FROM WATERBURY

This wasn’t just baseball.
This wasn’t just a season.
This was a revival.

After 47 years off the map, Roberto Clemente Little League returned and reminded Waterbury:

• What community feels like
• What unity looks like
• What belief can build

These kids didn’t just play the game.
They changed something in this city.

They brought hope back to the South End.
They put Clemente baseball back on the Connecticut map.
And they wrote a chapter Waterbury will talk about for years.

The Magic Ride is over.
But the legacy?
The legacy is alive forever.

Until Next Summer

And now, as the fields go quiet and winter settles in over Waterbury, this team’s run stays alive in the stories we tell, the photos we saved, and the pride they restored. The uniforms are hung up, the lights are off, but the bond between this team and this city remains.

Stay linked with The Waterbury Times as we brave the winter together — because when the snow melts and the bats come out again, the next chapter of Clemente baseball begins.