Portsmouth High School Baseball Team Stuns Defending Champions
The Clippers entered the Division I tournament as the 15th seed after a 1-8 start, but quickly proved that seedings are just numbers.
They opened with a 3-1 victory over No. 2 Pinkerton Academy, then traveled to Exeter where a 6-5 win over the seventh‑seeded Exeter High School turned the tide.
Stars of the Squad
Seniors Zavier Lampert and Hugh Herter anchored the lineup, while freshman pitcher Cam Stacy delivered a clutch performance, sealing the win with seven consecutive outs.
Coach Tim Hopley’s strategic adjustments paid off, and the team’s resilience was evident when they erased a 3-2 deficit to take a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning, only to see Exeter rally before Hugh Herter’s sixth‑inning run put Portsmouth ahead.
Relief pitcher Cam Stacy then closed out the game, preserving the victory and sending the Clippers into the semifinals against No. 6 Londonderry, a team they had beaten 10-9 earlier in the season.
The upcoming matchup promises another tight contest, with both sides boasting strong pitching and aggressive hitting, setting the stage for a thrilling finish to the tournament run.