Portsmouth High Clippers Baseball Keeps on Winning [VIDEO]

There never was much doubt that the Clippers baseball team would extend its consecutive win streak to 79 after they defeated Pelham High School, 9-0, in their final regular season game on May 26. If they want to capture another state title, they will have to extend their streak to 83 games.

The Portsmouth High team now has it sights set on the Division II tournament which begins later this afternoon. The Clippers will be the number one seed with a 16-0 record.

Watching every game of the historic run were three of the players' moms: Carly Taylor, Shelly McCauley and Diane Hartmann, all of Greenland. Carly's son, Keegan Taylor, is a PHS senior and is the team's ace pitcher with a 22-0 record. He is headed to Northeastern University on a baseball scholarship in the fall.

Shelly's son, Connor McCauley, has been Keegan's battery mate during the historic run, which began back in 2007. Diane's son, Billy Hartman, is the team's sure handed shortstop.

"We haven't missed an inning," said McCauley as the three mothers and several other parents watched their sons continue to make history under 16-year coach Tim Hopley.

Shelly McCauley was worried the team might not break the record at times.

"I was apprehensive because it was a younger team," she said. Many of the players that helped win games the past two seasons had graduated.

Carly Taylor said the competition and opposing pitching has been tougher this year. But somehow, the Portsmouth High Clippers prevailed all season long. She has been amazed at how well her son and his teammates have dealt with the streak.

"These kids handle all of the pressure very well," she said.

She credits Hopley.

"He keeps them focused and disciplined and he keeps them focused on the next game," she said.

The three mothers watched their sons play on the world champion Portsmouth Little League team in 2005 and have watched them achieve something very special this season.

Their 79th win against Pelham High was pretty smooth compared to the come from behind nail biter they won 3-2 against Oyster River High School in Durham on May 25.

Aidan O'Leary, the center fielder, got the scoring started in the second inning with a triple and scored the team's first run. In the fourth inning, starting pitcher Quinn McCauley helped his own cause by belting a two-run homer over the left-field fence to make the score, 4-0. From there it was smooth sailing for the Clippers, who were able to just enjoy a complete victory and move on to to the playoffs.