Red Sox to Honor PHS Clippers Baseball Team Tonight

The Boston Red Sox will honor players and coaches of the Clippers baseball team tonight at Fenway Park.

On Friday, Clippers Coach Tim Hopley indicated the team doesn't know yet what the Red Sox have planned before they play their regularly scheduled game at 7:15 p.m. against the Baltimore Orioles. But everyone is very excited.

"Regardless, we're looking forward to being a part of whatever the Red Sox have planned, and are proud of what the program has accomplished," wrote Hopley in an e-mail.

The Clippers set a national record for consecutive wins by a high school baseball team (76) on their way to winning their fourth straight Division II title. Their consecutive win streak currently stands at 83.

Hopley said that many high school players contributed to the team's amazing feat over the last few years and the recognition the team will receive from the Red Sox this evening is a tribute to all of them

"This years' team may be the group on the field Saturday night, but they're doing so not only as a tribute to what it accomplished, but also the teams and players who started this unbelievable ride," wrote Hopley.

Rus Wilson, Portsmouth High's athletic director, previously said the school spoke with the Red Sox public relations office in June.

Wilson said the invitation resulted from a conversation between an athletic department secretary and Dave O'Brien, a Red Sox radio announcer who lives in Rye. O'Brien was watching his daughter graduate from Portsmouth High School on June 10 and has occassionally mentioned the team's accomplishments during his Red Sox broadcasts.

O'Brien relayed the request to the Red Sox public relations office and the invitation followed.

"It's quite a honor for them," Wilson previously said. "Hopefully, it's not over yet. They are at 83 now and maybe next season they can keep it going."

To his knowledge, the Red Sox have never recognized any Portsmouth High school team before and the pre-game ceremony will give the Clippers some well-deserved national recognition.

"It's just great for the kids, great for the school," Wilson said. "For now, all of the boys and the coaches are enjoying the moment."

Portsmouth Patch will be at Fenway Park to cover the pre-game ceremony Saturday night.