Four Portsmouth baseball standouts bond one final summer with Booma Post 6

PORTSMOUTH — Colby College baseball player and 2023 Portsmouth High School graduate Duncan Cullinane missed his senior season with the Clippers due to sustaining a torn ACL. It cut short his time playing with senior teammates Matthew Minckler, Elliot Miles and Sebastian Lampert.

They were all off going there separate ways with Minckler committed to play ball at Virginia Tech, Miles committed to UMass-Boston and Lampert committed to Suffolk University.

This summer, the friends are getting a chance to write another chapter to write in their shared baseball story, as teammates with the Portsmouth Booma Post 6 American Legion baseball team. Minckler plays shortstop, Cullinane is behind the plate, Miles is at third and Lampert sees time at first and on the mound.

"It's pretty awesome for me," Cullinane said. "It's a lot of fun just getting back out here with all of them .. it's pretty fun, pretty special being able to get out here for one last season with them."

Booma Post 6 is off to a 11-1 start, closing to clinching the District B No. 1 seed for the upcoming New Hampshire tournament.

Minckler said this summer has been really fun, and although it was something he didn't expect, and he's grateful for the opportunity.

"I love these guys, these guys are my best friends," Minckler said. "And this is probably the most fun I'll have playing baseball."

Miles drove in Minckler for the opening run in the team's recent 9-0 win over Exeter .

"It's one of my most cherished opportunities," said Miles, who moved to the area when he was in second grade. "I've been hanging out with these kids every day since I was 8 ... and all I did was baseball. These are the friends I'll have for the rest of my life, so it's really special to share this last season."

Lampert grew up in Portsmouth and said being able to play for Portsmouth one last time is something they don't take for granted.

"I think we want to capitalize on that opportunity and do some big things this summer," Lampert said.

Portsmouth's was set to play at Salem Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Michele Park before hosting Nashua on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Leary Field and a rematch with Salem on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Portsmouth, winners of six in a row entering Sunday's game, will end the regular season against Exeter at Philips Exeter Academy on July 12 at 5:30 p.m. Exeter is the only team to defeat Portsmouth this summer, a 7-3 win in a weekend in-season tournament held at Leary Field, which also included Massachusetts teams Lowell and Newburyport.

Booma last won the state championship in 2021 with a 4-0 win over Nashua, snapping a 13-year state title drought.

"Just seeing their growth, they are older, and more mature," Portsmouth coach Geoff Jablonsky said. "And seeing them kind of enjoy this, it's a lot of fun for us too, to see them get this last dance moment. Hopefully, it ends in a victory."

Bonding with baseball

Baseball can bring many things, and in this situation, it created a strong bond.

"Everything we do together is basically baseball related," Minckler said.

"Just going to school with them and all of that is one thing," Cullinane said. "But then spending all of that time with them outside of school, at practice, it kind of just builds a different kind of bond ... builds bonds a lot stronger than just going to the same school and being from the same town."

Jablonski said he can sense the urgency from the group, playing like it's the last run.

"Especially Elliot (Miles)," Jablonski said. "He's kind of a natural born leader, and he's been loud. And those other guys, they are all in all the time and it's been great. They bring that college readiness mentality and it's great to see."

"This is our last run, and I take this super seriously," Miles said. "And I know a lot of the guys do, and it makes it super successful."

Cullinane said he's glad to have one last opportunity.

"It's going to be missed a lot for sure," Cullinane said.

"All of my best memories have been playing for Portsmouth," Lampert said. "From little league to high school, Portsmouth takes baseball very serious, and that's what makes us take it very serious. So, just doing that one last time before I finish my baseball career in college is just a good opportunity."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Four Portsmouth baseball standouts bond one final summer with Booma Post 6