BEDFORD — Back in 2005, Zach Husband and Mike Skilton started a conversation about baseball they've yet to complete.

They were living the dream back then, 12-year-old Little League all-stars on Bedford's state championship team that advanced to the New England Regional tournament in Bristol, Conn.

The dynamic shortstop/center field duo spent every waking minute playing, talking and watching baseball, either on the diamonds or inside the dormitories of the A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center, where the regional takes place annually.

Husband had moved to Bedford that spring. He and Skilton became year-round friends and seasonal teammates thereafter. Sharing a passion for the mental aspects of baseball, they made key contributions on school and summer teams, eventually helping the 2011 Bedford American Legion team win state and regional tourneys en route to the World Series.

They'll carry that friendship and shared love of baseball into this year's American Legion state tournament, which begins today at Holman Stadium in Nashua, with Bedford facing Portsmouth at 4 p.m. in the third of four first-round games.

“It's a mentally exciting game. You have so much to anticipate on every pitch while trying to win every out, inning and game,” said Skilton, a center fielder who sprints on and off the field every chance he gets, even after striking out.”

“The game teaches you so much about patience, concentration and controlling your emotions in the moment,” said Husband, whose shortstop's intuition and anticipation always seem to keep him a step ahead defensively.

Honor-roll students, Husband matriculated to Southern New Hampshire University and Skilton earned an academic scholarship at Franklin Pierce University. Both played on college junior varsity baseball teams last spring as freshmen.

Now, they're completing what may be their last go-round as teammates, as Bedford seeks to defend its state title and regional titles.

“They shared a passion for the game, even back in Little League,” Cary Buxton, the manager of Bedford's 2005 championship squad, said of Husband and Skilton's early friendship. “They yearned to learn the nuances of the game, taking it to a deeper level than other kids.”

Buxton recalled how Skilton sounded like a seasoned coach rather than a wide-eyed youngster when talking batting techniques seven summers ago. He was well versed on a rotational swing, what was then a cutting-edge method of swinging with the entire body — particularly large-muscle groups and the hips — rather than just arms, wrists, and hands.

“They'd be practicing all the time, just grinding it out to get the best out of their abilities. Other players saw them and wanted to get in on it too,” Buxton said.

“We always loved working on our game,” said Husband, recalling how he and Skilton used to meet at 6 a.m. to get in some extra batting practice before attending high school.

Both were four-year varsity players, helping Bedford reach the Division II title game in 2010.

They spent one winter waiting for the baseball season by taking batting practice in the Skilton's basement.

To this day, they tirelessly talk baseball — whether sitting in the dugout keeping teammates involved or perched in stands as fans debating whether the next pitch will be a fastball or curve.

“You could leave practice and those two would take care of everything,” said Tim Conway, coach of the Bedford Legion team. “They are the hardest working kids I've ever coached, and they can get a team's energy level going.”

Husband and Skilton designed “Let's Get Weird” T-shirts for Bedford players to wear last summer during the American Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C. The slogan helped keep the team relaxed and focused.

For all their analysis of the game, Conway said, Husband and Skilton maintain the ability to play instinctively.

And, yes, they can play. They're Bedford's top defensive players, and they typically hit in the middle of the order. Husband is hitting over .300, and Skilton, after an early-season slump, has his average around .260 and climbing.

While this may be the duo's last season playing on the same team, it doesn't mean they'll be finished as teammates. Someday, if they settle in the same area, they may coach together.

“It would be pretty fun coaching, but I hear that requires a whole other passion,” said Husband.

“I think we could find it if we wanted,” responded Skilton.

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Eric Emmerling may be reached at eemmerling@unionleader.com.