LANESBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Bulldogs 11-and-under all-stars will open play in the Cal Ripken State Tournament on Saturday in Pepperell, but they will have to do it without their starting shortstop.

 

The Bulldogs have dedicated their tournament run to Williamstown resident Oscar Low, who broke his arm last week in a soccer camp.

 

Low, also an accomplished musician, was one of the key contributors in a pre-tournament run that saw the Bulldogs go 6-4, mostly against teams of 12-year-old all-stars.

 

"We had his lucky number 7 put on all our hats and are using his misfortune as a positive motivator for our team," Bulldogs coach Rick Paris said.

 

"We told them some may say it's bad luck to lose your starting shortstop and leadoff hitter, but we say it's an opportunity."

 

The Bulldogs open pool play at Pepperell's Kyle A. Bartelson Youth Baseball Complex on Saturday at 10 a.m. against Turners Falls. The team has three pool play games scheduled, the last on Sunday morning, before hoping for a berth in Sunday afternoon's state semi-finals.