Lower Columbia All-Stars open play in regional tournament Thursday

Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, July 24, 2012

MERIDIAN, Idaho The Lower Columbia 11-year-old All-Stars are set and ready to begin play in the Cal Ripken Baseball Regional Tournament, which will stage the opening ceremonies today, followed by the start of pool play Thursday.

The Lower Columbia players began arriving in Meridian, Idaho Tuesday, to acclimate themselves to the warmer, dryer weather.

Lower Columbias first game is at 11 a.m. Thursday (10 a.m. Pacific Time) vs. a team from Helena, Mont. The All-Stars play again at 4 p.m. vs. the host team from Meridian.

Lower Columbia closes pool play at 11 a.m. Friday vs. Bellingham, Wash.

Were all chomping at the bit and ready to go, said Lower Columbia manager Chris Dorman. We feel like were peaking at the right time, and were anxious to play some Lower Columbia baseball, the way we know how.

The All-Stars raised $800 in three hours over the weekend, at a car wash at Dane Gouges Astoria Ford, to help with travel expenses.

The community support has been overwhelming, Dorman said. Weve had so many people from the community help out, and a lot of unsolicited support, from people just coming forward and saying they wanted to help.

Should they finish as the No. 1 seed in their pool, Lower Columbia would play Saturday. If they finish as a No. 2 or 3 seed, they would play Friday night.