Dreams Come True in Cooperstown

Name and age:  Marshall Cavallo, 12

Accomplishment:  As part of the Boston Bulldogs baseball team, Marshall Cavallo competed against teams from around the country at Cooperstown Dreams Park in a week long tournament.

Using Major League rules and playing on larger fields, he was happy to be participating at a level up from Little League.  Some of the teams he faced were from as far away as Texas and California. 

“Playing in Cooperstown was so exciting and I was looking forward to moving to the bigger fields,” says Cavallo.

Although Cavallo was nervous at first about playing in Cooperstown, after one game, he enjoyed the level of competition.  Some of the teams from warmer climates had the advantage of playing year round, but their strength only made the games more intense and challenging for Cavallo and his team.

When not on the field playing ball, Cavallo collected 58 pins from participating teams and started a collection which he proudly displays in a special box.

Key to Awesomeness: Cavallo started playing baseball at the age of six through the town’s Little League program.  Over the years, he learned playing different positions, but liked that of catcher the best. 

“Although I was pretty good at pitching, I always loved to catch,” says Cavallo.  “I love seeing everything.”

He eventually began taking lessons at Winning Pitches in Framingham and by the time he got to middle school, he was asked to join Team Massachusetts Baseball, an AAU team comprised of kids from the surrounding towns.

Cavallo plans to continue playing fall ball and taking more lessons.  He hopes to play on Babe Ruth next year which is where boys in Hopkinton move on to when they are done with Little League.

“I just want to improve my skills so I can continue playing until college,” says Cavallo.

Congratulations from Hopkinton Patch for being this week’s Whiz Kid.  To nominate a kid, email faith594@msn.com.