BRISTOL, Conn. – If Bangor West is to have a viable chance to go to Williamsport, Pa., for the Little League World Series, a lot may depend on a local sports physician.

Bangor West, which opens against Connecticut champion Trumbull National at 5 p.m. today in the double-elimination Eastern Regional tourney, relies on its two top hurlers, southpaw Jeremy Karam and righty Barrett Dionne.

Karam has been diagnosed as having tendinitis in his pitching shoulder.

“I don’t know if he’s going to be able to pitch in this tournament,” said Bangor West manager Mike Brooker. Karam will get therapy on the shoulder in the hope that he can throw the second game. Dionne is the probable starter in the opener.

Brooker feels the team, that won all three state tournament games in the final inning, has learned to produce under pressure.

“If we find a way to keep it close, we’ll find a way to win,” Brooker said.

Should Karam not be able to pitch, Brooker will turn to either his son, Travis Brooker, Wes Arnold or Josh Johnson.

“We’ve got other kids who can throw strikes,” he said. “But there’s a big differnce between 70 and 58 miles per hour.”

Karam, who bailed himself out with a decisive homer in the state tourney, will still be in the lineup if he can’t pitch.

“He’s a natural athlete with tremendous instincts,” Brooker said. “I woulld be surprised if he wasn’t one of the three best all-around athletes here.”