He may not get to live out all of his baseball dreams, but he still plays.

Though soon, 5-year-old Zach Saurini will have to be held back, and his parents must find a way to tell their son that he can no longer play his favorite sport.

“How do you tell your kid that he can't play baseball,” Robert Saurini said. “We just don't know how we are going to tell him yet.”

Zach Saurini has two rare syndromes that keep him from being able to play freely like other children his age. He has Jaffe Campanacci Syndrome and Goldenhar - both threaten to hold him back from many things in life, though currently he plays despite the difficulties.

“Nothing keeps him down,” Zach's mother, Jodi Saurini, said. “It is so hard to keep him from doing anything because he is just such an active child and nothing stops him.”

Jaffe Campanacci Syndrome is what affects Zach the most. This affliction, which he was born with, leaves him with hollow bones caused by benign tumors located along the bones. His left leg is affected the most and is also significantly shorter than his right leg.

“Any pressure on that leg is dangerous and painful after long periods,” Jodi said. “The doctors are all surprised that he has yet to get a fracture in his leg or anywhere else because it is so common.”

The Goldenhar is more mild in Zach, affecting his left side, leaving marbling coloration on his skin and causing weakness in his left eye.

“We were told within a week of his birth about this syndrome,” Jodi said. “Eventually they can do surgery to hopefully help his eye but we have to put drops in his right eye and a patch over it for three hours every day in order to get his left eye stronger.”

But Zach isn't worried about these illnesses. Right now, he's more worried about getting his next hit.

Zach plays in the Boys and Girls Baseball League and his parents know that this is most likely the only year he can play due to the danger of anything making contact with his bones.

“He played hockey for two years and still thinks he will be able to play this year,” Robert said. “He was just asking where his hockey stuff was today. I don't know how we are going to tell him that he can't play anymore.”

“Baseball and farming are his life,” Jodi added. “My mother-in-law and I cried when the doctor told us that he can't play his sports anymore, especially baseball.”

Zach is playing this summer because the level is low enough that his parents feel they can keep him safe.

“He loves to slide into bases,” Jodi said. “I am a wreck every time because I am afraid of what could happen.”

Surprising them as usual, Zach does it over and over again, walking away with an infectious smile on his face that the crowd of parents and kids just can't seem to do anything but love.

“Everywhere we go people just adore him,” Jodi said. “He has such a way with everyone, he has such a personality.”

Zach is obviously not letting anything keep him down, as he jokes about having pretty girls work on his farm someday. His father talks about how Zach imitates Major League Baseball players catching balls in the outfield and slamming up against his wall at home like the outfield fence.

“My favorite teams are the Yankees and the Mets,” Zach said. “I like Derek Jeter. I want to be a catcher someday.”

Zach was inspired in his love for baseball by 2007 Auburn Doubledays catcher, J.P. Arencibia, developed a bond with Zach.

“We took Zach to see J.P. play in New Hampshire,” Robert said. “You should have seen the two of them. J.P. brought Zach on the field and taught him to taunt the other team. He walked out of there with a free bat, a hat, and all kinds of things. He just loves baseball so much.”

Zach's parents said that what is more impressive than how Zach plays the sport is his knowledge of the game.

“He just knows the sport so well,” Jodi said. “His knowledge of it is on an adult level.”

“The other day before the game he told his coach he wanted to warm up in the bullpen,” Robert added. “The kid knows his game, he gets me up at six in the morning and wants to watch baseball.”

Zach is the tiniest player on his team as well, which also has no bearing on how hard he plays or how well he plays. The only sign of a difference in him from afar may be the little wobble when he runs due to the problems he has in his left leg.

“They are hoping to do surgery on his leg once he gets older and a little stronger,” Jodi said. “Any amount of pressure put on his leg causes him a lot of pain, even just walking too much. Zach won't be able to participate in gym class either once he starts kindergarten next year. But you can't stop him even if you try, I just have to try to keep him healthy and as safe as possible.”

Zach not only strives to be the best baseball player he can but he also wants to be like all of the other kids, even when it hurts him.

“He walked the entire Memorial Day parade with his teammates,” Robert said. “He did it because he wanted to be like everyone else. Even if it hurt he wouldn't admit it, he sometimes does crazy things like smacking his head into the refrigerator or jumping off the bed and he'll get back up and say 'I'm okay' sticking his thumbs up.”

He has no trouble making everyone think he is fine. Zach is the center of attention almost everywhere he goes.

“He is a strong kid for what he has been through,” Jodi said. “It is really amazing. He has been through so much, even being born deaf and having to have two sets of tubes in his ears. Nothing keeps him down though, he is such a special kid.”

Zach is guaranteed to have surgeries in the future, and this is most likely his last year playing baseball. With his parents trying to find the words to tell him that he cannot live out his dream of being a catcher for the Doubledays, Zach is still holding on to all of his goals and inspiring lives around him with just a flash of his grin.

“I'm going to be a farmer and have cows and crops,” Zach said. “And I'm going to be a catcher, too.”