Zukowski hopeful for second year at Classical

Now that Mike Zukowski has settled into his second year of coaching baseball at Classical, he anticipates a somewhat smoother season.”We were putting a new system in place,” Zukowski said of the 2008 Rams, who went 5-15. “We were building from the ground up. Now we’re a little more acquainted with each other. The kids know what to expect. So far, so good.”The Rams begin the season on April 10 at Revere in a 4 p.m. game. In between now and then, Zukowski has scheduled several scrimmages, including two against Cambridge and one against St. Mary’s.During the regular season, Lynn baseball aficionados will have a chance to watch Classical coaches past and present match wits. Zukowski’s predecessor on O’Callaghan Way, Jim Tgettis, has returned to coaching, only now he’s at Salem High.”It’s a good opportunity for him to get back into coaching,” Zukowski said.When the regular season begins, it sounds like Classical will bring a bit more experienced squad to the ballpark. The coach is looking for leadership from his co-captains, seniors Brian Kolodziej and Wilson Mercado.”They were learning the new system last year and adapted to it,” Zukowski said. “Now they’ll be able to pass it on to the younger kids.”Mercado, a Northeastern Conference/North all-star last year, and Kolodziej comprise two-thirds of a veteran outfield, with Kolodziej in center and Mercado in right. Both are returning starters. Completing the triumvirate is fellow senior Mike Gallo in left. Gallo also saw some time in left last season.”That’s one of my bigger strengths,” Zukowski said of his all-senior outfield. “I know for a fact they’ll be out in the outfield.” As for the ground they will patrol at Fraser Field, he said, “Fraser’s a big field. It gives them a lot of room to roam and track down fly balls. All three can run pretty well. They’ll be able to get to most balls.”In other areas of the game, however, concerns remain. While Zukowski returns his number-two pitcher from 2008, junior Tyler Gauthier (who also plays first base), the coach seeks to fill out the rotation.”We have to find some pitchers to step up,” he said. “We have five guys that pitched on JV that are going to have to step up and throw strikes.”Who will be receiving those strikes, and who will be fielding ground balls up the middle, are apparently yet to be determined. The team lost its catcher from last year, Bobby Adams, who graduated. And while Zukowski said there are “a few guys working hard” in the middle infield, he also said, “I’m not quite sure who’ll play where.” (Numbers might help: Sixty-five players came out for tryouts on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. And the coach does have more experience at the hot corner, as junior Ellido Reyes returns to play third.)There is reason to hope that a little more seasoning will result in more wins. Last year, the team closed its season with a victory over English in the consolation of the Clancy Tournament.”We knew what we’re capable of,” Zukowski said. “Hard work was put in all season. We were in five other one-run games last year.” However, he added, “I’m not making excuses.”So Zukowski, his players, and his assistants – Jeff Waldron, D.J. McNulty, Wayne Marabito, and the coach’s younger brother Scott Zukowski, all of whom prompted Mike Zukowski to say, “I can’t praise them enough, how well they’ve been doing and all their hard work and dedication” – get ready to embark upon another venture.