Gauthier pitches Classical to a win and a tourney spot

LYNN – Behind a complete game effort from starter Kyle Gauthier, the Classical baseball team (10-4) scratched off one of its “short-term goals” by qualifying for the state tournament.Click here for a photo gallery of last night’s game.?The guys worked hard all year and they deserve it,” said coach Mike Zukowski following the 5-1 win over Marblehead. “We knew coming in we only needed one win to make the tournament so we told ourselves to take it one game at a time.”With their ace on the mound, the Rams’ offense needed to provide support . And that came in the second inning as the host?s batted around.Angel Taveras got the scoring started with an RBI single off of the Magicians’ starter, Max Hall, who would be removed before the inning was complete. Taveras would score shortly after on an RBI double from David DePena.No. 9 hitter Jorge Perez (2-3, stolen base) knocked in another before Joe Rose and Gauthier (2-3) worked two-out walks. Kyle Devin (2-3) put an exclamation point on the inning with an RBI single to center, alertly moving up to second on the relay home.?That second inning was a big one and it started with the bottom of our order,” said Zukowski. “Perez has produced all year, keeping innings alive for us. He has been a mainstay but the rest has been by committee which is nice when all of them produce as they have been.”The rest of the game was in Gauthier?s hands (well just his right really) as the offense would not score off of Marblehead reliever Evan Hafferman who went four and a third, only allowing three hits while striking out five.Gauthier was superb in his own right, finishing the game with five strikeouts while allowing three hits, two of which came in the Magicians run-scoring fifth. The run came in on an RBI single from Will Quigley.Gauthier finished with three 1-2-3 innings, and finished the game off by retiring six straight batters. “Kyle kept them off balance all game long, spotted his fastball and our defense made the plays behind him when the had to,” said Zukowski.Now with one short-term goal complete, Zukowski and his team is looking ahead towards their futures and hoping to finish up what they set out to accomplish.?If this is our first goal, then next we look at a conference title, and the Clancy Tournament as our next goals. But for tonight, I?m happy to mark off one goal. I?m proud of the guys.”With the win, the Rams took the season series 2-0 over the Magicians. Classical won a close game at the beginning of the season 4-3, in nine innings. Up next for the Rams is Salem on Saturday at Fraser Field in Lynn.