Classical edges English in Clancy opener

LYNN – Lynn Classical baseball coach Mike Zukowski knew coming into Friday evening’s game with rival Lynn English that recent history would not repeat itself. Just two nights before, the Rams cruised to a 12-2 rout of the Bulldogs.Sure enough, Zukowski was correct in his prediction as Classical found itself in a dogfight (no pun intended) on Friday night at Fraser Field, the first game of the Clancy Tournament. However, Classical proved capable of winning the tight games as well, holding off English 3-1.Click here for a photo gallery.”I told the guys before the game that they would be gunning for us and to not expect a similar result,” said Zukowski. “The cross-town rivalry has to show itself at some point and English showed up today and battled hard.”Classical’s Jorge Perez and counterpart Matt Burnham (three unearned runs, six hits, six strikeouts, and zero walks) staged quite the pitchers’ duel, each tossing complete games while allowing minimal damage. Perez (one earned run, three hits, seven strikeouts, four walks) proved to be just a tad better.”Jorge spotted his fastball all night long and pounded the strike zone, which kept their guys off balance all night long,” explained Zukowski. “He also fielded his position very well tonight (two putouts).”It would be English that scored first as the Bulldogs got an RBI single from Josue Perez, scoring Burnham, who drew a one-out walk. Classical quickly got that run back in the bottom of the frame, as well as the lead run.Cleanup hitter John Finnigan’s sharp grounder to shortstop glanced off Randale Lora, allowing him to reach safely. An ensuing passed ball took a high hop off the backstop, allowing Finnigan to reach third.Mike Crisostomo (3-3, stolen base) followed with a deep drive to right that English’s Melvin Cabrera never seemed to get a read on before it fell in for an RBI triple. Francisco Tolentino followed with a sacrifice fly to Cabrera, giving the Rams the 2-1 lead, one they wouldn’t relinquish.English wouldn’t make it easy, however, as the Bulldogs threatened several more times, starting in the top of the third.Perez escaped a major blow as Burnham’s two-out bases-loaded drive to right was caught on the warning track by Crisostomo. Perez allowed runners to reach second in the next three innings but got himself out of trouble each time.”Jorge did a great job of keeping his composure tonight and he threw strikes when he had to. Our defense made the plays behind him as well,” said Zukowski.Classical picked up its final run in the third with Crisostomo again proving to be a key catalyst as he singled to start the inning before Tolentino sacrificed him to second. Perez would supply himself some insurance with a two-out RBI sacrifice fly.With Burnham throwing well, Zukowski was happy to take runs any way his team could get them.”Burnham silenced our bats for most of the game, leaving us to take advantage of some sacrifice flies, which allowed us to squeak by,” Zukowski said.English coach Joe Caponigro was equally impressed with both starters.”Matt was great tonight, I can’t say enough about his performance for us,” he said. “Perez was equally impressive and he always seems to stymie us.”With the win, the Rams move on to the Clancy Tournament Final, where they await North Reading. The championship game is Saturday at 3 p.m. (Consolation game at 12 p.m.)