Clancy tournament kicks off today

The Clancy Tournament at Fraser Field has become as much a part of Memorial Day weekend as cookouts and parades.
On Friday afternoon, the tradition will be renewed for the 33rd time when St. Mary?s, North Reading, Lynn English, and Lynn Classical meet in a pair of semifinals.
?It is such a great tradition,” Classical coach Mike Zukowski said. “Between us, English, St. Mary?s, and North Reading, there are always four good teams in the tournament.”
The tournament is played in memory of Edward J. ?Nipper? Clancy, the longtime coach of the Spartans and Connery Post 6 in American Legion baseball. It was founded by four men who all played for Clancy: St. Mary?s Jim Tgettis; Classical?s Dick Maag; Lynn native Frank Carey; thestate’s all-time winningest coach at North Reading before retiring after last season; and Lynn Tech?s Bart Conlon.
Since its inception, the tournament has grown from a small gathering of teams to help raise money for scholarships into a two-day event that provides a state tournament-type feel to end the regular season.
?It is always energetic and a well-played tournament,” said English coach Joe Caponigro. “There is so much prestige to be a part of it.”
Friday?s semifinals open with St. Mary?s facing North Reading at 4 p.m., a preview of a potential matchup when the Division 3 North playoffs begin.
The Spartans have put together a strong regular season in the Catholic Central League under head coach Derek Dana and will face a Hornets team that has gone through some ups and downs under first year coach Eric Archambault.
The 7 p.m. nightcap pits Lynn English against Lynn Classical in the third meeting between the teams this season. The two played two nights ago with the Bulldogs winning, 5-2, in extra innings behind a three-hitter from Lucas Harris to stay tied atop the Northeastern Conference/North standings with Peabody.
The winners will square off on Saturday at 3 p.m. for the tourney title, with the consolation game beginning at noon.
Unlike most seasons when the Clancy would spell the end of the regular season, the four teams still have meaningful games left to go thanks to makeups because of the long winter.
?Since I?ve been coaching, we?ve always ended with the Clancy so this is the first year we?ve had to play (regular season) games after it. It?s going to be fun,” Zukowski said.Daily admission for the tournament is $5, with children 10 and under free.