FILE PHOTO
Matt Stanley pitched a complete game to lead Classical over English and into the playoffs.
By GORDON VINCENT
LYNN – The Rams’ rivals from English made them earn it, but the Lynn Classical baseball team qualified for the state tournament with a 5-3 win over the Bulldogs, Saturday, in the consolation game of the 35th annual Nipper Clancy Tournament, at Fraser Field.
Matt Stanley pitched a complete game and Brandon Devin scored one run and drove in another for Classical, which finished its regular season with a 10-10 record.
“The team knew what was at stake and we came out with a lot of enthusiasm and focus today,” Classical coach Mike Zukowski said.
English (6-14) jumped on top with a run in the first inning on hits by Wilbur Rosario and Brett Molea. Classical took the lead for good with three runs in the top of the third. Andrew Moccia singled and scored on a double by Matt Lauria. Devin and Herbie Newton followed with RBI singles later in the inning.
The Bulldogs scored a run in the bottom of the third when Rafi Ruiz tripled and came home on a single by Rosario, but the Rams got that one back right away when Tyler Way‘s single scored Moccia in the top of the fourth.
English closed the gap again in the fifth when a single by Gio Morales scored Kenny Sanchez, but the Rams restored their 2-run lead in the seventh when Devin singled, went to third on a double by Andre Gaudet and scored on a sacrifice fly by David Barnard.
Stanley set down the Bulldogs in order in the bottom of the seventh.
“He (Stanley) did a nice job of battling the elements on a hot day,” Zukowski said. “And we made some good plays behind him.”