Palumbo, Pioneers get one step closer to .500

LYNNFIELD – Pitching hasn’t proven to be an issue for Lynnfield so far this season. Timely hitting has.So the Pioneers have to hope that Saturday’s breakout fifth inning against Ipswich becomes more common, an inning that made the difference in a 2-0 victory.Usually holding five of its first six opponents to three runs or less is a good thing. Only winning two of those games tempers that.”We had 3-0, 3-1, 2-1 losses,” said Lynnfield head coach John O’Brien about setbacks to North Reading, Arlington Catholic and Georgetown respectively. “We’ve got to be on the winning end of those or it comes back to haunt you.”To that end, O’Brien bumped junior catcher Tyler Palumbo to the leadoff spot and the move paid dividends against the Tigers. His third hit of the day was the biggest, a single to the left-centerfield gap that scored co-captain Conor Sullivan (walk and balk) from second base and broke a tense scoreless tie.Patience at the plate then earned sophomore DH Traverse Briana a walk and junior Jordan Roper followed with a base hit and a key insurance run. In all, the Pioneers sent eight men to the plate in the decisive frame.”He was throwing to my sweet spot, so I was just taking advantage of it,” said Palumbo. “I just waited back on the ball. Batting practice, that’s what it takes.””We moved him up (in the lineup) and he answered the bell,” said O’Brien. “We need someone to get on base and he did (going 3-for-3) and he ran the bases well (with two steals). (In football) he’s been a middle linebacker with me for years, he knows how to win and he knows what I want, and he gets that across to the kids, which is great.”The Lynnfield pitching staff, including dazzling sophomore Greg Basilesco, will appreciate that help, not that they need a lot.Basilesco gave up four hits, striking out two, walking none but hitting three batters. Ipswich (now 2-5) only pushed one runner to third base and three into scoring position. Each time, the righty made the right pitch to quell the threat.”He was hitting his spots,” said Palumbo. “He was doing what Coach told him to do. That’s all it takes, just listening to the elders, listening to your superiors.”And since the pitchers are getting the message, O’Brien hopes his offense continues to do the same, especially with an interesting week of games against Triton, Pentucket and Masconomet looming.”Give our kids credit, they keep battling,” O’Brien said. “We’ve got to swing the bats with confidence. Then we can get back to .500 (now standing at 3-5) and see what happens from there.”