Lynn Babe Ruth 15s show their versatility

LYNN – The Lynn 15-year-old Babe Ruth All-Star team went through a couple of big swings this weekend.Saturday, the Lynners played one of the tighter games you’ll ever see with Saugus, winning, 4-0, with four runs in the top of the eighth inning.A day later, against Danvers, they romped, 10-0, in a game shortened to five innings by the 10-run rule.Click here for a photo gallery.Bottom line?”In two games, we haven’t let up any runs yet,” said manager Ron Gaudet. And if the tournament, which bases its champion on overall record over the schedule of games, ends up in a tie, “that’s the first thing they look at ? how many runs you’ve let up,” he said.Sunday, Joe Tardiff was given the task of duplicating what Brandon Devin had done before ? and he did it. Devin had to pitch seven shutout innings because that’s how long the game went. Tardiff only had to go five, and he allowed only three hits and struck out four.”He did a great job,” said Gaudet.Dan Hennessey, Ryan Desmarais and Devin took care of the offense, getting two hits each. Also coming through were Tardiff, Devin and Tom McGee.The game turned in the fourth when Lynn, up 2-0, executed a suicide squeeze with Kyle Morrill laying down a perfect bunt, scoring Marquis O’Neal from third.”It seemed to unnerve (Danvers),” Gaudet said, “and it got everything going for us.”Saturday’s game was one for the books. Both Devin and Saugus’ Anthony Fieri pitched scoreless ball over seven innings. Each was virtually unhittable at times, and each was backed up by superb defense.”One of the best games I’ve ever been associated with,” said Saugus manager Tom Wood.By far, the most astounding series of plays from the first seven innings occurred in the bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth, when each team had a runner thrown out at the plate.In the fourth, Saugus’ Kurt Martin, who reached first on a fielder’s choice and went to second on an error, tried to score on Tyler Serino’s single. But Morrill, in left, came up throwing and nailed Martin at the plate.In the top of the next inning, Matt Desilets bunted his way on and was sacrificed to second when Desmarais singled to center. Saugus’ Serino was able to get up a good head of steam coming in for the ball, and threw Desilets out easily.That was the closest either team got to scoring until Lynn came through with all four of its runs in the eighth – when both teams, by rule, had to change pitchers.Desmarais led off with a single to center and was sacrificed to second by Hennessey. However, back-to-back doubles by Andre Gaudet and Devin made it 2-0. Devin scored on Ryan Borders’ single, and Desilets’ sacrifice fly brought home Tardiff with the fourth run.Gaudet brought in Tardiff to close out the game, and outside of a walk and a stolen base by John Prentiss, he handled the job.Lynn plays Tuesday (8) at Clancy Field against the Salem-Beverly combined team.Steve Krause can be reached at [email protected].