Bunting makes difference in Swampscott Legion victory over Lynn

LYNN – The fine art of bunting — and the equally fine art of knowing how to rotate in order to field them — made the difference Tuesday night at Breed Middle School?s Edmunds Field in Swampscott?s 2-1 American Legion win over Lynn.Swampscott waited until the seventh inning to pull this one out in a true pitcher?s duel put on by its own Albert Wallach and Lynn?s Brendan O?Neill — who was certainly a hard-luck loser for the Sixers.It got going in the top of the seventh when Trey Blackmer reached on a shortstop error. Then, Greg Collier laid down a bunt that went to no-man?s-land between the pitcher?s mound and third base that nobody could get to. The result was a base hit and runners on first and second with none out.Andrew Raisner moved them both over with a perfect sacrifice down the first-base line. However, it looked as if all that small ball would go for naught when Crew Whittier hit one right to shortstop Matt Costanza, with the infield drawn in, for the second out.But Swampscott, which had squandered two similar situations where it had two runners on and less than two out earlier in the game, wasn?t about to strike out in this situation. Brian Fitzpatrick hit a hard single to center field that scored both runs, but he was thrown out trying to take second.That left it up to Wallach in the bottom of the seventh, and he retired the side in order to get the complete-game win.?It was just a great game,” said Swampscott manager Tim Cassidy. “It was well-played. Both guys pitched well. Just a real good game.”Wallach allowed only five hits and an earned run over the seven innings, striking out six.Lynn got to Wallach in the fifth inning for its only run. Dan Rustani led off with a triple that rolled all the way to the fence in left-center field, and he scored on a wild pitch. And that was pretty much it for the 3-4 Lynners.?There weren?t a whole lot of hits on either side,” said Lynn?s Tim Fila. “I thought our pitcher deserved a better fate. But those were a couple of well-placed bunts, and their hit to win the game was legitimate, so what can you say? The ball didn?t bounce our way.”O?Neill was just as effective as Wallach. He only gave up three hits, hit a batter and walked two, and he struck out six.