LYNN — He may have run out of gas a little, and he may have been victimized by some last-inning fielding lapses — one of them his own.
But, 13-year-old Babe Ruth All-Star pitcher Mark Walsh was one cool customer for six innings in Lynn’s 8-1 victory over Arlington that upped its record to 3-0 in its bracket of the District 1 tournament.
Lynn closes out pool play Thursday (5:30) at Fraser Field against Somerville.
Until the seventh, when Arlington scored its only run, Walsh had nicely scattered five hits. Arlington got three hits and its only run in the last inning, but by then, Lynn had put the game away with a five-run sixth fifth inning, blowing open a taut 3-0 game.
All of which made Lynn manager Sam Ohannesian happy.
“The pitching was very good tonight,” he said, “and we got some timely hitting as well. And even though we had some lapses in the last inning there, defensively I thought we were very good too.
“These kids have put in the work,” Ohannesian said.
Lynn got its first run in the bottom of the second inning when Nico Santonastasco doubled home Timmy Ronningen, who had been hit by a pitch and then stole second.
Lynn struck again in the third when Jack Spates bunted his way on, stole second, took third on a grounder, and then came around on Rowan Merryman’s sacrifice fly.
The Lynners made it 3-0 in the fourth, this time with Spates knocking one in. Riley Driscoll was hit by a pitch, stole second, and went to third on a wild pitch. Spates practically launched himself into a pitch and lined it into left field for a base hit that scored Driscoll.
Arlington’s pitching fell apart in the fifth inning, as two pitchers gave up three walks and two hits in giving up five runs. Driscoll’s two-run single was the inning’s big blow.
Things got a little interesting in the seventh after two quick outs. Jack O’Connor singled to right and Kieran Lamont followed with another base hit to center. Teddy Lauchland’s popup landed behind the mound — with Walsh making an attempt to catch it, and with none of the middle infielders calling him off.
“I think at that point we had to go out and reset,” said Ohannesian. “That really wasn’t his (Walsh’s) ball. Someone should have called for that.”
After a pep talk, Walsh bore down and got Dylan Sweeney on a ground ball to second to end the game.
“Active pitcher, active defense,” said Ohannesian. “(Walsh) made some great plays from the mound overall.”
Pool play ends Thursday, and a win over Somerville would put Lynn in excellent position for hosting a crossover game. It depends on the seeds of the teams, Ohannesian said.
