Elkhart, IN - In a much anticipated Northern Indiana Conference matchup, the #2 ranked Elkhart Central Blazers topped the #4 ranked Penn Kingsmen behind the power arm of Tanner Tully and a very potent offense.

In what figured to be a pitcher's duel between Central's Tully and the Kingsmen's Senior staff ace Tyler Thompson took on a different feel in the bottom of the third inning.  With the score 0-0 going into the second half of the frame, Central's top of the order proved too much for the Kingsmen tallying 4 consecutive hits with singles by Caleb Defreese and Tully followed by back to back doubles from Adam Raifsnider and Cory Malcom scoring 3 Blazer base runners.

Penn battle back in the 4th and 5th innings recording 6 hits in the two frames, but failed to really break it open as they scored 2 and stranded 4.  With the score 3-2 and Central coming to bat in the fifth, the bottom of the Blazer order came up big.  After issuing back to back walks to the 7 and 8 hitters, Thompson was relieved by Junior righty Dalton Teitsma.  And the Blazer's number nine hitter, Senior right fielder Ronnie Hawkins, drove a 2-1 FB to right center for a 2 RBI triple.  Hawkins then scored with another single off the bat of the lead off man Defreese.

The Blazer offense added 3 more in the 6th drawing two walks and an RBI double from first basemen Jack Bernacchi and a 2 RBI triple from SS Austin McArt.  With Tully out of the game and a 9-2 Blazer lead, Penn scored 3 in the 7th for a final score of 9-5.

Thoughts on the teams

Penn will be just fine.  They are a well coached team that ran up against the very talented ECH Blazers tonight.  There are very few clubs in the state that can beat Penn with Thompson on the mound.  He has a tendency to slow his arm down on his breaking pitch, and that cost him a bit tonight.  However with Thompson and Chad Whitmer at the top of their rotation, they are certainly one of the best teams in the state.

Elkhart Central will WOW you with their pitching and offense, but they have some work to do on defense.  With Tully (86-89) , Malcom (85-88), and Riley Futterknecht (82-84) on the mound, they arguably have the best 1 through 3 pitchers in the northern part of the state.  Add the fact that their 1-5 hitters are all upper level type offensive players will certainly make for a tough outing for any pitching staff. 

Note:  The Blazer's were without starting CF Matt Eppers for this game.  He will be out 2-3 weeks while recovering from a collapsed lung.  They will be even better with his return.