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By Steve Krah
PBR Indiana Correspondent
The Elkhart Truth 

LAPORTE -- Can we get camo now?

The question came up again as Elkhart Central's baseball team gathered for a championship celebration photo.

It's unsure if the Blue Blazers will be sporting any camouflage in the future.

But what is certain is that the No. 1-ranked team is moving on to the semi-state for the fourth time in the history of the program and first time since 1988.

Central plays Lafayette Jeff (22-12) in the one-game 4A northern semi state on Saturday, June 8, in either South Bend or Kokomo.

Central (30-1) earned that distinction by taking out defending 4A state champion Lake Central 4-2 Saturday to win the LaPorte Regional.

A rivalry has grown between the two programs. Lake Central beat Elkhart Central in regional play in 2012 after the Blazers topped the Indians in 2011.

"It was 365 days of waiting," said Elkhart Central coach Steve Stutsman. "We knew were were probably going to face them again.

"My guys were ready. They were focused. They were mentally tough."

A team featuring 11 seniors, these Blazers have been a pleasure for Stutsman.

"This group is so much fun to coach because nothing phases them," said Stutsman. "They are a bunch of goofballs and they just love playing together. It's been the key to our success this year that they trust one another. That showed today."

Elkhart Central senior left-handers Tanner Tully (8-1) and Riley Futterknecht (first save) combined to beat the Indians (23-9).

"Tully gave it everything he had," said Stutsman. "I can't say enough about Futterknecht. He's a pitcher."

The Ohio State-bound Tully, who had worked innings 8-11 in getting the win in a 5-4 semifinal decision against South Bend Clay, came back a few hours later and gave the Blazers four more innings. The southpaw struck out four and gave up just one hit.

"I was going to come out after four," said Tully of the plan going into the regional championship game. "(The Clay game) was rough. I gave it all I had left."

Futterknecht, who is headed to DePauw University, worked in and out of trouble and benefitted from a fifth-inning double play - pitcher Futterknecht to senior shortstop Cory Malcom for senior first baseman Mike Namisnak (doing the splits) - and his own slick fielding from the mound.

"We were confident on the mound and doing just fine," said Arkansas-Little Rock signee Malcom of the championship-game intensity. "We have three aces (Tully, Malcom and Futterknecht) to put on the mound. We all will compete.

"With our bats, nobody can beat us."

Tully went to right field after his pitching duties were complete and he made a running catch near the foul line to rob junior center fielder Alec Olund of a hit to end the sixth. There was a runner in scoring position at the time.

"If I don't catch that it's a fair ball, they probably score and the momentum switches," said Tully.

The Blazers scored three times in the bottom of the third inning and once more in the fourth in running their win streak to 23 games.

"We just had to keep the lead," said Tully of the team's mindset throughout the contest. "That's all we had to do.

"Fatigue was setting in, but we came through the stayed strong."

Facing LC starter and junior left-hander Chuck Alexa (3-1), Mike Namisnak hit a one-out single and Tully drew a walk. Both scored when senior left fielder Kaleb DeFreese reached back on an error. DeFreese later scored on a wild pitch.

In the Elkhart Central fourth, Ball State-bound senior center fielder Matt Eppers lashed a lead-off double, moved to third on a sacrifice by senior second baseman Casey Ianigro and scored on a balk.

Both runs for the Indians came in the fifth off Futterknecht. junior shortstop Brenden Seren and junior first baseman Tony Schneider opened the frame with singles. Steren scored on a wild pitch and freshman pinch runner Zach Turnbough (who spelled Schneider) tallied the second run on a single by senior third baseman Brad Staszewski.