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By Mark Lazerus
LAPORTE — All the rankings, the statewide hype, the national accolades — all of it meant nothing if Lake Central wasn’t hoisting hardware in June. Heck, back in early April, Jimmy McNamara said the season would be a failure if the Indians weren’t playing at Victory Field at the end of the season. Well, they’re one step away.
Taylor Lehnert tossed a three-hit gem as Lake Central beat Penn 3-1 in the Class 4A LaPorte Regional championship game Saturday night at Schreiber Field. The Indians (30-1) will face Zionsville in next Saturday’s semistate, likely at South Bend’s Coveleski Stadium.
Lehnert’s gem came just a few hours after McNamara locked down Elkhart Central in the second semifinal. The Indians only need once ace the rest of the way — “We have some thinking to do,” coach Jeff Sandor said — but you need two to get through regional Saturday, and perhaps nobody has a better two than the Indians (30-1).
“Knowing we have the best two pitchers in the state, and possibly two of the best arms in the country, definitely gives us confidence here and for the semistate,” said senior Anthony Fushi.Fushi is emblematic of the remarkable depth this Indians team has.
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June 3rd 2012 - Lake Central Edges Elkhart Central 2-1
With tensions brewing for nearly a week, the Lake Central vs. Elkart Central Regional rematch from last year did not disappoint. After both coaches had been warned in the 1st inning, regarding tone and attitude, Junior Cory Malcom would lead off the 2nd inning with a home run, giving Elkhart Central a 1-0 lead. That is all the support Junior Tanner Tully would need until the Bottom of the 4th.
Lake Central's Anthony Fushi (2012) would reach second with two outs, and an Adam Fulk (2012) single would even the score at 1-1 after 4 innings.
With McNamara and Tully dealing, this game would come down to one pitch. In the bottom of the 6th inning, and the game tied up at 1, senior Chase Fieldhouse turned on a pitch, delivering it into the trees in left field for a solo home run. Score after 6, 2-1 Lake Central.
McNamara would retire the first two in the 7th, followed by a walk and a strike out to end the fiery game.
Final: Lake Central 2 - Elkhart Central 1
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LAPORTE | Taylor Lehnert threw his glove in the air, hugged his catcher and ran outside the foul line to avoid the pile-on.
He waited until teammates toppled Austen Wagoner and Alec Olund and created a blue and white mini mountain of teenagers. Then the winning pitcher jumped on top, which is where state No. 1 Lake Central remains after beating Penn 3-1 in the Class 4A LaPorte Regional final for its first regional title since 2004. I’m so proud of the competitiveness of this team,” Lehnert said.
“They never quit. It feels really good to finally get out of here. It was good to get back here and finally win it.” After Jimmy McNamara threw a gem in the semifinal to avenge last year’s upset loss to Elkhart Central, fellow Central Michigan recruit Lehnert responded with a three-hitter with seven strikeouts Saturday night at Schreiber Field.
Lake Central (30-1) will know its geographical destination for next Saturday’s semistate matchup with Zionsville sometime today.
On Saturday night, the Indians played to expectations with the help of just a few clutch hits and some close escapes by Lehnert.
LAPORTE | Penn had its chances. But the Kingsmen left nine runners on base, including five in scoring position (second or third) in a 3-1 loss to No. 1-ranked Lake Central Saturday night in the Class 4A LaPorte Regional baseball tournament at Schreiber Field. “We had them on the ropes,” said Penn coach Greg Dikos. Indians right-hander Taylor Lehnert would bend but not break.
Central Michigan University-bound Lehnert (10-0) struck out seven for the regional champions. “We’ve got 1A and 1B,” said Lake Central coach Jeff Sandor of Lehnert and another CMU mound recruit, left-hander Jimmy McNamara. “We have a heck of a decision next Saturday (for the northern semistate).” Junior right-hander Chad Whitmer (5-4) fanned seven for the Kingsmen. “That kid does a good job of moving the ball around and he has good velocity,” said Sandor. “He kept a good-hitting team off-balance.”
Austin Wagoner singled in the game-tying run and Anthony Fushi cracked a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the third to put Lake Central (30-1) up 3-1. Penn (22-11) scored an unearned run in the top of the second inning. Chad Gindelberger reached base on an error, went to second and third on consecutive sacrifices and scored on a passed ball.
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