Softball: WT coach: Dumezich 'just so stinking good'

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That was the only sliver of hope Washington Township had in its matchup against Whiting.

The Oilers aren't quite the 1927 Yankees.

But they are close as it comes to that fabled team -- at least in Northwest Indiana softball circles.

The Senators, meanwhile, came into the game against the undefeated Oilers with twice as many losses as victories (7-14).

Whiting (30-0) didn't disappoint a small but spirited hometown crowd Friday in the championship game, mowing down Washington 10-0.

The Oilers play Triton in the Caston Regional next week. Last year, the Oilers were upset 1-0 by Lakewood Christian in that same regional.

It's the third straight sectional victory for Whiting and its fifth in six years.

Mel Dumezich, the Oilers unhittable pitcher, was her usual dominant self.

Dumezich struck out 20 batters and only gave up one hit -- an infield single to Kelly Wells with two outs in the seventh.

It was just another ho-hum day for the unbelievably talented Dumezich, who also gave up two walks.

"It's hard to get up for these games," she said. "But you have to."

Dumezich, who is batting over .600 with 15 home runs, is the unstoppable force for the Oilers.

She bats leadoff, and for her first two at bats, Washington pitched around her. Dumezich tried to counter that by switching from the right side of the plate to the left side.

It didn't matter. They weren't giving her anything to nibble on.

When the Senators did decide to pitch to her, she ripped a single to left field.

Sam Plavec broke the game open for Whiting in the third with a three-run homer. It's the second homer Plavec has hit against Washington this year, and her fifth overall.

Whiting coach Paul Laub said that adjusting to the off-speed stuff of Morgan Galloway-Daly was tricky at first.

Eventually, however, the Oilers got their timing down.

"(Galloway-Daly) did an excellent job," Laub said. "We just figured it out."

Plavec said she just waited on her pitch and drove it over the left-field wall.

A senior, Plavec said the team is excited to play next week, particularly after losing last year in regionals.

"We're all pumped up," she said.

Washington Township coach Jason Dorshorst said his girls did the best they could against Dumezich.

"We didn't beat ourselves," he said. "They beat us. She is just so stinking good."

Contact Mike Hutton at 648-3139 or mhutton@post-trib.com