Softball: Lakewood, Whiting win easily

FULTON -- They should've skipped the appetizers and gone straight to the main menu Saturday at the Caston 1A softball Regional.

Whiting and Lakewood Christian, were virtually pre-ordained to play after the Panthers beat the Oilers 1-0 in the first round of this same regional, won easily in their semifinal match-ups.

Lakewood took care of Morgan Township 13-1 in five innings while Whiting generously let Triton (16-3) hang around for the full seven in a 9-2 victory.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day for the Oilers in their victory was that Sarah Janksy got to pitch.

It wasn't really surprising, given the fact that it would give Mel Dumezich a chance to rest for the evening session.

But it was a surprise for Jansky. She entered the game in the sixth and gave up four hits and two runs.

She admitted to feeling some butterflies. That was the first time the sophomore has ever pitched in regionals.

Whiting coach Paul Laub didn't tell her before the game that she might get the call.

Given that Dumezich is 31-0 and virtually unhittable, it didn't seem likely that she'd actually pitch.

She called getting in the game as a pitcher "cool."

Laub called it valuable and necessary for a change of pace for Dumezich, who moved to shortstop.

"We just wanted to get her some experience," Laub said. "Plus, Mel loves to play short."

Dumezich was her usual dominating self, striking out 14 of the 15 batters she faced. The only ball that Triton put in play was a bloop fly that Dumezich caught in the fifth.

Whiting did most of its damage in the third, scoring four runs. The big blow was a triple from Dumezich to right that drove in two runs.

In the opening game, Morgan (9-15) gave up five runs in the second inning and it was never a game after that.

The big hit for Lakewood was a grandslam by Logan Carnahan. Carnahan finished with eight RBI's and two homeruns.

Hannah Feller drove in Michelle Madden for the Cherokees only run.