FISHERS | Junior pitcher Mel Dumezich stifles the other team; a senior starts an offensive rally.
Whiting scores two runs and waits through a lightning delay.
Both formulas are perfect -- just like the Whiting softball team so far.
The unbeaten Oilers are up 2-0 and still at bat, nine defensive outs away from winning the Class A state championship game after rain and lightning postponed the contest's conclusion to 1 p.m. Region time today back at Hamilton Southeastern High School.
The Oilers (33-0) were the first undefeated champ in state history in 2006; now they're on the brink of accomplishing the feat for a second time in three seasons.
Tecumseh pitcher Audra Sanders induced strikeouts from the first seven Oilers she faced and retired the next two on pop-ups.
But the Braves (26-4), the 2007 state runners-up and winners of Monday afternoon's second semifinal, quickly unraveled.
In the top of the fifth, senior Sam Plavec doubled off the tip of the center fielder's glove and scored when the Tecumseh catcher errantly threw Sarah Watkins' bunt attempt past the third baseman.
Watkins moved to third when Adi Cruz's fly ball to right was misplayed. Watkins scored on a wild pitch during Natalie Mendez's at-bat. Mendez struck out, and Victoria Franco was looking at a 2-2 count with Watkins on third when the game was called.
"I liked that inning we had going," Whiting coach Paul Laub said.
Dumezich broke up Sanders' perfect game in the top of the fourth when she walked, stole second and moved to third on Sarah Jansky's perfect sacrifice bunt. However, the Oilers couldn't get their ace home.
Dumezich has a one-hitter going with nine strikeouts and a walk. Tecumseh's only hit was Sanders' bunt attempt that popped out of the reach of catcher Cruz's dive.
Never before had state finals lasted past the designated weekend for the event.
After today they will have spanned four eligible playing days and a Sunday.
"We find out we're not as important as we think we are," Laub said, dodging puddles on the way to load the team bus and find a hotel for his squad. "I think Mother Nature doesn't want us to play."
The game's start was delayed 2 hours and 15 minutes by rain. That's on top of Friday's suspended semifinal and Saturday's complete washout.
However, of the four classes, only Class A completed the semifinal round, thanks to a solid effort by the HSE grounds keepers.
"The state's done a fantastic job of keeping us able to play," Laub said. "Hamilton Southeastern and their A.D. (Jim Self) have been working like crazy."
