Jordon Dumas wasn’t one of the Grayslake Central hitters that opposing teams worried about last season.
He was a first-year varsity player surrounded by seniors who led the Rams to the Class 3A state championship game.
“I was either pinch hitting or coming off the bench,” Dumas said. “So pitchers were attacking me more.”
But much has changed for Dumas, a senior center fielder who was batting .526 with a .784 slugging percentage, 16 RBIs, six doubles and six stolen bases entering Grayslake Central’s Northern Lake County Conference game against Antioch on Tuesday.
“Now teams are saying, ‘We don’t want to get beat by this guy,’” he said. “I try to be selectively aggressive and swing only at pitches you can do the most damage with.”
That’s important for Dumas because opponents are pitching to him differently after he hit .290 with four extra-base hits and 11 RBIs in 58 at-bats last year.
“He’s a big part of everyone’s scouting report,” Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen said. “He has to be more patient at the plate because he might only see one good pitch in an at-bat.”
Dumas welcomes the attention that comes with being the highlighted hitter for the Rams (9-3, 4-1).
“I think I’m just hard to get out,” he said. “I’ve never seen hitting as being too much of a burden, and I want all of the pressure in my hands.”
Two of Grayslake Central’s three conference wins against Grant last week illustrate Dumas’ impact. He hit two doubles during the Rams’ 2-0 win on April 9, providing a jolt to the lineup on a day when runs were scarce. The next day, he struck out in his first three at-bats, stranding a handful of teammates in the process. But then he hit a game-tying single with two outs in the sixth inning, and Grayslake Central won 4-3 in eight.
“That is more of a ‘don’t doubt yourself’ situation where I realized that was my opportunity to step up,” Dumas said of the clutch hit. “The first three at-bats didn’t go my way, but it’s about bouncing back and keeping my head up high.”
That’s not the only time Dumas has provided a pick-me-up from the No. 2 hole, which is just one of the reasons he has a leadership position on the team, which he embraces.
“He’s what makes our offense go and is a guy we rely on heavily,” Whalen said. “He can hit for power and for average, and he’s a quiet leader who will pull some other guys along.”
Grayslake Central junior first baseman Cal Hanson appreciates what Dumas brings to the table.
“He’s definitely a lead-by-example type of guy, and when you see him hit, you want to work harder to improve yourself,” Hanson said. “He’s always really willing to talk and discuss drills that work for him.”
Like Hanson this season, Dumas experienced varsity baseball for the first time last year. That opportunity arose after he made a positive impression in the Rams’ lower levels. Dumas played well in a limited role, laying the groundwork for his breakout season.
“I got a good feel for how the game can slow down and can help share that with others,” he said. “I’ve always known what I was capable of doing, and I feel like what I’m doing now is just what’s expected.”
Dumas’ emergence replicates a seemingly annual process at Grayslake Central, which has reached the state semifinals four times in the past 14 seasons and where players waiting in the wings step into prominent roles after decorated seniors graduate.
“There’s a core group of guys who have played together for an exponential amount of years,” Dumas said. “The plan was set from the beginning that my role would be big. Leading up to the season, we talked about me being at the head of the ship, and everyone would row in the same direction that I was going.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
