It was already a big week for Marist pitcher Frankie Bilecki and his family.
Bilecki earned the school’s Block M academic achievement award for the baseball team. His older brother, George, was named all-conference by the Great Lakes Valley Conference at Lewis.
And his eighth-grade sister, Meghan, helped St. Barnabas win the Gold Ball award in golf.
“It’s been a fun week,” Frankie said. “I’m super grateful for the family I have — I couldn’t ask for a better family. They are all supportive and come to almost every game. I can’t thank them enough.”
The week got better Wednesday afternoon for Bilecki.
The senior left-hander pitched five strong innings, helping the RedHawks stay in the game before enjoying a come-from-behind 3-2 nonconference victory over Lincoln-Way East in Chicago.
Freshman right fielder Tommy Hosty hit a slow roller in the bottom of the seventh inning that scored pinch-runner Mike Barry as Marist (12-11) earned the walk-off win.
Ryan Lawlor picked up the win in relief, striking out three in two innings. John McAuliffe had three singles and an RBI. Junior catcher Joey Gumuls threw out three runners who were trying to steal.
Matt Hudik tallied three hits for Lincoln-Way East (18-10), which had an eight-game winning streak snapped. He drove in both runs with a single in the third inning.
Even though Bilecki didn’t record the victory, he pitched well against a red-hot lineup. The Bucknell recruit struck out five.
“We don’t win that game if he didn’t pitch the way he did,” Hosty said of Bilecki. “Without him, that game would not have been that close.”
It’s been a good week, but it’s also been a painful season for Bilecki.
He developed a bulging disc in his back and was shut down for a couple of weeks.
“I couldn’t put on my socks or shoes — I couldn’t bend over,” Bilecki said. “But after going on some medication and physical therapy, I got rid of that right away.”
Marist coach Kevin Sefcik has seen plenty of ups and downs with his team this season, but having Bilecki healthy gives him optimism as the postseason looms for the RedHawks.
“This was a very positive game for him, and we’re going to need him in the playoffs, that’s for sure,” Sefcik said. “After the injury, he made some mechanical adjustments. He’s throwing a lot of strikes.”
Helping Bilecki-led Marist was the walk-off fielder’s choice from Hosty, who bats cleanup.
Hosty is used to hitting the ball hard, but his soft roller between home and third base did the trick as the Griffins couldn’t get Barry out at the plate.
Afterward, Hosty was mobbed in the infield and the celebration moved all the way to right field.
“I don’t know how far the ball traveled but it felt good,” Hosty said. “It felt good to win and start a winning streak maybe.”
Bielecki, meanwhile, is happy about having Bucknell as his college choice.
“They are in the Patriot League and play teams like Army and Navy,” he said. “I was pitching in the summer in a tournament, and they reached out.
“I went out and looked at their campus. It checked off every box I could think of in a college.”
That includes top-notch finance classes as he’s hoping to get into the financial management world when he’s done with school.
“I would like to think that I’m good with numbers,” Bilecki said. “I’m in the (Advanced Placement) calculus class here at Marist and two other AP classes.
“I like a good challenge in the classroom.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
