PEORIA — She could have pouted. But she supported her teammates instead.
She could have folded, especially after an injury. But she healed, watched and learned, and eagerly embraced a glorious opportunity.
Lockport catcher Liliana Janeczko is having a remarkable senior season. She will be remembered as the field general on the first team for the Porters to bring home a state trophy since 2004.
The Western Michigan commit is pretty proud of that.
“Unbelievably proud,” Janeczko said. “After the things I went through, I’m just so happy with myself for getting through them and not giving up during the hard times that I’ve had.”
Janeczko smiled as she and her teammates found solace in hugs following Friday’s tough 1-0 loss in 10 innings to Barrington in a Class 4A semifinal game at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.
Colgate recruit Kelcie McGraw had two hits and struck out nine for the Porters (31-10), who will play Oak Park-River Forest at 2 p.m. Saturday in the third-place game. Alexis Vander Tuuk added a pair of hits.
Janeczko gave Lockport a chance to walk it off against Barrington (35-3-1) in the bottom of the ninth when she doubled with one out. Junior right-hander Katie Taraschewsky was able to wriggle out of it, though, by getting a fly out and a lineout.
They were oh-so close.
“I was so excited about that hit,” Janeczko said. “I have been in a little bit of a slump, and I know I’m better than that. I have high expectations.”
Janeczko’s journey during her high school career has been a tough one. Before her sophomore season, she underwent shoulder surgery.
“I was at a camp at Wisconsin,” Janeczko said. “I dove and tore my labrum and dislocated my right shoulder.”
Janeczko came back strong as a junior, but Northern Kentucky recruit Brooke Keltner was in her senior season as a standout behind the plate.
Lockport coach Marissa Chovanec used Janeczko primarily as a designated hitter and runner. But Janeczko never stopped believing. And when she graduated, Keltner offered some encouraging words.
“At the end of last year, she told me, ‘You’ve got this — it’s nothing new for you,’” Janezcko said. “We’ve been been catching since we were little. She told me to do what I do and it’ll turn out great.”
Those words came true.
Janeczko entered the weekend hitting .328. She has 10 doubles and 27 RBIs.
“Liliana has done a great job for us behind the plate,” Chovanec said. “She is a fighter and she loves the game. She has caught every inning of every game for us this season.
“We’ve had some really great catchers the last few years, and Liliana has done a fantastic job. I’m a catcher at heart, so any time I get one like Liliana, I relish it.”
The battery of Janeczko and McGraw have taken Lockport on an incredible playoff run. Even with Friday’s setback, opponents have yet to score an earned run.
It seemed like they jelled quickly in Janeczko’s lone varsity season, but their ties go way back.
“I’m so grateful I got to be here with her,” Janeczko said of McGraw. “We’ve known each other since we were 5 years old and played on the same travel team for a while.
“It’s crazy that we got to grow up together and be here together.”
Janeczko is also the catcher for McGraw during her pitching lessons.
“Liliana is a great leader on the field,” McGraw said. “She is always there picking people up. And she is always there to keep me on my game.
“We have such a good bond that it helps pitching and catching. It’s great to have.”
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
