Kasey Bielec to remember bittersweet, four-year legacy left with wildcats baseball team

Senior baseball player Kasey Bielec’s time is coming to an end at Central. With a slim chance for Central to make the playoffs, he may not get to end his senior year on the diamond like he wanted to – with a win in the GNAC championships.

But his respected legacy at Central will be one that’s hard to follow.

Bielec has had a standout career on the baseball diamond at Central. He is currently leading the GNAC with a batting average of .420. Last year, Bielec was First Team All Conference.

Playing baseball at Central has meant a lot to Bielec.

“This year is special because I have been here for four years — one of the few people who have been here for four years,” Bielec said. “It is kind of a big deal for me to have it come to an end. It will be bittersweet.”

Bielec isn’t looking forward to the end of his baseball career.

“I have made a ton of life- long friends here and been with head coach Desi Storey for four years,” Bielec said.  “I just grew up as a person here.”

Bielec chose Central to be in close proximity to his brother, Brett Bielec. As a Wildcat baseball player himself, Brett Bielec was able to help Kasey Bielec with transitioning from high school to college baseball.

The past four years have gone by extremely fast for Bielec, and he said he remembers his first day of baseball practice at Central.

“I felt like a little kid on the first day of practice,” Bielec said. “Day one was definitely a reality check that I am not in high school anymore. That freshman year really helped me as a ballplayer, and I am glad I was one of the only freshman.”

Bielec’s senior year on the diamond showcases the hard work he has put in his entire life. Bielec is a serious candidate for Player of the Year, according to head coach Desi Storey.

For Storey, it is huge to have a player like Bielec on the team.

“When he comes to the plate, I expect us to score runs every time,” Storey said. “He is still out six out of ten times, but he has had a great year. Having him in the three hole has been huge for us.”

Storey said Bielec has all but exceeded his expectations, whether it’s on the mound or up to the plate.

“At the end of the year, if he continues to do what he has been doing, he is going to be a realistic candidate for Player of the Year,” Storey said.

Bielec attended North Mason High School in Belfair, Wash. and was a three-sport athlete, playing baseball, basketball and football. He was a four-year starter on his high school baseball team.

Academics have always been important to Bielec too, even in high school. Being a three-sport athlete helped Bielec learn how to balance his time.

“I learned how to balance my studies and academics,” Bielec said. “I set aside certain times of the day to do homework and stuff like that, but when I am at baseball, I am focusing on that. And when I am at home, I am focusing on studies.”

Bielec’s high school baseball coach Jay Hultberg couldn’t be more proud of what Bielec has accomplished and is not surprised at how successful he has been at Central.

“There definitely is pride in the fact that I actually coached [Bielec] and possibly had something to do with how successful he has become,” Hultberg said. “I also feel very lucky that I had the opportunity to have coached him. There are some coaches that never get the chance to work with, not only a quality player, but a quality kid like [Bielec].”

At a young age, Bielec showed Hultberg that he was a very fundamentally sound baseball player. While in middle school, he played with his brother, who was in high school, sharpening Bielec’s skills and getting him acquainted with the team.

“I remember throwing to him in the batting cage after Saturday hitting practices, thinking that this kid is really going to be a hitter for us, and that we could really use his bat at the varsity level right now,” Hultberg said.

When off the field, Bielec enjoys playing and watching sports. He enjoys golfing, being outdoors, hanging out with his friends and spending time with family.

In addition, Bielec relishes spending time with fiancée.

No matter what Bielec does in his future, there is no doubt he will be successful, just as he was at Central.