From pen to outfield to leadoff hitter, Bielamowicz has become club MVP
According to his coach, Tyler Bielamowicz is not the fastest player.
He doesn’t have the most power.
But there is the measurable that doesn’t show up in the box score.
“Will is an amazing thing,” said University of Houston coach Todd Whitting, “and Bielo has a great amount of will to win. That’s what has helped him have the year he’s had. He kind of wills his way through it.”
So much that Whitting calls Bielamowicz “the unsung hero” for the Cougars, who repeated as American Athletic Conference regular-season champions and will make a fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five years beginning Friday against Purdue in the Chapel Hill Regional.
“He’s probably been the MVP of our ballclub,” Whitting said.
A sophomore from Cypress Ranch, Bielamowicz (pronounced Bee-luh-mah-vitch) has started the last 36 games, mostly in left field. He was inserted into the leadoff spot for the final seven games to give the offense a jump-start and delivered three home runs in four days as the Cougars nearly climbed out of the loser’s bracket at the AAC tournament.
Of Bielamowicz’s five career home runs, all but one has come in Clearwater, Fla., site of the conference tournament, leaving teammates to joke he should change addresses.
“That might as well be his home field,” said designated hitter Joe Davis, UH’s career home run leader with 32. “Hopefully, he can carry it over to this regional.”
Bielamowicz chalked up his recent power display to location and weather.
“Great atmosphere” he said. “I love playing where it’s hot.”
Bielamowicz spent his freshman season as a two-way player, making 23 starts between left and right fields. He also made five appearances out of the bullpen.
So much for Plan A
This season, the plan was to keep Bielamowicz, a commodity as a lefthander, in the bullpen. Whitting doesn’t recall his picking up a bat in fall practice.
“He was going to pitch for us,” Whitting said. “He was not in the mix to play any of our outfield positions.”
UH stayed with the plan through the first month of the season as Bielamowicz made five relief appearances, including a pair of scoreless outings against Cal State Fullerton and Vanderbilt. But with a couple of players struggling at the plate, Bielamowicz moved into the starting lineup on the first weekend of AAC play and is hitting .292 with four homers, 20 RBIs and 30 runs. His .449 on-base percentage is best on the team.
“I’ve been pretty consistent,” said Bielamowicz. “I’ve got to keep rolling. We’re not done yet.”
In search of a spark at the top of the batting order, Whitting moved Bielamowicz from the No. 5 spot to leadoff, and he has delivered the numbers as a table-setter: .333 average, three home runs (two to lead off games), seven RBIs and 10 runs. At one point, he reached base in 19 consecutive games.
“That seemed to jumpstart our offense,” Whitting said. “He had the opportunity and took it and ran with it.”
Puts arm to good use
In the AAC tournament against East Carolina, Bielamowicz sent the third pitch of the game over the left-field wall for a homer.
In the bottom of the inning, he was on the mound in a spot start with the Cougars’ staff shorthanded. He allowed seven earned runs in 21⁄3 innings.
Along with his performance of the plate, Bielamowicz also has provided a couple of clutch defensive plays, including throwing out a pair of runners at the plate to preserve two close wins in a regular-season sweep at East Carolina.
“Probably as good (of throws) as I’ve seen,” Whitting said. “He’s had some huge knocks for us, is always on base and always wreaking havoc. He’s had some huge RBIs and defensive plays. I’m just proud of the year he’s had.”