The Savannah Christian Preparatory School softball team has reached The GHSA Sweet 16 round the past two seasons. One reason was because of senior Dailey Bilenski. Dailey signed a National Letter of Intent to play Division I softball back in November at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC.
Dailey scooped up many awards this season. Bilenski received the 3-A Region Offensive Player of the Year and named to the All-Region First Team and Savannah Morning News Greater All-Softball first team honors Savannah Christian Prep recognized Dailey as the Raiders Most Valuable Player at in 2019. The reason just checked out her stats through Max Preps Sports. Bilenski had the eighth best batting average (.667) and 10th best on base percentage (.723) in Georgia last season. To go one step further, The Georgia Athletic Coaches Association recognized Dailey as a Class 1A private first team all-state softball player and locally the Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame named of the high school softball player to year.
Dailey played many sports as a young athlete from soccer, to running track, cheerleading and even a competitive dancer. Bilenski started playing softball at four. Daily noted it was the sport she was always passionate about. Her biggest influence was her dad. He has coached Dailey her entire career. “He’s always pushed me in the most positive way to be my best. Even through the many injuries that could have ended my career, he always inspired me to keep going and to not give up. I would not be the athlete I am today if he hadn’t instilled in me the character traits that it takes to not only be an excellent athlete but a good teammate. (hard work, perseverance, encouraging to others, respect, responsibility, compassion, leadership).”
At Savannah Christian, she looked up to coach Carl Carter. Coach Carter was always a positive influence to me and all my softball teammates, even when we didn’t play our best or had a poor game. He always inspired us positively. He picked out the things we did well and focused on them. “You did good Babe!” Coach Matt Ogelsby always had us moving and Dailey will always remember him saying, “On the Hop.” She and her teammates always knew what that meant.
In the classroom Dailey has also succeeded. She will graduate with a 4.0 GPA and has made the honor roll many times. Bilenski reflected on her student part of the student athlete tag. “As a student athlete, you need to find a balance. Working hard in the classroom and on the softball diamond. Setting goals and working hard to reach them is what has made me a successful student and athlete. Before I entered High school, I set a few goals: to make all A’s and to play D1 softball.” Dailey has done that as she will attend Campbell University to play softball and plans to major in biochemistry.
