While many of his classmates are still awaiting decisions from colleges, Mitty left-handed pitcher Kris Bubic already committed to one a while ago.
In fact, he signed on the dotted line to attend Stanford in October of his junior year, a testament to both his ability on the mound and his acumen in the classroom.
“It says he is a great student and great person who happens to throw a baseball really hard,” said coach Bill Hutton.
Bubic, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 195 pounds, reached out to Stanford first and piqued their interest. In October of 2013, it watched him pitch for his club team in Arizona, and by the end of the month had a Letter of Intent waiting for him.
The lefty attributes his success to his “work ethic, and those around me who support me every day like my family, coaches and teammates.”
And looking at his track record, it’s no surprise that Stanford, a program that has made the College World Series 16 times and most recently produced Mark Appel (the first overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft) would target Bubic.
In nine starts and 71 innings his junior year, Bubic finished 8-2 with a 0.89 ERA and 108 strikeouts, making first-team All-WCAL. His many other accolades from last year range from making the 2014 NorCal World Series All-Star Team to being named Prep2Prep’s CCS Junior Baseball Player of the Year.
It has been a long time coming for Bubic, who dreamt of playing in the major leagues since he was little and started attending baseball camps on Mitty’s campus as soon as the fourth grade.
“He was always a special person,” said Hutton. “You could tell. He was a great kid first. Then it was obvious he was a committed student. Then his baseball skills grew to match his love of the game. Then we knew there was something special there.”
The spark happened between his freshmen and sophomore years, when his velocity and command improved vastly. He throws a terrific change-up, mixing speeds with a fastball that touches 90 miles per hour and a curveball to boot. According to Bubic, who characterizes himself as a finesse pitcher, “command and composure” are his two greatest strengths on the mound. He models himself after Jon Lester and Clayton Kershaw, both of whom show “great command and composure" and are “great people off the field as well.”
Bubic is certainly on the right track to emulating Lester and Kershaw, and his determined personality adds to his budding potential.
“I have a ‘never satisfied’ attitude, so there isn't a tendency to slack off,” Bubic said. “It is important to work hard every day because there is also someone out there working harder than you in every aspect of the game.”
And for Hutton, who has seen his fair share of gifted ballplayers in his 32 years of coaching at Mitty, not many have combined athleticism with Bubic's type of personality.
“We have had numerous people who have possessed Kris’s skill set, or close to it,” Hutton said. “Kris adds size, character, academics, and single-mindedness to that skill set. That is what sets him apart.
Added Hutton who will retire from coaching following the 2015 season: “I would be ecstatic if my own son could grow to be the quality human being Kris Bubic is.”
TOP TEAMS (Including last season's record)
Branham (25-8)
The reigning Central Coast Section Division II champions will again be in contention to win this year armed with one of the best pitching staffs around, outside of the WCAL. Led by junior ace Arman Sabouri who threw a complete game three-hit shutout over St. Francis Central Coast Catholic and Chris Kiefer the Bruins will have what’s needed most — pitching — to succeed this year.
Leigh (24-7)
The Longhorns look to redeem themselves this season after going into the Open Division as the top seed before being falling to Mount Hamilton Division rival Leland in the second round. Leigh will have plenty of firepower back on the mound and at the plate this year. Seniors Justin Scanlon (7-2), Connor Barrett (4-1) and Andrew Reveno will lead the pitching staff while Scanlon (.372 average) will also be the top returning hitter for Leigh.
Leland (24-7)
The defending champions of the Open Division last year will be in a bit of a rebuilding year as the Chargers return only four wins from its pitching staff of a year ago, all from junior Jake Dermer. This year Dermer will look to lead a young Chargers' staff. Offensively, Leland will look to senior catcher Brendt Citta (.443 batting average and 26 RBI) and Dermer (.324 average) to carry the offense.
Los Gatos (23-9)
The Wildcats, the defending SCVAL-De Anza champions, return a lot of pitching from a team that won 23 games last year. Back are Hunter Bigge (1.29 ERA), Matt Brodnik (1.40 ERA) both of whom will be counted on more this year following the graduation of Cameron Ackerman and Johnny Briedenthal. Offensively Matt Wilcox (.447 average) and Aiden Finch (.317) will lead the way.
Mitty (24-7)
The Monarchs, defending co-champions of the West Catholic Athletic League with St. Francis return some of the best pitching talent in the section this year, led by seniors Kris Bubic and Kyle McBerry who each had sub 2.00 earned run averages last year. Bubic struck out 108 batters in 71 innings pitched last year. Offensively Bubic will help lead the way after hitting .342 last season. Another player to watch is Tommy Hudson.
Pacific Grove (20-7)
The Breakers are looking to return to Mission Trail Athletic League supremacy this year behind a trio of junior pitchers — Dan Harrington, Kace Takasaki and Nic Boatman. Pacific Grove will be led offensively Anthony Coppla (.402 batting average) and Chris Fife (.366) this season.
San Benito (24-7)
The Haybalers went nearly perfect in MBL-Gabilan Division play last year, going 17-1. San Benito made it to the quarterfinals of the Open Division last year before falling to Mitty 4-3. This year the ‘Balers are replacing four all-MBL Gabilan players including Hunter Haworth and Greg Steinback who were named co-MBL Gabilan Pitchers of the Year. But returning are Zack Moeller (.355 average and five home runs) and Garrett Kelly (.353) to lead the offense. San Benito already has a victory against Serra this season.
Serra (16-12)
A year after finishing in the middle of the pack, Serra is eyeing a return to prominence as the Padres are returning four of their top five pitchers from last year. Calvin Riley went 4-1 last year with a 2.49 ERA and sophomore Vinnie Venturi had a 2.66 ERA in 26 and 1/3 innings last year. Offensively the Padres return three players all of whom batted .325 or higher last year in Christopher Papapietro, James Outman and Angelo Bortolin.
Soquel (22-8)
The Knights, who were tri-champions of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League with San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley, return a solid blend of pitching and hitting this year. Soquel will rely on the arms of Wyatt Hoogstede, Finneas Del Bonta-Smith Tom Tomaselli and Troy Miller, all of whom had sub 3.00 ERA’s last year. Offensively the Knights return five hitters who had a .300 or better batting average led by Miller who batted .364 last year.
St. Francis (26-5)
The Lancers, defending co-champions of the WCAL with Mitty, lost WCAL Pitcher of the Year in John Gavin and coach Mike Oakland will only have two wins return to the mound this season after losing a total of six senior pitchers to graduation. Jeremy Ydens, who batted .333 last year, is the top returning hitter for the Lancers.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Angelo Bortolin, Serra, INF, junior: Bortolin was an all-WCAL first teamer last year as a sophomore. Bortolin batted .365 with six home runs and 29 RBI.
Keenan Brigman, Valley Christian, INF, senior: Hit .326 with four doubles and 15 RBI.
Kris Bubic, Mitty, P, senior: The Stanford-bound left-hander is entering his senior year after going 8-2 last year with a 0.89 ERA. Bubic struck out 108 and walked only 14 last year while batters averaged just .155 against him.
Brendt Citta, Leland, C, senior: The Blossom Valley Athletic League junior of the year helped lead Leland to the Open Division title last year. Citta batted .443 last year with 26 RBI and scored 23 runs last year.
Dalton Craig, Valley Christian, C, senior: Hit .364 with five doubles, one triple and nine RBI.
Daniel Farfan, Soledad, INF/P, senior: Last season's MTAL most valuable player did it both with his bat and his arm. Farfan batted .646 with 41 RBI. On the mound he went 5-2 with a 1.76 ERA with 71 strikeouts.
Matt McGarry, Menlo-Atherton, P, senior: Went 2-3 last season with a 2.38 ERA and struck out 65 while walking 34 in 53 innings. Also hit two home runs.
Zach Moeller, San Benito C, senior: A first team all-MBL Gabilan selection last year Moeller batted .355 with five home runs and 20 RBIs for the Haybalers.
Sam Nastari, Monta Vista, C/1B, senior: Nastari batted .400 and led Monta Vista with 19 RBI last year. This year Nastari will again be the focal point of the middle of the order for Matadors.
Troy Miller, Soquel, P/INF, senior: Miller did it both on the mound and at the plate for the Knights last year. He went 6-1 with a 2.53 ERA while leading the team in batting average (.364) and hits with 34.
James Outman, Serra, C, senior: The WCAL football co-MVP hit .325 last season with five doubles, three triples, two home runs and 15 RBI. Has a baseball scholarship to Cal State Sacramento.
Chris Papapietro, Serra, OF, senior: Hit .351 last season with eight doubles, one triple and 10 RBI. Has already hit two home runs this season.
Chris Rivera, Watsonville, P/INF, senior: Arguably the top pitcher south of San Jose, Rivera set a Santa Cruz County strikeout mark last year with 126 in only 64 innings pitched. The Long Beach State-bound senior is looking to lead the Wildcatz to their first league title since 1990.
Arman Sabouri, Branham, P, junior: Sabouri threw a three-hit shutout in the D-II championship game leading the Bruins to the title as a sophomore. Sabouri, a left-handed pitcher, went 8-2 with a 1.60 ERA with 80 strikeouts in his sophomore season.
Matt Wilcox, Los Gatos, SS, senior: The SCVAL-De Anza Division player of the year is back for his senior campaign with hopes of leading the Wildcats to another league title. Wilcox batted .447 last year with 25 runs scored last year.
