Hubbard Gives Kennedy a Lift

Wearing a tank top and shorts, Kevin Hubbard looks like a football player with his bulging biceps and thick forearms.

Except he has never played the sport.

“I went out for football when I was young and they said I wasn’t mean enough,” he said.

Hitting a baseball became his passion. He was an all-star in a park league and a top hitter in Granada Hills Little League. That only adds to his mystery.

Hubbard is an 18-year-old senior at Kennedy High with the kind of body and talent professional scouts drool over. So how come he has played only two years of high school baseball?

“I kind of fell off the face of the planet,” he said.

He spent seven months of his sophomore year living at a Christian group home in Northern California. His parents wanted him to follow rules and stop getting into trouble.

“I think it was definitely a difficult time but a necessity,” Hubbard’s father, Mark, said.

When Hubbard returned home, friends hardly recognized him. He went from 5 feet 6, 145 pounds, to 6-0 and close to 200 pounds. He added muscle with daily weight training.

“Bench press, triceps, bench press, biceps, bench press,” he said.

He led Kennedy’s junior varsity team in hitting as a junior.

This season, he was academically ineligible for the first five weeks, leaving him the third-string right fielder. He eventually worked his way into the lineup and could be the late-season addition Kennedy needs to win a seventh City Championship.

Since Hubbard made his first start April 23 against San Fernando, Kennedy (21-10) has won eight of nine games.

In the Golden Cougars’ 7-0 loss to San Fernando last week, pro scouts got a glimpse of Hubbard’s raw skills. He beat out a grounder to shortstop for a single. Later in the game, he threw out a runner trying to move from second to third on a flyout.

The 6-1, 205-pound switch-hitter has moved up to No. 5 in the batting order and is hitting .412 entering Kennedy’s playoff opener today against Roosevelt.

“He’s our biggest, strongest guy,” Coach Manny Alvarado said. “If I’m a pro scout and I’m going to watch people warming up, I’d want to know who No. 28 is.”

Alvarado has made Hubbard his personal “project,” monitoring him to make sure he graduates next month and continues his baseball career.

“Half the gray hairs on my head belong to him,” Alvarado said.

Hubbard has been on his best behavior. He said he made up with his family and understands what is required to be successful.

“I’m as mature as an 18-year-old can be,” he said while showing off pen marks on his arm from a girl student.

His baseball potential is immense. He’s reaching peak form just when the Golden Cougars need him most.

Last year, when Kennedy went from the No. 9-seeded team to City champion, the Golden Cougars received a late-season boost from sophomore Eric Moore, who was promoted from the junior varsity and delivered the game-winning hit in the championship game at Dodger Stadium.

Hubbard wants to assume a similar role.

“It makes me feel like I’m a hidden weapon,” he said. “I think I’m getting better.”

Alvarado said waiting for Hubbard to mature has been a challenge but worth it.

“He’s special,” Alvarado said.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

TODAY’S CITY SECTION

FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS

(Games start at 3 p.m.)

Championship

University at Chatsworth

Wilson at San Fernando

Birmingham at Poly

Sylmar at Granada Hills

Roosevelt at Kennedy

Invitational

Fremont at El Camino Real

Garfield at Cleveland

Van Nuys at Marshall

Eagle Rock at Grant

Verdugo Hills at San Pedro

Franklin at North Hollywood

TODAY’S SOUTHERN SECTION

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS

(Games start at 3:15 p.m.

unless noted)

Division II

Lancaster at Riverside Poly

Mater Dei vs. Crescenta Valley at

Stengel Field in Glendale, 7 p.m.

Division III

Westlake at Cypress

Calabasas at Norte Vista

Division IV

Lompoc vs. Chaminade at

Birmingham High

Division V

L.A. Baptist at Santa Ana

Calvary Chapel, 2 p.m.

Paraclete vs. St. Bonaventure

at Somis Park

Division VI

Grace Brethren at Upland Christian