By STEVE KRAH
Baseball at Muncie (Ind.) Central High School has been able to increase its win total each year that Jason Kubick has been Bearcats head coach.
Taking over a program that earned one varsity victory in 2021, Kubick saw his first team win six in 2022 and nine in 2023.
“I’m excited with the direction we’re going,” says Kubick. “Hard work, teamwork and competitiveness. Those are the main things we try to really hit on.
“We’re doing what we need to do everyday to be successful.”
Kubick, a 2006 Muncie Central graduate who competed in baseball (for head coach Clint VonDielingen) and swimming (for head coach Steve Spradlin) for four years and tennis for two, was a baseball assistant at his alma mater for five years on the staffs of Rob Fisher (who was a VonDielingen assistant) and Justin Whittenburg before becoming head coach.
After serving as a head swim coach at New Castle Chrysler High School for four years, 2011 Ball State University Elementary Education graduate Kubick came back to Muncie to teach and coach Bearcats swimming for one season.
As head baseball coach, he is also looking to raise the profile of Muncie Central on the diamond.
One way to do that is getting to players in the younger grades which he and assistant Tyler Reynolds (Muncie Southside Class of 2010) can do as elementary school Physical Education teachers for Grades K-5 — Kubick at West View and Reynolds at Longfellow. Reynolds has been with Kubick since Day 1.
Kubick (pronounced Q-bick) says he hopes to have John Gallatin (Muncie Central Class of 2018) and Logan Drown (Delta Class of 2021) back as assistants in 2024.
Relationships are also being cultivated with Muncie Baseball and Softball Association and Ross Community Center.
“I’m just trying to make connections,” says Kubick.
There is also an effort to keep baseball as an option for students at Northside Middle School and Southside Middle School.
“The main issue has been coming up with funding and a place to play,” says Kubick.
An IHSAA Limited Contact Period goes from Aug. 28-Oct. 14.
There are many multi-sport athletes at Muncie Central. Those returnees not in a fall sport have been coming to twice-a-week workouts along with a few middle schoolers.
Logan Grady (Muncie Central Class of 2023) moved on to Manchester University to play baseball.
Kubick sees college baseball potential in pitcher/infielder/outfielder Logan Campbell (Muncie Central Class of 2025) and catcher Gage Emberton (Muncie Central Class of 2026).
Muncie Central (enrollment around 1,425) is a member of the North Central Conference (with Anderson, Kokomo, Lafayette Harrison, Lafayette Jeff, Logansport, Marion, McCutcheon and Richmond).
The Bearcats are part of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional grouping in 2024 with Anderson, Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), New Palestine, Pendleton Heights and Richmond. Muncie Central has won 14 sectional championships — the last in 2000.
Bottorff Field is home field for the Bearcats. Named for former coach and Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Gene Bottorff, the on-campus facility faces the bend in the White River near the man-made levee with a view of the Minnestrista Cultural Center and three homes of the famed Ball brothers.
“I absolutely love our field,” says Kubick. “It’s beautiful.”
Jason and Megan Kubick have been married for 10 years. The couple have two daughters — Carson (5) and Devyn (2).
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