GIFT GUIDE: Batting lessons will be big hit for baseball/softball players
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
KINGSLAND — Every sport comes with obstacles. But many enthusiasts agree the biggest hurdle is found on the baseball or softball diamond.
“Hitting a ball is the hardest thing to do,” hitting coach Tom Hubble said. “You’re talking about a round ball and a round bat.”
Hubble, who was on a basketball scholarship at Sul Ross State, should know. He spent years following high school baseball at Corpus Christi Calallen, a powerhouse in Class 4A that has captured three state titles in the past decade.
And he believes baseball and softball players can’t spend enough time fine tuning their swing, so purchasing lessons as a Christmas gift should be high on your shopping list.
“Go to any store,” he said. “You walk down the aisle, and you see a kid getting in their stance and swing. It’s a mechanical deal, an everyday deal. You do it all the time correctly.”
Why is hitting a ball one of the hardest things to do in sports?
Hubble said there are many reasons.
First, the pitcher has several pitches he or she likes including a fast ball and off-speed pitches designed to confuse batters. Factor in the pitcher’s ability to place the ball in different spots in the hitting zone and the catcher knowing how to adjust, and it’s easy to understand why pitchers have the advantage.
“One of the best athletes in this world was Michael Jordan,” Hubble said. “He couldn’t hit a ball. You have no idea as a hitter what is being thrown. If the first pitch is there, go for it. Secondly, be patient. Thirdly, be more patient.”
He helped his son, Mixed Martial Arts fighter Kirk “Spartacus” Hubble, land a baseball scholarship after helping Calallen win a state title in 2000. Tearing his shoulder forced him to decide on a different career.
The elder Hubble, who can be contacted at (361) 290-0430, has been coaching for 40 years, and his vacations center around visiting baseball parks across the country. Only four remain: Seattle’s Safeco Field, Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, Arizona’s Chase Field and Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park.
“Support the kids no matter what they’re doing,” Hubble said. “Without that, these kids do not grow up to be good citizens. Sports is one way.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com