Daily Pilot Female Athlete of the Week: Kubisty’s way or the highway

Estancia High’s Emily Kubisty grew up a baseball fan.

She watched her brother, Julian, play the game for Irvine High, and it was only a matter of time before he became her favorite person to play catch with.

On the professional circuit, she developed an interest in the San Francisco Giants, in particular, their eccentric right-fielder Hunter Pence.

He is easily recognized for how high he wears his pants in displaying his socks, his unruly beard, and the ferocity with which he pursues balls in the outfield.

With an idol like that, it may come as no surprise that Kubisty had no interest in fitting into the cookie-cutter community of what she called “the Irvine bubble.”

Pant legs pulled up and ripped at the knee cap, Kubisty is a reflection of Pence in her uniqueness and willingness to go hard after the balls that come her way at the shortstop position.

When she transferred into Estancia High for her sophomore year, she was ready to carve out her own niche. She wasn’t going to follow anyone, and perhaps that is why her softball teammates gravitated toward her.

“I can’t speak for them, but I think that they respect that I just kind of go for it,” Kubisty said of being a team leader. “I think they see how much fun I have with it. Working hard can be fun. You can goof off as long as you work hard with it.

“I hope that I inspire them to not only want to work hard, but love the game. It’s fun for me. I like doing my job.”

It showed in big games this year. Kubisty had a pair of hits with the bases loaded in her team’s first win over Costa Mesa this season. She also threw out a runner at the plate in that contest.

Estancia won its CIF Southern Section Division 6 wildcard playoff game, 12-1, over Pomona Garey. Kubisty had three hits with a double, two runs scored, and three RBIs.

Jumping into a new program was something that Kubisty had been through before. She said that her junior season took on that sort of feeling with a new coach in Michael Hunter. In light of the changes, Kubisty said that the team’s success was unexpected, but it did not come as a shock.

“We all worked very hard for it, and I’m very proud of all the girls and the coaching staff,” Kubisty said. “I’m very proud of how the season turned out. It was kind of unexpected with all that change.

“That first-round win, there’s no better feeling than that. It’s kind of like all your hard work finally paid off. It wasn’t all that unexpected because we worked hard. I think we deserved it.”

Since becoming an Eagle, Kubisty has grown close to catcher Kalena Shepherd. They have become best friends, connected by their wild and wacky behavior.

The two can be seen dancing on the field between innings, and of course, making a difference in the game. Shepherd hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning to help Estancia keep the All Sports Cup, the trophy awarded to the overall winner of the rivalry between Costa Mesa’s two high schools.

One of the many things that these girls agree on is that the All Sports Lunch, put on by Newport Rib Company, will be a feeding frenzy. It is awarded to the school that wins the city championship across their entire athletic programs.

“I am going to wear my stretchy pants,” Shepherd said. “I am eating a lot that day. I am going to wear my big clothes, and I am going to eat like it’s Thanksgiving.

“We worked for that. We’re going to eat the most. I’m going to eat more than the whole school. They need to have a separate order for me.”

Kubisty says the grind never stops, so she joked that she will have to get her workout in while she eats.

“I’m going to be doing squats while I’m eating them,” she said. “Sit-ups while I’m eating them. Running while I’m eating them.”

Charting her own course may be the only way for Kubisty, but Hunter would gladly hand that map over to anyone who wants a blueprint to be a successful softball player.

“Emily is a sparkling example for all in our program with her desire to put in the extra work personally and with her teammates,” he said. “It’s what sets her apart. It’s exciting to have a Division 1 athlete with that awesome, positive attitude and willingness to play through all obstacles to succeed. It’s been an honor to coach such a mature student-athlete.”

The Eagles went 15-11, going 6-4 in taking third place in the Orange Coast League. Kubisty hit .474 with eight doubles, four triples, and 23 RBI this season. She also had 30 stolen bases.

If anyone is looking for Kubisty away from the softball field, they might be able to find her on the football field during the fall. The junior plays trumpet in the school marching band.

Her favorite field show was the one they performed last year. It was a rather recognizable arrangement called, “The Legend of Zorro.”

Emily Kubisty

Born: March 23, 2000

Hometown: Irvine

Height: 5 feet 10

Weight: 130 pounds

Sport: Softball

Year: Junior

Coach: Michael Hunter

Favorite food: Indian food (chicken tikka masala)

Favorite movie: “Endless Summer”

Favorite athletic moment: The Eagles shortstop threw out a runner at the plate from left field in a home game against rival Costa Mesa this season. Estancia catcher Kalena Shepherd said she did not see the throw come in until it had curled around and cleared the runner.

Week in review: Kubisty drove in three runs with a three-hit game in Estancia’s CIF-SS Division 6 wildcard matchup with Pomona Garey. She had a double and two runs scored as the Eagles won the game, 12-1.

[email protected]

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner