With a brain for baseball, Ogden coach Kyle Bubak taking first season brick by brick
Former Green Canyon coach rebuilding Tigers program
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- Ogden High coach Kyle Bubak instructs from the third-base line during a nonregion baseball game versus Corner Canyon on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden High’s Kash Thompson readies his delivery during a nonregion baseball game versus Corner Canyon on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden High’s Easton Green rips the bat during a nonregion baseball game versus Corner Canyon on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden High’s Kash Thompson slides into Corner Canyon second baseman Levi Hines during a nonregion baseball game versus Corner Canyon on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden High coach Kyle Bubak meets with an umpire during a nonregion baseball game versus Corner Canyon on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden High’s Dominic Piper fields a ground ball during a nonregion baseball game versus Corner Canyon on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden High’s Rodrigo Torres sends the ball in during a nonregion baseball game versus Corner Canyon on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden High’s Lucas Bushell fields the ball during a nonregion baseball game versus Corner Canyon on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
OGDEN — A former shortstop at Nebraska – and once a high school hopeful himself growing up in Davis County – Kyle Bubak is revising a roster shortage and lack of resources afflicting the Ogden High baseball team.
The program has just 16 total players and Joel Gomez is the sole four-year returner to an otherwise inexperienced varsity roster.
The result has been an 0-14 record entering the second week of April and a situation unrecognizable from two years ago when the Tigers finished 18-7 and second in Region 13.
Bubak, who led Green Canyon to a 15-13 finish in 2023, said installing his curriculum at Ogden will be a serious undertaking. In his first season, Bubak’s providing each player with the tools to participate and learn where – and how – they fit into the game.
“The biggest key here is getting the number of participants up,” Bubak said. “Most teams are carrying 35 (players) so that’s something we’re prioritizing. I was aware going into this it’s going to be a rebuild. There’s a lot of work, but Ogden’s a historic baseball place to do it.
“… We’re doing all the right things as far as having the right facilities that’ll attract the players, we’ve got a really good coaching staff (and) it’s just a matter of getting more people out so we can teach them baseball.”
As part of his efforts, Bubak, founder of the Utah-based baseball academy The Lab, coordinated with the Ogden School District for an overhaul of the team’s home infield so it closely resembles the playing surface used by the Ogden Raptors.
“Putting in that type of stuff – a quality field and facilities – that’s going to help players,” Bubak said. “We demand a lot as a staff, and if we don’t have the resources for them to match that demand that’s going to be challenging. But the (district)’s put in a lot of work as far as helping us with our facilities in order to be ready.”
He also went as far as organizing online Canvas courses and regular-season dates at Lindquist Field, including the weekend’s contests with Corner Canyon, Sky View and Ridgeline.
Growing up a fan of the Ogden Raptors and Los Angeles Dodgers, Gomez went out for baseball four years ago at the direction of his father, Jamie. Encouraged by a fresh start, Gomez, set to graduate in May, returned to the team this spring in hopes of making a difference for the guys coming up.
Bubak has left an impression.
“I really love baseball and I heard (Bubak) was good,” Gomez said. “And he’s a great coach, I respect him a lot for taking on a new team. It’s something that I was looking forward to. So far, it’s been bumpy, but we’re improving as the season moves along.”
Gomez, along with fellow seniors Kash Thompson, Dominic Piper and RBI-leader Owen Halverson, are at the core of Bubak’s blueprint this season. The Tigers are leaning on their seniors throughout an unconventional and often experimental first campaign under their new head coach.
Though challenging, confidence is the mantra.
“You gotta stay confident in everything you do,” Gomez said. “Even if you do something bad, you just gotta stay confident – that’s all I’ve been telling them. So far there’s like three kids that’ve picked it up and it’s slowly gathering to the rest of the team, for which I’m happy.”
Ogden continues its region schedule with a home-and-way pair against South Summit on April 8 and 10.
Connect with sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.
