BASEBALL Kevin Libeg will be asset for Penguins

The Masury native brings a "special" background from Hubbard High to YSU and its baseball team.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HUBBARD -- The Youngstown State baseball team and the university in general has gained a "special" prize recruit.
He is Kevin Libeg, a senior at Hubbard High from Masury, who has signed a national letter of intent to attend YSU this year and play baseball for coach Mike Florak's Penguins.
Libeg is "special" because not only is he an outstanding pitcher and student, but he is serious about excelling in life in general in just about every facet of importance.
In other words, the son of Shirley and Thomas Libeg is a versatile and well-rounded super-achiever who is expected to become a "special" asset to YSU, as he has been to Hubbard High and its surrounding community.
And he can serve as an example to those students who prefer and seek to achieve in multiple areas, and refuse to accept limitations on their potential and possibilities.
Well-rounded student
Libeg, besides compiling a 1.41 earned run average, 179 strikeouts and an 11-8 record in three seasons with the Hubbard High baseball team, has a 3.8 grade-point average and has been named Hubbard's "Most Outstanding Senior, Class of 2002" by his senior classmates. He also was a three-year starter for the Hubbard High basketball team.
But those achievements tell only a part of the Libeg story. He also is vice president of his senior class, president of Students Against Drunk Driving, a soup kitchen and blood drive volunteer, advocate against school violence, and operates his own business, Kevin's Lawn Care -- just to name a few of his many interests on his very long resume.
Libeg's rich and diverse background shows he is tasting life to the fullest, acquiring invaluable experiences, and turning multi-dreams into reality through determination and perseverance.
His motivation
But why does he do it all, and how does he find the time?
"I just wanted to get involved in a lot of different activities, [to] give me a better background," said Libeg, who is planning to major in either business administration or physical therapy at YSU. "I like being around people. I am a people person. I did this to widen my experiences to be a leader and set an example."
He said he found the time because, "I have pretty good time manage skills. I come home from practice and do my studying and get done what has to get done. I have found time to do these things in a way that has not detracted my performance in any of them."
Libeg said he picked YSU for baseball over North Carolina-Asheville and Miami (Ohio) because of Florak and the Penguins' program.
"I really like the coach. Coach Florak is a great guy," said Libeg.
And, "They [YSU] have a really good recruiting class coming in. They get to play games at Cafaro Field, and it seems program is heading in right direction."
Statistics
This season for Hubbard, Libeg posted a 1.61 ERA with 73 strikeouts and a 3-5 record in 561/3 innings.
Last year as a junior, Libeg had a 1.23 ERA, 60 strikeouts and 5-2 record in 43 innings, and made the All-Trumbull Athletic Conference first team. He also was picked the Eagles' top pitcher.
And last summer, Libeg had the second-best ERA in the Class B League at 1.70 ERA, with 25 strikeouts in 37 innings, limiting opponents to a .205 batting average.
His baseball coach at Hubbard is Jesse Hall. His basketball coaches were Bernie Tarr, Brian Hamilton and Scott Grover.
kovach@vindy.com