Contemplating college can be difficult for any high schooler. But for baseball players, navigating the world of showcases, camps, games, phone calls, letters, coaches, and more can be downright daunting. In this article, Blaine Harpenau discusses how he decided, how he got there, and what advice he has for younger players.

 

Blaine Harpenau, Remsen St. Mary’s class of 2021, has become a must-see RHP prospect of his class. PBR ranked him 8th at his position and 19th overall among Iowa’s 2021 class. Throughout his high school career, Harpenau has developed his arsenal, putting up impressive Trackman numbers in showcases. Now, he looks ahead to joining the Kirkwood Community College roster this fall. 

It all started freshman year. “It was my first time I went to a PBR showcase,” Harpenau said. “I went to the Preseason one. From there, it was nice to get my name out there for coaches. That helped get exposure out there and then be able to have coaches contact me.”

The Kirkwood staff sealed the deal. “I really liked the coaching staff,” Harpenau said. “When I visited there, it felt like a really good place and a really good family atmosphere that I really liked...And they also just seem like really good people. They seem really interested in me and making me better, helping me get to the next step.”

Harpenau learned from each coach he visited. “It was nice to communicate with a bunch of different coaches and see what advice they have for me and what they thought of me as a pitcher,” he said. “Just being able to talk to them and learning from them was an awesome experience to have.”

But time was limited. “I guess sometimes it was tough finding time to call them and everything because sometimes it gets busy during the summer,” Harpenau said.

The process also caused some stress. “In the end, I guess it was stressful having to choose one school because you make so many good relationships with all the different coaches,” Harpenau said. “So it's tough having to say no to some of them and having to choose one.”

But the people he met throughout made it worth it. “It was also awesome going there and being able to meet new people,” Harpenau said. “You meet people from all over the state, people you never think you'd meet. It's nice to make relationships with people there, and then you might see them down the road in college if you guys play one another or end up being on the same team.”

Blaine Harpenau 8/9/2020

When preparing for the college search, players need to stay focused on what they can control. “You just got to do what you can, and don't worry about it,” Harpenau said. “Then if it's right for you, the right school comes calling for you.”

Ultimately, players should trust their gut. “Go wherever you feel most comfortable and the place where you feel like it's the best fit for you,” Harpenau said. “Don't try to please others.”

Blaine Harpenau has become a dominant pitcher in the 2021 class with a lot of potential. As he worked through  the recruitment process, he showcased his skills and made relationships with coaches until finding a coaching staff that he felt at home with. As graduation and his final season loom, Harpenau can enjoy the high school game and show off his arsenal to his opponents one more time.

Savannah Dennis is currently a senior at Johnston High School and has been working for Prep Baseball Report Iowa as an intern since October 2020. She has been managing the Johnston baseball team since she was a freshman and has also worked for the Iowa Sticks team as a data collector. Outside of the baseball industry, Savannah is the Print Editor for the Johnston Black & White newspaper. In the fall, she plans on going to college and majoring in statistics while managing the chosen school's baseball team.