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Uncommitted Spotlight: '18 Kade Vander Molen, SS/RHP, Pella Christian

September 11, 2017

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Iowa  

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PBR: What schools have expressed interest in you?
VANDER MOLEN: After some solid performances in events this spring, I was interacting with several D1 programs. That communication slowed down when I got ill and missed a large chunk of my junior baseball season. The schools I've communicated with the most include Missouri, Illinois State, Bradley, Eastern Illinois, and SIU-Edwardsville. Just recently I've also been hearing from several new schools including some junior colleges and D2 programs. 

PBR: Have you taken any visits, or have any visits scheduled in the near future?
VANDER MOLEN: In the spring, I took unofficial visits to Missouri, Illinois State and Bradley. I am currently working with a few schools to schedule fall visits, but nothing has been officially scheduled at this point. 

PBR: Are you looking for anything in particular in a school? 
VANDER MOLEN: I'm looking for a college with a pre-physical therapy academic track as I intend to pursue that as a career. I'm also looking for a school with a solid baseball reputation with coaches who have the reputation of developing young men as athletes, students, and citizens. The perfect school would also have a strong focus on player development through strength & conditioning, as well as use of the new technologies that are proven to be effective at improving baseball skills. The right opportunity is more important than the location. 

PBR: What were some of your highlights during your junior year?
VANDER MOLEN: My team, Pella Christian, is a 2A school that competes in the Little Hawkeye Conference against solid 3A/4A schools with enrollments that are 2-4 times greater than PC. I was proud that we finished in the upper half of the conference this year and got to the district final game for the first time in a long time. Personally, however, the season wasn't what I hoped and expected as I was sick early and eventually was unable to play for about 4 weeks following a diagnosis of mono. Though disappointing, that experience has made me even more committed to excelling at baseball this fall and beyond.  

PBR: What are your goals for this year?
VANDER MOLEN: First, I want to get better. I'm looking forward to a great fall with the Perfect Game Iowa Select Black 2018 team, which will allow me to compete against many of the top players in the Midwest. Also, Pella Christian graduated 6 starting players from this summer's team, so my goal is to help lead my team in the off-season to prepare ourselves to outperform everyone's expectations in 2018. I also look forward to finding the college that is the best fit for my future academic and athletic goals.

PBR: Do you play any other sports?
VANDER MOLEN: I have played basketball throughout high school including being a regular player for the varsity basketball team as a sophomore and a junior.  

PBR: What is your ACT and GPA?
VANDER MOLEN: I have a 3.64 GPA and scored a 28 on the ACT, which I'm taking again in September. 

 

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