Prairie Baseball Academy Announces New Pitching Coach

August 27, 2020

Lethbridge, AB - The Prairie Baseball Academy and its managing company Under the Lights Sports & Entertainment Inc. is excited to announce the addition of Dustin Molleken to its coaching staff! Dustin will be joining the staff for the 26^th opening day at PBA. Head Coach Todd Hubka commented “We are so excited about Dustin joining our staff. He brings a wealth of experience and passion that I know he will pass on to our players plus the youth in the community.”

Dustin attended PBA in 2003 before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the same year. For some insight regarding Molleken’s experience, after being drafted he spent seven years with the Pirates Organization, followed by two years with the Colorado Rockies, then a year in the NPB of Japan with the Nippon Ham Fighters. He then returned to American baseball in 2013 with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2013-14 and Cleveland Indians from 2014-15. On July 4, 2016 he made his Major League Debut with the Detroit Tigers posting two strikeouts in two innings of work. In 2017 he joined the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League then spent 2018 with the Quebec Capitales in the Canadian American League. Dustin has also found success at the International level; he has been member of Team Canada since 2011 and was preparing to play with them in 2020 before the events were cancelled. In 2011 he won a bronze medal at the Baseball World Cup as well as a gold medal at the Pan-Am Games where he posted a 1.93 ERA in four appearances with one win and one save.

Under the Lights Sports & Entertainment President Kevin Kvame commented, “We are adding a special piece to the baseball landscape. What was so invigorating about Dustin when we met was his commitment to growing the game, not just for PBA, but also wherever else he could help. This gives the Bulls, Junior Academy, Little League and others, another high-quality teacher of baseball. I could not be more thrilled!”

Molleken shares the excitement that Prairie Baseball has about him joining the coaching staff, “First of all I’m honoured to be back and am really excited about joining the coaching staff.” This is the first time in PBA history that a former professional baseball player will be a part of the coaching staff. “[I bring] so much experience from my 18 years playing professionally, I’m excited to come and help guys compete.”

This will be Molleken’s first official coaching job, “It’s awesome to have been here 18 years ago as a player and now to be back 18 years later as a coach and see things come full circle.”

Along with his coaching role with the Academy, Dustin will be getting right into developing youth by leading the way with the Little League District 1 Fall Ball Program set to start on Wednesday September 9^th. If you have yet to sign up it is not too late! This is a fantastic opportunity to continue developing local baseball talent. “I am excited to work with the kids who are just starting to learn the game. I hope they get excited about the game as much as me,” Molleken added.

PBA expects to make a further coaching announcement on Friday.

For additional information please contact:

Kevin Kvame                                                                                                      Todd Hubka

UTLSE President/CEO                                                                                     PBA Head Coach

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