April 16, 2007
ATLANTA – Senior starting pitcher Ryan Turner has been named one of 30 NCAA baseball candidates for the 2007 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in the all-new baseball division, as announced Monday evening. The award will be presented annually to an NCAA Division I senior baseball player that excels both on and off the field.
Turner, a native of Dahlonega, Ga., has made nine starting appearances this season for the Yellow Jackets and is scheduled to start Georgia Tech’s game against the Georgia Bulldogs this week. The senior southpaw has posted a 3-3 record with a 3.88 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 2007.
Lowe’s recently announced the addition of baseball and three other NCAA sports to the award program that originally launched in 2001-02 with basketball. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award is designed to honor the attributes of college senior student athletes that stay in school and pursue the multiple rewards that a senior season can bring.
Candidates were selected based on personal qualities that define a complete student-athlete, including on-the-field performance, leadership qualities, working towards their degree, and the impact that they have made in their local communities.
Along with his exemplary athletic performance, Turner is a dean’s list student majoring in management that has been active in the Georgia Tech and Atlanta community, particularly during this, his final season on the Flats. A frequent assistant for Georgia Tech baseball camps, Turner has also participated in Georgia Tech’s annual community service day (TEAM Buzz), served as a volunteer for the Georgia Special Olympics State Winter Games, and helped his team raise more than $8,500 for kids’ cancer research as a “shavee” for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
A national media committee will select 10 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in May. Those 10 names will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote beginning May 9 and concluding June 6. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches, media and sponsors to determine the recipient of the award. The award winner and the college baseball All-Senior All-America Team will be announced this June during the 2007 NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
2007 Baseball Candidates
Austin Adams, Texas Christian, OFRyan Bird, Saint Louis, PJoey Boaen, Pennsylvania, OFBrandon Bowser, New Orleans, OFJohn Brandt, Wofford, C/OFJay Brossman, Utah, IFWes Brundridge, Charleston Southern, RFChris Cates, Louisville, SSEric Cattoni, Saint Mary's, OFJim Chapman, Vermont, SSAndy DeLaGarza, Coastal Carolina, PNick Derba, Manhattan, C/IFChris Dunn, Florida International, OFRyan Gryskevicz, Bucknell, P/OFBryan Henry, Florida State, PJacob Howell, Ohio State, OFMichael Hyde, Florida State, PAaron Ivey, Oklahoma, OFMatt LaPorta, Florida, 1BAdam McDaniel, Georgia, PSteven Mignogna, Radford, CFBrad Mills, Arizona, PEric Rose, Michigan, OFEmeel Salem, Alabama, IFScott Simon, Northern Illinois, 1BKeanon Simon, Oklahoma State, OFDaniel Stovall, New Mexico, 1BJosh Thompson, Mercer, CRyan Turner, Georgia Tech, PKasey Wahl, Evansville, 1B
