Andrew Morales Named Senior CLASS Award Winner
June 19, 2014 | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. --- Andrew Morales was voted the winner of the 2014 Senior CLASS Award, an honor that is given to a student-athlete, who has demonstrated notable achievements in four areas of excellence -community, classroom, character and competition.
"It is an honor I share with my coaches, teammates and all those who have mentored me," said Morales. "To be recognized for the Senior CLASS Award is something that I feel is a very prestigious accomplishment."
Morales, an All-American pitcher led UC Irvine to its second College World Series appearance. Sporting an 11-2 record and a 1.53 ERA, Morales is first in the nation in strikeouts with 141 and first in starts with 19. He was named the Big West Pitcher of the Year and was a candidate for several awards, including the Dick Howser Trophy, Golden Spikes Award and National Pitcher of the Year.
In the classroom, Morales will receive his degree in public health policy. Drafted in the second round by the St. Louis Cardinals, Morales intends to become a paramedic following a professional baseball career. He has volunteered at the Build-a-Bear store and handed out stuffed animals to patients at children's hospitals in Orange County and Los Angeles.
Morales is the second Anteater to win the award, joining UC Irvine coach, Daniel Bibona, who was awarded the honor in 2010.
"As a fellow winner, I understand what it means and what a special award it is," said Bibona. "Andrew is well-deserving of it and exemplifies everything the award stands for, on and off the field."
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
"Andrew Morales has been an excellent example to the Irvine community and to his own family of how hard work and discipline can help you achieve success in college and in baseball," said Erik Miner, executive director for the Senior CLASS Award. "He made UC Irvine baseball better, and he has set himself up for success by earning his college degree."
Senior CLASS Award First-Team All-Americans
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Kevin Courtney, Stony Brook |
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Dustin DeMuth, Indiana |
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Jeff Gardner, Louisville |
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Matt Hicks, Louisiana |
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Andrew Morales, UC Irvine |
Senior CLASS Award Second-Team All-Americans
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Tim Colwell, North Dakota State |
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Clinton Freeman, East Tennessee State |
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Mark Payton, Texas |
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AJ Salcines, Miami (Fla.) |
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Ryan Thompson, Campbell |
