Lyons Named Lowe’s Award Finalist
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Oklahoma State pitcher Tyler Lyons has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2010 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in the baseball division, it was announced today.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence — community, classroom, character and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School™, the Lowe’s 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. The finalists were chosen by a media committee from the list of 30 candidates who were announced in February.
“College baseball players have to manage expectations as students on track to graduate and then as potential professional players,” said Tom Lamb, Lowe’s senior vice president of marketing. “The 10 finalists are shining examples of young men who are capable of putting the priority of getting a degree first for themselves.”
A native of Lubbock, Texas, Lyons was a 10th-round draft pick of the New York Yankees last June but delayed the start of a professional career to return to the Cowboys for his senior season. The southpaw is 2-2 in eight appearances this season and has moved into the top 10 on the OSU career lists in strikeouts, innings pitched and starts. In 59 career appearances, Lyons has racked up 21 wins.
A two-time All-Big 12 Conference performer, Lyons has led OSU in wins each of the last two seasons, including a 12-win performance in 2008 that ranked fourth nationally. He’s also been an NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team selection each of the last two years.
In the classroom, Lyons is a sports management major and a two-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree. In 2008, he was a second-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District choice. He has also been named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll three times and is a three-time OSU Academic Achievement Award winner.
In the Stillwater community, Lyons has spent time as a volunteer at the Humane Society and as a fundraiser for Relay for Life. He has also done volunteer work through the Into The Streets program and served as a mentor with Coaches vs. Cancer.
Lyons and the nine other 2010 Lowe’s Award finalists will be placed on the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award baseball ballot for a nationwide vote beginning today and concluding May 31. Fan balloting is available on the award’s official Web site, http://www.seniorCLASSaward.com, as well as through text messaging. Fans can text BASEBALL to 74567 to vote for the finalists. These votes will be combined with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award.
Lyons is the second OSU player to be named a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. In the award’s inaugural year, 2007, Cowboy outfielder Keanon Simon was a finalist.
Updated 04-14-2010
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