Kansas Pitcher Walz Named a Senior CLASS Award Candidate

Feb. 24, 2011

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. –

Kansas pitcher T.J. Walz has been named a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award presented by Lowe’s. Walz is one of 30 players selected as a candidate by the award’s committee.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

Walz, a 6-foot-1 senior from Omaha, Neb., has won 20 games in his Kansas career and ranks in KU’s top 10 in four pitching categories: seventh in wins (20), third in strikeouts (227), sixth in games started (37) and eighth in innings pitched (243 1/3). Walz has won eight games each of the past two seasons and defeated eight ranked teams in his career. He is a two-time All-Big 12 selection as well as a two-time first team Academic All-Big 12 honoree. In his academic career, he has been named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and the Big 12 Commissioner’s honor roll seven times each.

From the list of 30 candidates, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the 2011 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in late April. Those 10 names will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award. The winner will then be announced at the College World Series in June.

Walz and the Jayhawks are scheduled to meet Saint Louis Saturday at approximately 2:30 p.m. as part of the Salty Iguana Jayhawk Classic at Hoglund Ballpark.