April 24, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - Senior pitcher Mark Appel has been named one of 10 NCAA Division I baseball players selected as a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award, as announced Wednesday.
The Senior CLASS Award is given to student-athletes who excel both on and off the field. 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.
The Houston, Texas, native has been Stanford's Friday night starter for the last three seasons. As a junior, Appel was named the NCBWA Pitcher of the Year and garnered numerous All-America accolades from the NCBWA, Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America.
A first team All Pac-12 selection in 2012, Appel posted a 10-2 record and led the Pac-12 Conference with 130 strikeouts en route to being named a Golden Spikes Award finalist and a Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist.
The preseason All-American has gone 7-2 in nine starts for the Cardinal this season and boasts a 1.54 ERA and a .188 opposing batting average. Appel leads the Pac-12 with 84 strikeouts.
After being selected eighth overall in the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft, Appel opted to return for his senior season at Stanford and last month earned his degree in management, science and engineering.
Appel is deeply involved in campus ministries and youth services.
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2013 NCAA College World Series (June 15-26) in Omaha, Neb.
Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans.
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