UCI’s Orloff named a finalist for special award

UC Irvine’s Ben Orloff has been named a finalist for the 2009 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.

The CLASS award, an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, honors the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: classroom, community, character and competition. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards that a senior season can bring.

The finalists were chosen by a media committee from a list of 30 candidates based on qualities that define a complete student-athlete.

The finalists were placed on the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award baseball ballot for a nationwide vote that started Wednesday and will conclude May 31. Fan balloting, available on the award’s official website www.seniorclassaward.com, will be combined with votes from coaches, media and sponsors to determine the recipient of the award. Fans can also vote via text by sending the words “Text Code” to 839863.

Orloff, a four-year shortstop, boasts an 188-consecutive game start streak and recently became UCI’s all-time leader in runs scored and holds 150 thus far. He tops the team with 48 hits, 10 stolen bases and 11 sacrifice hits. He is currently ranked 45th in the country in the “Toughest to Strikeout” category and has been fanned just nine times in 132 at-bats.

— From staff reports