’05 Turk Alumni Brad Mills a Finalist for Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award

5/09/2007 – University of Arizona Athletics

TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona senior Brad Mills was named one of 10 finalists for the 2007 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, it was announced on Wednesday. The award, which recognizes the outstanding senior student-athlete in six NCAA sports, is in its first year for baseball. Lowe’s recently announced the addition of baseball and three other sports to the award program that originally launched in 2001-02 with basketball. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award is designed to honor the attributes of college senior student-athletes who stay in school. Mills, a left-handed pitcher from Mesa, Ariz., and the only finalists from the Pacific-10 Conference, has worked his way into being a vital component for the 14th-ranked Wildcats. After being the only player out of 80 that tried out for the UA team in the fall of 2003 to make the roster, Mills has transformed himself from a lightly used reliever to the No. 2 starter in the Arizona rotation. He is currently tied with ace Preston Guilmet for the team lead in wins with a 9-4 record on the mound, and has posted a 3.80 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings pitched. In addition to his outstanding efforts on the baseball field, Mills currently has a 3.23 GPA as a civil engineering major at Arizona. A 2006 second-team Academic All-Pac-10 selection and a candidate for academic honors this season as well, he is expected to receive his undergraduate degree from the university in December. He was selected in the 22nd round by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2006 Major League Baseball draft, but opted not to sign a professional contract and return to Arizona for his senior season and to complete his studies. The ten finalists will be placed on the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award ballot for a nationwide vote beginning May 10 and concluding June 6. 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 2007 award. The award winner will be announced and presented with his trophy during the 2007 NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. The Lowe’s All-Senior All-America Team will also be recognized. Finalists were selected from a list of 30 candidates based on personal qualities that define a complete student athlete. While the on-the-field performance thus far during the college baseball season was a factor in determining the finalists, the criteria also includes a high emphasis on the classroom, character and community service. Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award Finalists: Austin Adams Texas Christian OF 6’5 219 Eric Cattoni Saint Mary’s OF 5’11 160 Andy DeLaGarza Coastal Carolina P 6’4 200 Ryan Gryskevicz Bucknell P/OF 6’3 195 Bryan Henry Florida State P 6’3 202 Aaron Ivey Oklahoma OF 5’9 165 Brad Mills Arizona P 6’0 185 Eric Rose Michigan OF 5’11 185 Emeel Salem Alabama IF 6’0 175 Keanon Simon Oklahoma State OF 5’10 191