Tyler Stovall was a standout on the Central Michigan baseball team during his four years in Mount Pleasant and now he has been named second-team All-Senior All-America by the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award organization.

CLASS is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School.

“It was awesome,” Stovall said. “Not everyone gets to come back for their senior year. It was nice to get recognized for that and for the things I’ve done off the field.”

Stovall was one of only 10 players throughout the country to be nominated for the award given out at this years College Baseball World Series in Omaha, Neb.

Rice University pitcher Cole St. Clair was selected as the 2008 winner.

Stovall maintained a 3.81 grade-point average during his time at CMU and posted a four-year batting average of .342.

“The award is symbolic of what a student athlete is supposed to be,” said coach Steve Jaksa. “It puts a bow on his career.”

Stovall excelled on the field as well. He was drafted 599th by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2008 first-year player draft.

Stovall is currently playing for the Billings Mustangs in the Pioneer League, part of the Reds minor league system.

Stovall was a star at CMU and has had to adjust to a new spot in the batting order in Montana.

“All of these guys were the best player on whatever team they came from,” he said. “I hit third my whole career and now I’m hitting seventh. It’s a little weird, but I’m starting to get used to it.”

After playing 57 games for the Chippewas last season, the biggest adjustment for Stovall has been the number of games the Mustangs play, in cities like Great Falls, Helena, Casper, Idaho Falls, Orem, Missoula and Ogden.

Billings is 4-3, second place in the Pioneer League North Division.

As of Tuesday, Stovall was batting .400 with two RBIs and a double and has gone 6-for-15.

“It’s weird now knowing that you’re not just playing for your school anymore. It’s a job now,” he said. “The toughest thing to get used to is playing so much. I don’t think we have a day off until July.”

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