Overland, Kan. – Coastal Carolina redshirt senior Bobby Holmes was selected as a candidate for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award^® in collegiate baseball it was announced on Friday, March 22. Holmes is one of just 30 NCAA baseball senior student-athletes across the nation to be recognized as a candidate for the prestigious award.

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.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
 
In the classroom, Holmes, who has already graduated with an undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies and is working toward his MBA, is a two-time Big South Presidential Honor Roll member and a two-time Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List honoree. He is an eight-time member of the dean's list and was named to the president's list in the fall of 2018. In 2016, Holmes was honored at the College World Series for having the highest GPA among the eight-team participants during the opening ceremonies.

In the community, Holmes is a volunteer for the Miracle League, which provides opportunities for children with disabilities to play Miracle League baseball and other sports, regardless of their disabilities. Holmes was the lead organizer in hosting the baseball league event in 2016 and has helped spearhead CCU's participation in the Miracle League's events each of the last three years. He has been a huge part of the community's hurricane relief efforts for Louisiana in 2017 and most recently at home in Horry County in South Carolina in 2018, setting up sandbags, delivering food and supplies to those in need, as well as aiding in helping gather supplies and needed essentials.

Holmes also helps put together a team initiative each year to provide Thanksgiving dinners for the less fortunate (2014-18) and purchase, wrap and deliver Christmas gifts to families in need (2014-18). Holmes is part of the Night to Shine Ministry, an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God's love, for people with special needs ages 14 and older. He also is one of many CCU student-athletes who takes part in the reading program with elementary schools in the local area.

On the field, Holmes, who was named to the 2017 NCBWA Preseason Stopper of the Year watch list, suffered an injury in 2017 and missed all of 2018 due to Tommy John surgery. He was a 2015 Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American, the 2015 Big South Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the 2015 All-Big South Second Team. He has posted a 17-7 overall record with 11 saves and a 3.65 ERA over his career on the mound for the Chanticleers.

In CCU's postseason run to the 2016 National Championship, Holmes pitched in nine of CCU's 14 NCAA postseason games (18.2 innings) and was 3-0 with two saves, a team-best 1.93 ERA and a .200 opponent batting average. In fact, he picked up the win in both of CCU's victories at LSU in the Super Regionals.

The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four C's of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2019 College World Series^® in June.
 
Baseball Candidates
Zach Ashford, Fresno State                           Bobby Holmes, Coastal Carolina
Austin Bull, Grand Canyon                             Gunner Leger, Louisiana
Richard Cunningham, Baylor                         Brady Lloyd, ECU
Jack Dunn, Northwestern                               Jake Mangum, Mississippi State
Antoine Duplantis, LSU                                  Jayse McLean, North Dakota State
Austin Embler, UNC Greensboro                   Tommy Miller, Siena
Bryce Fehmel, Oregon State                          Brian Moskey, Quinnipiac
Vito Friscia, Hofstra                                        Cole O'Connor, Dartmouth
Sam Fuller, St. Bonaventure                          Cam Opp, Army
Eric Gilgenbach, Notre Dame                        Nic Ready, Air Force
Andrew Gottfried, High Point                          Luke Ritter, Wichita State
Brock Hale, BYU                                            Zach Schneider, FAU
Will Haueter, Northern Kentucky                   Andy Shadid, Bradley
Justin Hayes, Norfolk State                            Jahmon Taylor, Coppin State
Darius Hill, West Virginia                               Brylie Ware, Oklahoma
 
For more information on all the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.
 
For complete coverage of CCU baseball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalBaseball (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUsports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.