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Former 'Cat Mike LeBel named Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Finalist

March 2, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - A two-time SteepleCat who led the team offensively in 2011, Rhode Island redshirt senior infielder Mike Lebel (North Adams '10, '11) has been named a finalist for the prestigious Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

Lebel ranks among 30 seniors nominated for the honor. The Award is college baseball's highest honor that celebrates athletic, academic and civic achievement.

The Quincy, Mass., native is in the midst of his fifth season with URI. After his true senior season was cut short last year, LeBel used a medical redshirt to extend his tenure with the Rams.

LeBel was originally a candidate for the 2012 Senior CLASS Award, but due to his injury, which occurred after just 13 at-bats, he was forced to undergo season-ending surgery, allowing him to return for a fifth year of collegiate baseball.

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.

The SteepleCats were certainly thankful of LeBel's impact during two summers in the Berkshires. In addition to his impact off the field among the North Adams Community, LeBel posted strong numbers between the lines, batting .255 with a team-high 30 runs and 17 RBI in 2010 before leading the team with a .333 average in 23 games in 2011.

A co-captain for the Rams in each of the last three seasons, LeBel has gone above and beyond the expected criteria for the Award. He has been a leader for URI both on and off the diamond, and helped guide the program through one of its most difficult times in recent memories in the fall of 2012 after the tragic and untimely death of redshirt freshman Joey Ciancola.

LeBel founded the "Flow for Joe" campaign immediately after Ciancola's passing, as he and his teammates refrained from cutting their hair throughout the season in tribute to Ciancola's long hair. The senior infielder also been involved in the Patrick White Jimmy Fund Baseball Tournament, dedicated to his former baseball teammate and good friend who passed away at a young age. Finally, LeBel has performed countless volunteer community service hours both in Rhode Island and in his hometown of Quincy, Mass.

The all-time leader in home runs at URI, LeBel has established himself as one of the greatest players in URI history, but has been equally excellent in the classroom. A model student and Finance major, LeBel has made appearances on the Dean's List, Atlantic-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll, and is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.

The 2013 Baseball Senior Class candidate class includes 15 candidates who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Five were named to the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-American team, and four were All-Americans.

From the list of 30 candidates, a national media committee will select ten finalists for the 2013 Senior CLASS Award in April. Those 10 names will then be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award.



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from March 2, 2013


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