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BLACKSBURG, Va. – Prior to Sunday’s regular season home finale, redshirt junior Brandon Lower was honored as Virginia Tech’s recipient of the 2010 Johnny Oates Memorial Baseball Award.

The award was established in 2006 by Oates' former Virginia Tech teammates in fond memory of a good friend and loyal teammate whose enduring faith, devotion to family, character, integrity, competitive nature and perseverance continue to be an inspiration. It is presented annually to the Virginia Tech baseball player who best exemplifies those traits.

Three of Oates’ former teammates – Jim Dean, Bob Dickerson and Jerry Vinson – as well as his wife, Gloria and his son, Andy, were on hand to present the award.

Lower, a Roanoke, Va., product, has battled injuries throughout his career but has provided great leadership for the Hokies and has been relied on as a key bat off the bench. Lower has appeared in 17 games over his career, tallying six walks, three hits, three runs scored and an RBI.

Oates came to Blacksburg in 1965 and was an outstanding catcher for the Virginia Tech baseball team. He hit .410 in 1966 and .342 in 1967 before signing with the Baltimore Orioles after his junior season. Oates spent 11 seasons in the major leagues as a player, seeing action in two World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers and one with the New York Yankees. After retiring as a player in 1981, Oates tried his hand at coaching and went on to become the major league manager of the Orioles and the Texas Rangers.

Oates was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 and had his Tech jersey retired in 2002. He died Dec. 24, 2004.

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