On the eve of being honored by the Irvine Public Schools Foundation as one of IUSD’s distinguished alumni, former major-leaguer and University High grad Tim Wallach paid a visit to his old stomping grounds this week. Wallach, who played third base from 1980 to 1996 as a member of the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers and California Angels, toured the Uni campus, met with staff and talked to some of the school’s current ballplayers on Tuesday. Orange County Register columnist Tim Burt covered the visit and has the full story here. Wallach’s accomplishments will be celebrated Oct. 27 at IPSF’s sold-out Spirit of Excellence Gala, which will also serve as a benefit for Irvine schools. The other honorees are Annie Mumolo, an actress, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, comedian and producer; Barry Perkins, a musician who performs as the principal trumpet with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra; and Dr. Ross Venook, a postdoctoral scholar in biomedical engineer science and a renowned MRI safety expert.