A trio of Menlo baseball players were recognized nationally as 2012 Daktronics-NAIA Baseball Scholar Athletes this past week.  Seniors Chris Cleary and Will Ireton, along with junior Coleman Cox took home the academic based honor for their exceptional work off the field and in the classroom. 

The impressive achievement should come as little surprise to Ireton, after the unbelievable academic success he garnered during his three years at Menlo College.  The native of Tokyo, Japan was this past year's Valedictorian with a sparkling 3.9 GPA and was a multiple winner of the Male Scholar Athlete Award, handed out at the department's annual All-Athlete Banquet.

Fellow senior Chris Cleary wraps up his Oaks career as the only four-year senior to capture the outstanding distinction.  The native of Fresno finished his final Menlo season with a perfect 1-0 record in nine appearances. 

For Cox, the junior shortstop continues to enjoy a string of high academic success earned during his Menlo tenure.  The San Diego native took home the same honor last season as well as being named to the Capital One Academic All-American First Team in 2011, a distinction carried throughout all three divisions of the NCAA in addition to the NAIA.  Cox coupled the strong off the field accolade with a stellar 2012 season on the field, finishing in a tie for second on the ball club with a .297 batting average.