Five from Baseball Selected as NAIA Scholar-Athletes

KANSAS CITY, MO. (May 25, 2023) - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the 2023 Daktronics NAIA Baseball Scholar-Athletes this week. The 2023 list features student-athletes who achieved at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at their institution, appeared on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended one full year at said institution.

Earning recognition from OLLU are Alec Martinez, Jacob Montejano, Joshua Mendez, Pablo Montante and Noah Rodriguez.

Alec Martinez joined the team in the 2017-2018 season. He was part of the 2018 Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Quarterfinalists and NAIA Scholar Team. That year, he earned Gold Glove honors. In 2019, his team was the tournament semifinalists and NAIA Scholar Team. The team in 2020 was an NAIA Scholar Team. In 2021, the team won the conference regular season and was the tournament quarterfinalists, NAIA National Championship Opening Round participants and NAIA Scholar Team. He was named to the All-Conference First Team and received Scholar-Athlete recognition. Last season, Martinez's team made it to the quarterfinals of the tournament and was an NAIA Scholar Team and ABCA Team Academic Excellence winners. This year, Martinez was named to the All-Conference Team, and his team made it to the RRAC Tournament. He was awarded the university's Big Blue Top Saint Male Athlete of the Year.

Martinez earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2019 and is pursuing a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management. He earned a 3.67 GPA.

Jacob Montejano joined the team in the 2018-2019 season. He was part of the 2019 Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Tournament Semifinalists and NAIA Scholar Team, and he was awarded RRAC Scholar-Athlete honors. In 2020, the team was an NAIA Scholar Team, and he earned RRAC Scholar-Athlete recognition. In 2021, Montejano was part of the team that was RRAC Regular-Season Champions, RRAC Tournament Quarterfinalists, NAIA National Championship Opening Round Participants and NAIA Scholar Team recipients. That year, he was a RRAC Scholar-Athlete. Last season, Montejano was part of the 2022 RRAC Tournament Quarterfinalists and NAIA Scholar Team and ABCA Team Academic Excellence recipients. He was named a RRAC Gold Glove, RRAC Scholar-Athlete and Champions of Character honoree. This season, his team made it to the RRAC Tournament.

Montejano received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in December 2021. On May 11 of this year, he earned his Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management. He earned a 3.56 GPA.

Joshua Mendez joined the team in 2022. Last season, he was part of the 2022 RRAC Tournament Quarterfinalists and NAIA Scholar Team and ABCA Team Academic Excellence recipients. He was named a RRAC Scholar-Athlete.

Mendez is pursuing a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management. He earned a 3.50 GPA.

Pablo Montante joined the team in the 2020-2021 season. In 2021, he was part of the team that was RRAC Regular Season Champions, RRAC Tournament Quarterfinalists, NAIA National Championship Opening Round Participants and NAIA Scholar Team recipients. Last season, Montante was part of the 2022 RRAC Tournament Quarterfinalists and NAIA Scholar Team and ABCA Team Academic Excellence recipients. He earned RRAC Scholar-Athlete honors.

Montante earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology earlier this month. He marked a 3.75 GPA.

Noah Rodriguez joined the team in the 2018-2019 season. He was part of the 2019 Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Tournament Semifinalists and NAIA Scholar Team, and he was awarded RRAC Scholar-Athlete honors. In 2020, the team was an NAIA Scholar Team, and he earned RRAC Scholar-Athlete recognition. In 2021, Rodriguez was part of the team that was RRAC Regular Season Champions, RRAC Tournament Quarterfinalists, NAIA National Championship Opening Round Participants and NAIA Scholar Team recipients. That year, he was a RRAC Scholar-Athlete. Last season, Rodriguez was part of the 2022 RRAC Tournament Quarterfinalists and NAIA Scholar Team and ABCA Team Academic Excellence recipients. He earned RRAC Scholar-Athlete honors.

Rodriguez earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in 2022, and he is pursuing a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management. He earned a 3.67 GPA.