May 8, 2008

NEW HAVEN, Conn.--Pitcher Brian Irving has been named first team Academic All-District 1 by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and ESPN The Magazine. Irving now advances to the Academic All-America ballot. In addition, outfielder Josh Cox was selected second team Academic All-District.

A senior physics/philosophy dual major from Hamden, Conn., Irving boasts a 3.51 GPA. Irving made nine starts this season, posting a 4-3 record and 3.86 ERA. He led the Ivy League with 59 strikeouts in 51.1 innings and was named Ivy Co-Pitcher of the Week on April 8 after fanning 12 in a seven-inning complete game victory over Princeton. Irving had 13 strikeouts in seven innings against George Washington on March 2. He shared Yale's Raymond W. (Ducky) Pond Pitching Award with teammate Steve Gilman.

Cox, a senior from Gainesville, Fla., has a 3.27 GPA in political science. An Ivy League Player of the Year candidate, he set school records with 72 hits and 191 at-bats this season. Cox was the only Bulldog to start all 45 games and hit a career-high .377. The Bulldogs' leadoff hitter, he led the team in doubles (a career-high 14) and runs (38) while stealing 21 bases in 25 attempts. Cox shared the G.H. Walker, Jr., Award as most valuable player with Gilman and P.J. Gorynski.

To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or significant reserve of at least sophomore standing who has a GPA of 3.20 or higher. The first team selections from each of CoSIDA's eight regions now move on to the national ballot. The CoSIDA Academic All-America team will be announced on May 27.

Yale finished with a 20-24-1 overall record this season and placed second in the Red Rolfe Division with a 9-10-1 Ivy League mark.

Report filed by Joe Clifford, Yale Sports Publicity