TAMPA, Fla. – West Chester University senior second baseman Joe Wendle (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) was recently named to the Tino Martinez Award Preseason Watch List it was announced by College Baseball Lineup.
The Tino Martinez Award, now in its third year, is handed out to the Division II college baseball player of the year. It is named after former major leaguer and University of Tampa first baseman, Tino Martinez.
Wendle was a finalist for the Tino Martinez Award his sophomore year in 2010, following West Chester’s run to the Division II national semifinals. Wendle has been on the preseason watch list for the award in each of the last three years now.
Wendle is coming off a splendid summer campaign in the Coastal Plains League that saw him lead the league in hits and get named to the circuit’s all-star team. He batted .346 during the college season last spring with 32 runs scored and 32 RBI. He hit seven doubles, four triples and two home runs.
The senior local product carries a .355 career batting average (195-for-550) into his final college season. He has scored 147 runs and knocked in 126 more. The second baseman has 43 career doubles, 11 triples and 11 home runs. Wendle will graduate among the Top 10 all-time marks in 11 offensive categories this coming May.
Wendle was also named the No. 7 top prospect in all of NCAA Division II by
Baseball America earlier this month and was a second team All-Atlantic Region preseason selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers’ Association.
West Chester University (22-21 in 2011) opens up its 2012 campaign on the road at West Virginia State for a pair of doubleheaders on Feb. 25 and 26.
