Sports

Three Rams Named ABCA All-Region

Second basemen Joe Wendle also earns a Gold Glove.

The following is a press release from the West Chester University Athletic Department.

West Chester University landed three players on the American Baseball Coaches’ Association All-Atlantic Region squad it was announced recently by that organization while Joe Wendle also picked up a gold glove.

Each member of the first team will be eligible for NCAA Division II All-America consideration, which will be selected on Sunday, May 27, 2012, in Cary, N.C. in conjunction with the Division II national championship tournament. The “Player of the Year” and the “Pitcher of the Year” in our region are both guaranteed a spot on one of the three All-America teams.
 
Senior 2B Joe Wendle (Lincoln University, Pa./Avon Grove) and sophomore RHP Joe Gunkel (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) were both named to the first team, marking the third time each has been a first-team all-region selection by various organizations, while DH Jordan Wlodarczyk (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) was a second team honoree.
 
Additionally, Wendle earned his first gold glove for his defensive play at second base this spring.
 
Wendle, who was also a first-team All-PSAC East pick as well as the player of the year in the Eastern Division, won the PSAC triple crown by leading the conference in batting average, home runs and RBI. He is hitting .400 on the season as the Golden Rams prepare for the Division II national semifinals. The local product has 74 hits and has scored 60 runs on the year to go along with 17 doubles, 8 triples and 12 home runs.
 
Wendle was also named to both the Daktronics, Inc. and NCBWA first team All-Atlantic Region squads recently.
 
Gunkel is 8-1 on the season with a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts this spring. His most recent outing was a complete-game win in the second game of the Atlantic Regional Friday night against PSAC West regular-season champion Mercyhurst. Gunkel has allowed 59 hits in 69 innings while walking 11 and striking out 42. He was also named to the All-PSAC East first team as well as taking home Eastern Division pitcher of the year plaudits this season.  
 
Gunkel was also named to both the Daktronics, Inc. and NCBWA first team All-Atlantic Region squads recently.
 
Wlodarczyk is second on the team in hitting with a .361 batting average. He has 57 hits and 32 runs batted in. The junior designated hitter has 11 double on the year as well. He was an honorable mention all-region selection by Daktronics, Inc.
 
West Chester (42-10) opens the Division II College World Series on Saturday, May 26 at 1 p.m. against West Region champion Chico State (40-17).


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