Wendle Named a Semifinalist For Tino Martinez Award

West Chester University senior second baseman Joe Wendle has been named a semifinalist for the 2012 Tino Martinez Award, handed out to the top college baseball player in Division II.
 
Wendle leads West Chester in hitting with a .401 batting average (67-for-167) and has scored 56 runs while banging out 15 doubles, 7 triples and 12 home runs. He carries a .790 slugging percentage and .488 on-base percentage. The PSAC East player of the year has been walked 25 times, including 12 intentionally, while only striking out four times in over 200 plate appearances. He is one of a very select few that can say they have led their league in home runs while leading the nation in being the hardest batter to strikeout.
 
This marks the second time in his career that Wendle has been named a semifinalist. He was also a semifinalist in 2010. Wendle has appeared on the Tino Martinez Award Watch List at the beginning of the season in each of his last three campaigns.
 
Wendle currently holds three school records while appearing in the Top 10 in 13 offensive categories all-time and six offensive categories in a single-season. His 18 career triples are the most at West Chester University, and his seven three-baggers this spring tied the school mark. He also became just the second person in school history to hit three home runs in a game in a win at Bloomsburg last month.
 
Wendle and the 13th-ranked Golden Rams (38-10) won the 2012 PSAC Championship and will find out when and where they will play in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Baseball Tournament on Sunday night.
 
The award is named after the former University of Tampa Spartan, U.S. Olympian, first round draft pick and MLB All-Star, Tino Martinez.
 
The 55 semifinalists represent 48 different schools from across the nation. Each of the eight geographic regions are represented, with a minimum of six players selected from each area.
 
Initial nominations for the award were made by baseball sports information contacts and media members. A panel of media, coaches and sports information officers will be polled to finalize the candidates. The group will once again vote on the finalists, with a fan Internet vote also contributing to the crowning of the winner.
 
The finalists are scheduled to be named on Monday, May 21st. The winner will be announced after the conclusion of the DII Baseball Championship held in Cary, N.C. from May 26 to June 2.