WEST CHESTER, Pa. - West Chester University senior second baseman Joe Wendle was listed among the Top 10 prospects in the country at Division II by
Baseball America, coming in at No. 7, in that magazine's small college preview section.
Wendle hit .346 during the spring college season, but really made a name for himself in the Coastal Plains League over the summer where he led the league in hits, flirting with a .400 batting average for much of the campaign. He was also named to the all-star game roster for that wood-bat circuit.
Wendle, who was recently named an All-Atlantic Region second teamer by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association, leads West Chester into action on Feb. 25-26 with a pair of doubleheaders against WVIAC power West Virginia State.
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TOP 5—HOW THEY'LL FINISH |
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Overall |
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W |
L |
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1. Tampa |
36 |
17 |
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2. Grand Valley State (Mich.) |
52 |
5 |
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3. Franklin Pierce (N.H.) |
40 |
14 |
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4. Francis Marion (S.C.) |
41 |
16 |
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5. Winona State (Minn.) |
42 |
18 |
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Defending Champion: West Florida. |
Player of the Year: Buddy Sosnoskie, OF, Francis Marion (S.C.).
Pitcher of the Year: Stephen Johnson, RHP, St. Edward's (Texas).
Championship Schedule: Regionals, sites TBD, May 17-20; College World Series, May 26-June 2, Cary, N.C.
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1. Stephen Johnson, rhp, St. Edward's (Texas): Wiry Colorado native pumped mid-to-upper-90s heat last summer for Santa Barbara Foresters |
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2. Ryan Thompson, rhp, Franklin Pierce (N.H.): Canadian didn't sign as eligible sophomore last year (Yankees, 36th round); fastball, slider grade as average |
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3. Zeb Sneed, rhp, Northwest Nazarene (Idaho): Raw, erratic power-armed righty with 6-foot-5 frame, quick arm; fastball has reached 97 mph |
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4. Ben O'Shea, lhp, Tampa: Unsigned White Sox' 10th-rounder has hit 92 with his fastball, which usually sits in the upper 80s |
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5. Carl O'Neal, rhp, St. Mary's (Texas): Converted catcher has gone 12-4, 2.99 the last two years with 121-64 K-BB ratio 141 IP |
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6. Brett Teschner, c, Columbus (Ga.) State: Physical (6-foot-2, 210-pound), solid athlete is son of a coach with power, arm strength |
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7. Joe Wendle, 2b, West Chester (Pa.): Shook off 2011 injuries to set Coastal Plain League hits record last summer; grinder with good bat |
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8. Ethan Bader, rhp, Armstrong Atlantic (Ga.) State: Eligible sophomore with big body (6-foot-5, 220 pounds), average fastball velocity |
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9. Buddy Sosnoskie, of, Francis Marion (S.C.): Solid all-around tools make former Virginia Tech Hokie a leader of resurgent Patriots program |
10. Cody Repenning, rhp, Grand Canyon (Ariz.): Six-foot-6 righty has room to fill out lanky frame, throws strikes with high-80s fastball
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