GREENSBORO, N.C. — Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball player Timmy Wagner (Hingham, Mass.) was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Region 1 First Team, while Casey Wensley (Raynham, Mass.) was a Second Team selection by the ABCA, it was announced by the organization.
The Lyons have had multiple All-Region honorees in every non-COVID year, except for one, since 1999.
Wagner's selection adds to a post-season that has seen him named the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Player of the Year in addition to being tabbed First Team All-Conference for Wheaton. Wagner was one of the most feared hitters and consistent run producers in the region. The senior knocked in a league-leading 62 runs, while also ranking 18th in the nation in RBI and 12th with 1.51 RBI per game. His RBI total is also tied for third-most in school history. The first baseman was one of just three players in NCAA Division III to knock in at least five runs on five occasions during the season and drove in at least one run in 27 of 41 games, while leading Wheaton with 16 multi-RBI efforts. Wagner batted .387 (60-155) for the year to place third among NEWMAC leaders and led the circuit with a .490 on-base percentage, which is the seventh-highest single-season mark in program history. The Massachusetts native was even better with runners in scoring position, hitting at a .455 (29-63) clip to cement his reputation as one of the best RBI-men in Division III. Wagner racked up the total bases with 99 to rank second in the conference, including 16 doubles that was the second-highest total among NEWMAC players and seven home runs for the seventh-most in the conference as part of a .stunning .639 slugging percentage to stand fifth in the NEWMAC. His on-base percentage and slugging percentage gave him an OPS of 1.129 to rank fourth in the league. Wagner's combination of selectivity and power almost guaranteed that he would contribute in one way or another for the Lyons. The Boston College High School product drew 28 walks for the second-most in the league and struck out just 16 times in 192 plate appearances. He hit safely in 36 of 41 games and did not go hitless in consecutive games the entire season. He enjoyed a pair of hitting streaks of at least nine games and closed out his career by putting together an 11-game hitting streak, where he batted .415 (17-41) with three doubles, a triple, three home runs and 18 runs batted in. During the streak, Wagner collected four hits against Babson College on April 22 to mark the third time that he had registered a four-hit outing. He also clubbed his second grand slam during the stretch to become just the fifth player in school history to hit two slams in a season. The Business major started all 41 games and scored 43 runs to rank seventh in the NEWMAC, while standing fourth with 60 hits. Wagner was an outstanding defender as well for Wheaton, committing just one error in 355 total chances and was a part of 27 double plays that the Blue and White turned during the campaign.
For his career, Wagner started 98 of 115 games that he appeared in, while batting .338 (126-373) with 102 runs batted in, 15 homers, 31 doubles and one triple to fuel a formidable .547 slugging percentage. After making the switch from the pitcher's mound as a first year, Wagner also maintained a .432 lifetime on-base average that included 56 walks.
Wensley earns Second Team honors after being named NEWMAC Second Team All-Conference as well.
Wensley was one of the best pure hitters in the NEWMAC and earned Second Team honors as a third baseman. The sophomore hit .395 (68-172) to rank second in the conference, while leading the circuit with 68 hits and ranking fourth with 47 runs scored. The Bridgewater-Raynham Regional graduate tied with Wagner with 99 total bases to slot in second among league leaders and showed some pop with six homers and 13 doubles to place ninth among NEWMAC hitters in both categories. Wensley drew 23 walks to stand sixth in the conference as part of a .467 on-base percentage for the seventh-highest mark in the league. The leftt-handed hitter was a staple in the three-hole for the Lyons and posted a 1.043 OPS for the ninth-best mark in the conference, while driving in 34 runs to place 14th in the league. The Finance and Economics double major was one of the most consistent hitters in the league with three hitting streaks of seven or more games and hit safely in 35 of 41 games. The infielder never batted lower than .371 at any point during the entire season and led Wheaton with 18 multi-hit performances, including three four-hit games. Wensley strung together three straight outings with two or more knocks, going 8-15 (.533) with three doubles and two RBI from March 12-14. He proved to be a threat on the bases as well, stealing eight bases in 11 attempts.
In just two seasons, Wensley has established himself as one of the best hitters in school history, with a .369 (114-309) career mark to place ninth all-time for the Lyons. He has started 75 of 77 games and knocked in 62 runs to go with 21 doubles, a triple, six home runs, 69 runs scored and 114 hits. Wensley owns a .502 slugging mark to go with a .430 on-base percentage during his tenure in Norton and also has 14 stolen bases.
Wheaton finished the season with a 22-19 record, including 9-7 in league play. The Lyons have never finished with fewer than 21 wins in a full season and have advanced to the double-elimination phase of the NEWMAC Championship Tournament in every season.
