Madueno Named Pitcher of the Year, Five Earn Recognition from Heart
Oskaloosa–The William Penn baseball team had the best hurler in the league and garnered several other honors as the 2024 all-Heart of America Athletic Conference teams were announced Thursday.
Starting pitcher Abel Madueno (Jr., San Bernardino, Calif., Business Management) and outfielder Nick George (Sr., Sarina, Ontario, Sociology) were named to the 17-person first team, while starting pitcher Brian Thomas (Sr., Shingle Springs, Calif., Sports Management) and designated hitter Justin Martinez (Sr., Bronx, N.Y., Sports Management) were two of the 24 individuals who collected honorable mentions.
An additional 17 players were selected to the Heart’s second team.
The award is the second for both George and Thomas, while Madueno and Martinez are each first-time recipients.
Madueno was also tabbed as the Heart’s Pitcher of the Year. It is the third Pitcher of the Year award for WPU since joining the NAIA in 2002.
The quartet helped William Penn to a 22-25 regular season record (14-18 Heart) and a spot in the Heart Championship.
In 14 appearances (12 starts) entering the conference tournament, Madueno posted seven complete games with one shutout and one save. He owns a 10-2 record with a 2.53 Earned Run Average in 81 2/3 innings. During the season, the junior struck out 98, walked 33, and limited opposing batters to a .231 batting average.
A two-time Heart Pitcher of the Week honoree, Madueno went at least five innings in all 12 of his starts and struck out at least five in 12 different outings. He tallied double-digit strikeouts in three of those performances, including a season high of 12 against Central Methodist on March 9.
Entering the postseason, George, who is on the first team for the first time, owned a .374 batting average (52-for-139) with 13 doubles, one triple, and nine home runs. He has 37 RBIs and 38 runs to his credit. The senior has also walked 23 times and has been hit by a pitch on seven occasions, leading to a .480 on-base percentage and a .676 slugging clip. Additionally, George has two sacrifice flies, two sacrifice hits, and two stolen bases.
George has 14 multi-hit games this spring with four three-hit showings.
Thomas, who is an honorable mention for the second time in his career, owns a 3-7 record with a 4.26 ERA in 63 1/3 innings. In 12 games (11 starts), he has recorded five complete games and one shutout. The senior has tallied 57 strikeouts with 21 walks and opponents are hitting just .230 against him.
Nine of Thomas’ outings have gone at least five innings and he has managed five strikeouts or more in seven contests (high of eight vs. Grand View on April 25).
Martinez heads into the postseason with a team-leading .382 batting average (39-for-102), including six doubles, five home runs, 28 RBIs, and 18 runs scored. The owner of a .488 on-base mark and a .588 slugging clip, he has walked 17 times and has been hit by a pitch on five occasions.
The senior has 12 multi-hit showings in 2024 with a high of three base knocks versus Graceland on April 21.
Outfielder Zach Otten (Jr., Mapleton, Ill.) was chosen for the Heart’s Gold Glove team as well. In 106 chances, Otten has five assists and just one error for a .991 fielding percentage.
Heart Player of the Year laurels were shared by Brycen Sherwood of MidAmerica Nazarene and Bobby Nichols of Central Methodist. Nate Breland of Central Methodist was tabbed as the league’s Coach of the Year by his peers.
