North Carolina State University Athletics
Matt Mangini Named Summer All-American By Baseball America
8/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 27, 2005
Coaches always say that players must be ready when opportunity knocks. With the departure of 2005 senior third baseman Matt Devine, opportunity is knocking very loudly for sophomore third sacker Matt Mangini. Based on Mangini's performance this summer, Mangini is ready for the opportunity.
Mangini, who got just 31 at-bats as a true freshman in 2005, was named a first-team Summer All-American by Baseball America on August 25 after batting .344 with 13 doubles, six home runs and 43 RBIs in 52 games for Thunder Bay of the Northwoods League. Mangini had a .399 on-base percentage and a .525 slugging percentage.
In addition to naming Mangini to its Summer All-America team, Baseball America also named Mangini the No. 1 prospect in the Northwoods League after a poll of league managers and area professional scouts, saying that "(a)fter the Cape Cod League, there may not be another summer destination that offers more talent than the Northwoods League."
Of Mangini's performance in the Northwoods League, Baseball America wrote, in part, "Mangini earned but 31 at-bats as a freshman at NC State playing behind senior Matt Devine, but he showed he'll be at least a suitable replacement this summer by hitting .342/.392/.519. Big and strong at 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, Mangini displayed plus power and solid defensive skills for Thunder Bay. His soft hands and solid-average arm made him one of the league's best defenders."
Wolfpack catcher Jon Still, a transfer from Stetson, was named second-team Summer All-American for his standout performance for Falmouth of the Cape Cod League. Still batted .316 for Falmouth, belting five doubles, five home runs and driving in 28 runs in 44 games. A junior this coming season for NC State, Still batted .305 with eight home runs and 48 RBIs as a sophomore for Stetson in 2005. He was a Freshman All-American in 2004, batting .343 with 16 doubles, two home runs and 47 RBIs.
