COLLEGE BASEBALL Mang emerges as a top pitcher in rookie season at Mercyhurst

The Fitch High graduate led the Lakers in earned run average with 1.45.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
John Mang, a freshman pitcher for the Mercyhurst College baseball team from Austintown Fitch High, is developing into one of the top pitchers on the Erie, Pa., school team.
Mang, who has seven appearances, including five starts, led the team in earned run average with 1.45 through 42 games. He gave up only six earned runs.
He also had the lowest ERA in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Collegiate Conference, but was not ranked officially because he did not meet the requirement of pitching at least 1.0 innings per team game.
Mang has pitched 371/3 innings in the 42 games, helping Mercyhurst to a 31-11 record, including 17-5 in the GLIAC. He also is batting .364 (4-for-11).
"[Mang] wasn't a regular member of the rotation at the beginning of the year, but has since emerged as one of our top pitchers," said Geoff Goyne, assistant sports information director at Mercyhurst.
Among five area players
Mang is one of five Youngstown-area players on the roster.
The others are: Dan Bertolini, a sophomore and starting infielder from Poland; Sean Weyant, junior red-shirt catcher from Boardman who previously had attended United High; John Morris, a sophomore pitcher from Mohawk High and New Castle; and Brett Pitzulo, a sophomore and back-up catcher from Poland High and a transfer from Otterbein College.
Bertolini and Weyant are starters.
Bertolini has the seventh-best batting average on the team with .293 (35-for-123). He has 22 RBIs and scored 22 runs, and hit two homers and five doubles.
Weyant is batting .211 (15-for-71) with 13 RBIs and 12 runs.
Morris has pitched in 12 games and has a 0-1 record and 3.08 ERA with 14 strikeouts and nine walks.
kovach@vindy.com