Canisius' Kevin Mahoney Named 2009 MAAC Baseball Player of the Year

5/21/2009 12:00:00 AM

MAAC Sports

Trenton, N.J. ? Canisius College senior third baseman Kevin Mahoney has been named the 2009 MAAC Baseball Player of the Year and headlines the 2009 All-MAAC Teams, as voted on by the MAAC’s head coaches.

 

Mahoney owns a .337 batting average (64-190) going into the 2009 MAAC Baseball Championship.  He has also registered a league-best .795 slugging percentage, 63 runs scored, 60 runs batted in, 19 doubles and a conference-high 22 home runs for the Golden Griffins this year.

 

Manhattan College junior left-handed pitcher Mike Gazzola has been selected as the 2009 MAAC Pitcher of the Year.  Gazzola has a 6-1 record on the mound and a 4.48 ERA.  He has fanned 52 batters in 84.1 innings of work during the regular season, and has held opponents to a .263 batting average. 

 

Marist College’s Jacob Wiley earned the 2009 MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year award.  Wiley has recorded five saves for the Red Foxes this season.  He closed out the regular season with a 7-1 record and a 2.59 ERA.  The senior right-handed hurler struck out 30 batters over 31.1 innings.

 

Siena College’s Dan Paolini was chosen as the 2009 MAAC Rookie of the Year.  Paolini led the MAAC in batting, hitting .430 (86-200) in his first season for the Saints.  He posted a .685 slugging percentage and a .484 on-base percentage in his rookie campaign.  Paolini also recorded 42 runs scored, 53 RBI, 12 doubles, 11 home runs and three triples.

 

The All-MAAC First Team includes Sean Olson from Rider at catcher and Siena’s Kevin Quaranto at first base.  Canisius’ Kevin Mailloux took second base honors, while Conor Mullee from Saint Peter’s College is at shortstop.  Mahoney is serving as the third baseman.  In the outfield are Ian Choy from Canisius along with Mike McCann and Kevin Nieto from Manhattan.  Manhattan’s Anthony Armenio is the designated hitter, and Anthony Giansanti from Siena is the utility player.  Gazzola, Fairfield University’s Rob Gariano and Niagara’s Michael Kellar were selected for the first team pitching corp.

 

The All-MAAC Second Team includes Bryce Nugent from Marist as catcher, and Austin Sheffield from Manhattan at first base.   Paolini is at second base, while Ruben Perez at Manhattan earned a spot at shortstop.  Manhattan’s Chad Salem is at third base.  The outfield is made up of Canisius’ Branson Joseph, Manhattan’s Mark Onorati, Niagara University’s Mark Wietlispach and Rider University’s Jamie Hayes.  Canisius’ Steve McQuail is the designated hitter, while fellow Griff Shayne Willson is the utility player.  Canisius’ Mike Goemans and Marist’s Kyle Putnam round out the All-MAAC Second Team as the pitchers.

 

Manhattan head coach Kevin Leighton has been named the 2009 Anaconda Sports MAAC Coach of the Year.  In his fourth season at the helm of the Jasper baseball program, Leighton has led his squad to an overall record of 34-16 and an 18-6 mark in the MAAC. 

 

 

2009 ALL-MAAC BASEBALL FIRST TEAM

 

 

2009 ALL-MAAC BASEBALL SECOND TEAM

 

 

 

MAAC Player of the Year

Kevin Mahoney, Canisius

 

MAAC Pitcher of the Year

Mike Gazzola, Manhattan

 

MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year

Jacob Wiley, Marist

 

MAAC Rookie of the Year

Dan Paolini, Siena

 

Anaconda Sports MAAC Coach of the Year

Kevin Leighton, Manhattan