Former 2007 Golden Eagles earning accolades

Both Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg and Kevin Mahoney adjusting nicely to minor league baseball in 2009.

By Eric Rushia, SID
Published: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2009

GLENS FALLS—The cornerstones of the 2007 Glens Falls Golden Eagles infield, first basemen Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg (Nova Southeastern) and third basemen Kevin Mahoney (Canisius) were both selected in rounds 16 and 23 respectively of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft.

This summer, with Mahoney starting at third for the Golf Coast League Yankees and Spanjer-Furstenburg starting at first for the Danville Braves out of the Appalachian League, both players were as productive for their minor league teams as they were in college and on the Golden Eagles.

Spanjer-Furstenburg earned honors as TOPPS Player of the Year from the Appalachian League, leading the champion Braves' team in batting average (.359), hits (84), doubles (19), on-base percentage (.411), slugging percentage (.543), homeruns (8), and RBI (53) and helping the Braves secure their second league title in four years.

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Kevin Mahoney (left) | Riaan Spanjer-Furtsenburg (right)

A 2009 Danville Braves All-Star, Spanjer-Furstenburg started seven of nine games for Glens Falls, scoring four runs with a hit in each game he started, and adding six RBI with seven walks during a regular season that saw the Golden Eagles finish with the NYCBL best record (34-6).

Mahoney, who finished third on the 2007 Glens Falls team in batting average (.309), scored more runs (37), hit more homeruns (7), and knocked in more RBI (44) than any other Golden Eagle during the regular season.

During the postseason, Mahoney played in all eight games, leading the Eagles with a .364 batting average, 12 hits, 17 total bases, a .515 slugging percentage and 10 walks.

In his first season as third basemen for the GCL Yankees, Mahoney played in 57 games and led the team in both runs scored (28) and doubles (17). His offensive production didn't stop there, as Mahoney ranked second on the Yankees in homeruns (6), total bases (80), walks (24), and RBI (30).