Senior catcher Kyle Mahoney of the High Point University baseball team was picked in the 43rd round of the 2011 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. HPU signee Malcolm Clapsaddle was also drafted, going to the New York Mets in the 48th round on Wednesday.

“I am ecstatic right now,” Mahoney said. “The Angels are a great organization and I am very grateful for the chance to continue my playing career.”

Mahoney started for HPU all four years, the last two as the catcher. He threw out a Big South leading 25 attempted base stealers this season. He was twice named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List, given annually to the best collegiate catcher. This season he hit .267 with 23 RBI and 21 runs scored. In his career at HPU he hit .288 with 133 runs scored, 127 RBI, 44 doubles and 10 homers.

Mahoney will join former High Point pitcher Jeremy Berg in the Los Angeles Angels organization. Berg signed with the Angels after his senior year at HPU and is currently with the Salt Lake Bees in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He is 1-1 with a 4.35 ERA and three saves this season.

Clapsaddle will have junior eligibility for High Point in the fall, joining the Panthers from Santa Fe Community College in Florida. The Geneva, Fla. native went 11-2 with a 1.81 ERA at Santa Fe this season, striking out 103 batter sin 89-1/3 innings. He played his freshman season at Georgia. Coming out of high school the right-handed pitcher was a 34th round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2009.

“We are very proud and excited for Kyle,” said HPU head coach Craig Cozart. “He has worked incredibly hard while at High Point and deserves the chance to take his talents to the professional level. The Angels are a tremendous organization and he will thrive in their system. It is also great that Malcolm got the recognition he earned after a very good season at junior college. It speaks to the talent he will bring to HPU next season.”

Mahoney and Clapsaddle join junior pitcher Cody Allen in HPU's 2011 draft class. Allen was picked Tuesday in the 23rd round by the Cleveland Indians. Allen was a second team All-Big South honoree and second in the league in strikeouts with 89. He went 4-6 in his first season with the Panthers, leading the team with a 3.12 ERA and 83-2/3 innings pitched. He was previously drafted in the 16th round of the 2010 MLB Draft, also by the Cleveland Indians.

“Honestly the entire process was a little grueling,” Allen said. “But I am happy to be picked by the Indians again and ready to begin the negotiating process. A lot will shape out in the next week. I look forward to the next step in my career, whether that is getting started in the minors or coming back to High Point for my senior season.”

It is the second consecutive year HPU has had a player selected in the First Year Player Draft. Last season Nate Roberts was taken in the fifth round by the Minnesota Twins.