With the regular season officially ending on Friday, the Minor League Sports Report has selected the Player and Pitcher of the Month in August in the Pecos League. As with the previous month, it is a clean sweep for the Tucson Saguaros, as Nathan Etheridge was chosen as the Player of the Month and Jake Lialios was named the Pitcher of the Month.

August Player of the Month: Nathan Etheridge, Tucson Saguaros

The Minor League Sports Report named Tucson Saguaros first baseman Nathan Etheridge as the Player of the Month for August. While the Tucson star had an outstanding July, he took his game to an entirely different level in August, especially after the team lost Thomas DeBonville due to a wrist injury.

The numbers were extremely impressive. In 12 games, the first baseman was 28-52 (.538) with 21 runs scored and a ridiculous 33 runs driven in. He stepped up his power numbers as well, hitting six doubles, two triples, and four homeruns.

Etheridge had at least one hit in all but one of the 12 games. He recorded two four-hit games and added nine multiple hit contests. He scored at least three runs in a game five times during the month and drove in three or more on seven different occasions, including a season high six on August 14.

While the entire month was outstanding, one three-game stretch stood out above the rest. From August 4-7, Etheridge was 10-15 with 10 runs scored and 13 RBI. H homered twice in that three-game stretch.

Most importantly, he was a significant factor in the team’s 10-2 record in August. Etheridge was named the Player of the Week for Week 5.

DeBonville was named as the Player of the Month for July.

August Pitcher of the Month: Jake Lialios, Tucson Saguaros

The Minor League Sports Report named Tucson Saguaros right-hander Jake Lialios as the Pitcher of the Month for August. Lialios went 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA in three appearances during the month.

The righty only made three appearances in August, but he made every one of them count. His first appearance came on August 6 in 20-10 victory over the Roswell Invaders. After the Tucson starter gave up nine runs in the first inning, Lialios came out of the pen and tossed 5.1 outstanding innings. He allowed three hits and a run, while striking out six. Most importantly, he gave his team a chance to battle back and they did, scoring 12 in the sixth to make a winner of Lialios.

On August 12, the right-hander made his first start of the season, and he tossed a gem. Lialios went 7.1 innings, allowing five hits, no walks, and just one run. He also struck out 14, the most of any pitcher in the Pecos League this season.

Lialios made one more appearance on August 19, his final tune-up before likely taking the ball in Game 1 of the championship series. He allowed an earned run in three innings, striking out four.

In August, Lialios allowed eight hits and three earned runs in 15.2 innings pitched. He walked five batters but struck out 24.

The right-hander has won the last two Pitcher of the Week honors. Tucson starter Erwin Real was the Pitcher of the Month in July.

By Robert Pannier