The Minor League Sports Report has named Tucson Saguaros first baseman Nathan Etheridge the Pecos League Player of the Week and selected Salina Stockade LHP Ben Butler as the Pitcher of the Week for Week 3.

Player of the Week: Nathan Etheridge, Tucson Saguaros

Etheridge had a career game to start out the week, going 4-6 with four runs scored and seven RBI in a 24-10 victory over the Houston Apollos. He added a double and reached base a fifth time when he was hit by a pitch. The next day he knocked in two more runs in a 21-9 victory over the Salina Stockade.

After an off day, Etheridge went 1-3 with two runs plated in a 5-3 victory over the Roswell Invaders. The first baseman doubled and drew a walk in the victory. On Sunday, he recorded an RBI in his fifth straight game, going 2-2 with a run scored and a run driven in. He added another hit by pitch and recorded his first stolen base of the season in the 7-2 victory over Houston.

For the week, Etheridge was 8-15 (.533) with five runs scored and 12 RBI. He had two doubles, a walk, and was hit twice. The performance moved him into second in the league points standings, trailing only teammate Thomas DeBonville.

Etheridge is the second Tucson player to be named Player of the Week, joining DeBonville who won in Week 1.

Pitcher of the Week: Ben Butler, Salina Stockade

Butler earned his first victory of the season in dramatic fashion, tossing six no-hit innings in a 7-2 victory over the Houston Apollos. Butler allowed five walks and a run while striking out eight.

Butler walked a batter in each of the first two frames. In the third, he issued back-to-back one-out walks to Tevin Brown and Aaron Stubblefield. The two runners moved up on a double steal and Brown scored on a sacrifice fly by Mike Million.

The left-hander allowed a base runner in each of the next three innings, hitting two and walking another, however, he did not yield a hit before departing. The left-hander’s stuff was dominate. He recorded one strikeout in each of the first five innings, then struck out the side in the sixth.

Butler is the second Stockade pitcher to earn honors this season, joining Jacob Williams who won in Week 1.

Players of the Week:

Week 1 – Thomas DeBonville, Tucson Saguaros
Week 2 – Aaron Takacs, Salina Stockade

Pitchers of the Week:

Week 1 – Jacob Williams, Salina Stockade
Week 2 – Kyle Atkinson, Houston Apollos

By Robert Pannier