Nathan Etheridge Jake Lialios Earn Week 5 Pecos League Honors
The Minor League Sports Report has named their Pecos League Player and Pitcher of the Week for Week 5. It was a clear sweep for the Tucson Saguaros, as OF Nathan Etheridge was selected as the Player of the Week while teammate Jake Lialios was chosen as the Pitcher of the Week. Because there were only three games played in the week that was July 28-August 2, these games were included in Week 5, which includes all games from July 28-August 8.
Player of the Week: Nathan Etheridge, Tucson Saguaros
Tucson Saguaros OF Nathan Etheridge was selected as the Pecos League Player of the Week by the Minor League Sports Report. Etheridge had an amazing week, hitting .520 with two homers, 10 runs scored, and 14 RBI in six games.
The Tucson outfielder got better as the “week” went along, starting with a 2-5 performance against the Houston Apollos on July 31. Etheridge scored a run in a 14-13 victory.
Rains wiped out the other three contests for the Saguaros that week, and they began this past week with a double-header against the Salina Stockade. Despite both contests being shortened, Etheridge was huge, going 5-6 combined with three runs, five RBI, two doubles and a homer. Both games the Saguaros won.
On August 6, the Saguaros star kept up his torrid pace, going 3-5 with three runs scored and four RBI in a 20-10 victory over the Roswell Invaders. The next day, he pulled out the lumber again, going 3-6 with three runs scored and five RBI. He hit a grand slam that helped the team rally late for a 17-8 victory. Probably worn down from swinging the bat so much, Etheridge closed out the week going 0-3 in a 7-3 victory over the Stockade.
In six games, Etheridge was 13-25 with four doubles, and two homers. He walked three times and posted a slugging percentage of .920.
This is the second time he has been named Player of the Week this season. He was awarded the honors back in Week 3. This is the third time that a Saguaros player has been given the honor. Thomas DeBonville won back in Week 1.
Pitcher of the Week: Jake Lialios, Tucson Saguaros
For the second week in a row, the Minor League Sports Report has chosen a member of the Tucson Saguaros as Pitcher of the Week. This time it is right-hander Jake Lialios. Lialios made two appearances during the week, earning a victory while tossing nine solid innings of relief.
His first appearance came on July 31 in a fantastic battle with the Houston Apollos, won by Tucson, 14-13. Lialios tossed four innings, allowing three hits, a walk, and two earned runs. He struck out four.
On August 6, he took over after the Saguaros starter was shelled for nine runs in the first inning. The right-hander earned the victory as Tucson battled back to win, 20-10. Lialios tossed five innings, allowing three hits, four walks, and a run. He struck out six.
In nine innings pitched, he allowed six hits, five walks, and three earned runs. Lialios struck out 10 during the week. He joins Ryan Porras who won the award last week.
2020 Players of the Week
Week 1 – Thomas DeBonville, Tucson Saguaros
Week 2 – Aaron Takacs, Salina Stockade
Week 3 – Nathan Etheridge, Tucson Saguaros
Week 4 – Yale Hughes, Houston Apollos
2020 Pitchers of the Week
Week 1 – Jacob Williams, Salina Stockade
Week 2 – Kyle Atkinson, Houston Apollos
Week 3 – Ben Butler, Salinas Stockade
Week 4 – Ryan Porras, Tucson Saguaros
By Robert Pannier