Pioneer Baseball League Players of the Week: Week 5
Shaver, Lavin Named Pioneer Baseball League Players of the Week Sponsored by RedPocket Mobile
The Pioneer Baseball League has named Billings Mustangs outfielder A.J. Shaver and Great Falls Voyagers right-hander Sam Lavin its Players of the Week sponsored by RedPocket Mobile. Shaver earned Hitter of the Week honors after a remarkable six-game stretch filled with power, speed, and historic moments, while Lavin received Pitcher of the Week honors after throwing a complete-game shutout against the Glacier Range Riders.
Shaver batted .600 with a .655 on-base percentage and a 1.280 slugging percentage, going 15-for-25 with five doubles, three triples, two home runs, 14 RBI, 13 runs scored, four walks, and six stolen bases. He finished the week with a 1.935 OPS and helped the Mustangs win five of their six games.
His week began with a historic performance Tuesday, when he hit for the cycle for the second time this season in Billings' 27-7 victory over Missoula. Shaver went 5-for-6 with two doubles, a triple, a home run, seven RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base. On Wednesday, he collected two more hits, drove in a run, stole three bases, and powered the Mustangs to a Knockout Round victory by delivering four home runs in the extra frame.
Shaver added another five-hit performance Thursday, including two doubles and a home run, before producing two triples, four RBI, and two runs in Saturday's 15-12 victory over Great Falls. He closed the week Sunday by doubling, walking, scoring twice, and coming home with the winning run on Charlie Muniz's walk-off single in a 7-6 victory.
Lavin delivered his own dominant performance Thursday, throwing a complete game in Great Falls' 8-0 win over Glacier. He allowed seven hits and two walks, struck out nine, and faced the minimum number of batters in three separate innings while improving his record to 2-3.
The right-hander faced 34 batters and threw 78 of his 125 pitches for strikes, preventing Glacier from converting any of its baserunners into runs. Lavin did not allow an extra-base hit and completed the shutout with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth.
Between Shaver's cycle, unforgettable Knockout Round performance, and weeklong offensive production and Lavin's commanding nine-inning shutout, the two players delivered distinctly dominant performances worthy of Pioneer Baseball League Player of the Week recognition.
