Guerrero, Pitts run away with MINK Player of the Week honors
Banner weeks for Chillicothe outfielder Julio Guerrero and St. Joseph pitcher Sam Pitts turned heads across the MINK League.
Guerrero's efforts have the Mudcats in the thick of the playoff race with just over two weeks remaining in the regular season to earn MINK League Player of the week recognition. Pitts, meanwhile, etched his name into Mustangs' lore in a gem against Nevada to receive the league's pitcher of the week award.
Julio Guerrero, Mudcats
Guerrero has hit safely in 12 of 14 games he's played in this summer and carries a .500 batting average, but the young slugger took it to a new level over the last week.
The outfielder from Caracas, Venezuela posted a .571 average (12-21) – including a trio of games with three knocks. He also added a home run, a double, seven of his season total 16 RBIs, seven runs and three stolen bases.
Guerrero's timely hitting helped push the Mudcats to a 3-2 week, with key victories over Carroll, Warren County and Jefferson City. Chillicothe moved into fifth in the MINK standings, firmly in the mix for the six-team playoff later this month.
Guerrero put together an outstanding freshman season at North Central Missouri College in the spring. He batted .503 with seven home runs, 43 RBIs, 70 runs and 23 stolen bases across 50 games, and was named First Team All-America by the National Scouting Bureau.
It was a fun week for the @_Mudcats, as they split four tight contests in a long road trip!
— Matt Clark (@MattClarkMizzou) July 8, 2024
Some exciting moments included big home runs from Julio Guerrero and @jaspoto_88, and saves from @brennankettle10 and @JustinSchnell36! Here's the call of those moments! #gethooked? pic.twitter.com/n0xmYWNM6d
Sam Pitts, Mustangs
Pitts threw the first perfect game in St. Joseph Mustangs history in a 17-0 drubbing of Nevada on Saturday evening.
Pitts was nails from the start, striking out five of the first nine batters he faced. The Sierra Vista, AZ native posted a season-high eight punchouts. The Griffons managed to get some balls in the air but couldn't find any gaps. Pitts retired 10 Nevada players on fly outs, and didn't get a ground ball out until Jordan Stucki hit one right to shortstop Mason Holton.
St. Joseph run-ruled Nevada, ending the game after the top of the seventh and sealing Pitts' perfect game. He lowered his ERA to 1.13 in the win.
Pitts made 15 appearances, 14 starts, during his freshman year at Cochise College last spring.
Wow.
— Chris Roush (@chrisRroush) July 7, 2024
Sam Pitts just threw the FIRST perfect game in @theSJmustangs history.
Mustangs roll—17-0—to win this one tonight. pic.twitter.com/fI1mzBti8Z
2024 MINK Player of the Week
June 11: Sean Bazmore, Clarinda
June 18: Cy Darnell, Jefferson City
June 25: Trevor McCollum, St. Joseph & Cam Lee, Jefferson City
July 2: Khi Holiday, Clarinda
July 9: Julio Guerrero, Chillicothe
2024 MINK Pitcher of the Week
June 11: Byler Reither, Jefferson City
June 18: Denton Biller, St. Joseph
June 25: Camden Lutz, St. Joseph
July 2: Cullen McBride, Carroll
July 9: Sam Pitts, St. Joseph