Southern League Names Players of the Week
Published on July 5, 2011 under Southern League (SL1) News Release
Hitter of the Week
Neftali Soto ¬" Carolina Mudcats
One way to beat the Monday blues is to watch a ballgame, and Carolina fans got quite a show on June 27, as first baseman Neftali Soto went 3-for-4 against Huntsville, crossing home plate after every hit. After a second-inning single, Soto ¬â¢s hit of the night cracked off the bat: a two-run homer to right field, earning his first two of 10 RBI of the week. The Mudcats won that game 9-2. Next, Carolina traveled to Tennessee, and while they did not enjoy success as a team, Soto gave an immense effort, hitting in five out of six games. Soto picked up eight RBI, four doubles and three homeruns against the Smokies. Soto led the league in several batting categories for the week. His .931 slugging percentage and eight extra-base-hits help to paint the picture of him running twenty-seven total bases. Even the best sluggers in the league could only match half of his four homeruns this week. Soto ¬â¢s ten RBI and nine runs tied the week ¬â¢s league leaders for those categories. Born in Manati, Canada he was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with a supplemental third-round pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. Previously, Soto was awarded as a Pioneer League Player of the Week in 2008.
Pitcher of the Week
Michael Fiers ¬" Huntsville Stars
In a display of absolute ferocity, Huntsville ¬â¢s Michael Fiers faced twenty-two batters from Mississippi on June 29th and only allowed one-hit. After a strikeout and a walk, he let a single slip by in the first inning, and then went on to fire through five straight innings without a hit. The M-Braves tried, but were unable to score for the duration of the game. His presence on the mound was that of a stone wall as he walked only two, retiring the rest, including nine total strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched. Fiers ¬â¢ opponents managed only a 0.050 batting average against him, and with the big bats of Huntsville, the game was finalized 12-0. The right-handed starter was born in Pompano Beach, Florida and was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 22nd round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Nova Southeastern University. Fiers has previously been awarded as a Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star in 2010, and was twice a Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week in 2009. He was named the New York College Baseball League Pitcher of the Year in 2007, in addition to a previous selection to the Junior College All- Star Team.
Southern League Stories from July 5, 2011
- BayBears Bully Barons in Fourth Straight Win - Mobile BayBears
- Pastornicky Hits for Cycle, M-Braves Win 14-7 - Mississippi Braves
- Suns Win Completed Game 9-5 Before Falling 6-5 in Second Game - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Jackson's Homers Beat Biscuits in 10 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Smokies Down Biscuits in Extra Innings - Knoxville Smokies
- Stars Edge Lookouts, 3-2 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- RHP Pat Doyle Joins Mudcats - Carolina Mudcats
- Madden and Padilla to New Orleans - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Smokies Announce Series Of Roster Moves Tuesday - Knoxville Smokies
- Alfredo Silverio Named Topps Player of the Month - SL1
- Fiers Named Pitcher of the Week - Huntsville Stars
- Southern League Names Players of the Week - SL1
- Generals Update Tuesday - Jackson Generals
- South Carolina NASCAR Greats to be Honored at Fluor Field - SL1
- Suns and Mudcats Game Suspended Due to Curfew - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Carolina and Jacksonville Suspended - Carolina Mudcats
- Fireworks Early in BayBears Win - Mobile BayBears
- BayBears Blast Barons, 5-2 - Birmingham Barons
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