In 1902, Houtz joined the Butte Miners of the Pacific Northwest League. He raised his batting average to .291, and Butte won the league championship."Butte Has Pennant". Spokane Daily Chronicle, October 10, 1902, p. 12. The following season, he moved to the Pacific National League's San Francisco Pirates and batted .286. He broke out again in 1904, with the Boise Fruit Pickers. Houtz was one of the PNL's top sluggers that season, batting .343 and pacing the circuit with 33 doubles and 18 triples while finishing second in total bases."1904 Pacific National League Batting Leaders". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
