Lewis Excelling with Thunder
August 10, 2009 - United League Baseball (ULB)
Coastal Bend Thunder News Release
August 9, 2009 - Robstown, Texas - Chris Lewis had an outstanding college career playing on some very good teams at Stanford. As A Senior at Stanford in 2006 Lewis was second on the team with a career-high-tying eight homers and a career-high 48 RBI, while raising his batting average to .310 that is 44 points above his previous top average in a season. Has hit safely in 17 of his last 21 games (.402, 33-82, 8 2B, 5 HR, 25 RBI) that included a 2-for-5 contest with four RBI in the NCAA Regional championship game versus North Carolina State (6/4) and a 3-for-4 game at Texas (6/3) in an NCAA Regional winners' bracket game. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2006 Draft.
If you ever watch Chris Lewis take batting practice, you might not notice anything different about him. You can see him taking his cuts and working on his swing as any baseball player would before a game. He takes ground balls and jokes with his teammates. Occasionally, while waiting his turn to hit, you can even see him showing off his dance moves. It is not until his name is announced and he runs out to his position before the national anthem that you would notice there is something different with Chris.
Chris struggles a bit to run out to his position because while playing for the Angels he was severely injured in a 2006 car accident when a drunk driver flipped the median and hit his truck head on. He and his companion were pulled from the car seconds before it caught on fire. Chris sustained serious injuries but has persevered through it all to attempt a comeback with the Coastal Bend Thunder this season.
Chris started off slow trying to get himself into the lineup everyday. In the month of July, he really heated up. For the month, he posted a .313 batting average and collected nine doubles and nine RBIs. Additionally, Lewis has been especially hot of late. In his last ten games, the Thunder second baseman has belted three homers and 10 RBIs while boasting a batting average of .378. On the season, Chris has compiled a .303 batting average with four homers and 22 RBIs.
"Chris is on this team because of his determination," said Thunder GM C.J. Bauer. "His father called us about signing him and explained everything he had gone through. Al looked up the numbers he put up at Stanford and decided to give him a shot." Bauer said both he and Gallagher had doubts at first because of Lewis's leg, but his hands and bat speed offensively made them take notice. "Chris wasn't playing allot at first and I remember telling him to be patient, his opportunity would come. It did and he made sure he got our attention. Al and I are both huge Chris Lewis fans. With everything he's been through, this is the best story in this entire league this year. We can only imagine if he had not been in the accident how far up he might be in the Angels farm system now," said Bauer.
Anyone would be hard pressed to call his comeback attempt anything but successful so far. Chris Lewis has proven that he cannot only compete in United League Baseball, but he can also excel.
United League Baseball Stories from August 10, 2009
- San Angelo loses first series of the season - San Angelo Colts
- Roadrunners extend streak to 8 with walkoff win - Edinburg Roadrunners
- Broncos lose on walkoff - Laredo Broncos
- Cruz does it again as WhiteWings walk-off winners - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Another night, another rainout - Amarillo Dillas
- Lewis a hero in Coastal Bend area; recovering from serious injuries - ULB
- Unexpected rain washes Sunday's game; Free doubleheader tonight - Amarillo Dillas
- Lewis Excelling with Thunder - Coastal Bend Thunder
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