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Chris Lewis (Sacramento State) put together quite the 2015 season for Big Train.  Adding to the list of existing hardware – League Most Outstanding Player, First Team All-CRCBL, and League All-Star – Chris has now been awarded the Most Outstanding Hitter Award in this year’s Big Train Managerial Awards.  Lewis joins fellow Sacramento State teammate, Brandon Hunley, as the first two Big Train Award winners for Summer 2015.  Winning the Most Outstanding Hitting Award is not just about batting for average, hitting the most home runs, or driving home the most runs.  It is about having a consistent approach at the plate, improving swing mechanics throughout the season, AND recording the aforementioned statistics.

Manager Sal Colangelo recalled that “Chris worked hard all summer” to improve his swing and stay more consistent at the plate.  Sal described Chris as “an amazing person on the field.”  These words are made evident by anyone who came to a Big Train game all summer.  In over 40 games this season, including playoffs, Lewis was only held hitless in eight games, and in those eight games he walked three times, finding ways to get on base even when he’s not finding holes in the field.  He was truly the best hitter out there.

Chris Lewis hit .306 on the season with 48 hits (second in league), 7 home run (Tied for first in league), and 37 RBI (first in league).  Counting the playoffs, Lewis had 12 multi-hit games including six, three-hit ball games.  “Chris was the leader of the team” according to Manager Colangelo, and during games where hits were hard to come-by, Lewis was there to steady the team, “being patient [at the plate], but more physical [with his swing].”

The most evident part of Lewis’ game that improved from 2014 was his RBI total.  In 2014, Lewis batted 18 runs in, while in 2015, Lewis upped that total to an outstanding 37.  Not only did he have 14 more RBI than anybody in the league, he also was close to averaging an RBI per game.  Lewis recorded the most RBI in a season for a Big Train player since Hunter Renfroe’s magical 2012 season.  Big Train could count on Chris Lewis to drive home runs, the key was putting men on base ahead of him, and letting Chris do what he does best; hit.

Chris had this to say about winning the Big Train Most Outstanding Hitter Award , “It’s an honor to win this award.  I thought [Big Train] had a lot of really good hitters on our team this summer.”  Lewis went on to say that none of this would have been possible if not for the “countless hours [Coaches] Adam Barry and Mario Porto spent in the cage with us.”

Congratulations to Chris Lewis on a terrific summer with Big Train!