In The Dugout – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 14, 2003
Almost all baseball players have an ultimate goal to make it to the majors one day; to play under the lights at Wrigley Field or to face the pressure of a full count, in the bottom of the ninth, with two outs. Professional baseball has always had an emphasis on the minor league development. Take for example, the Cleveland Indians, who have called up a bulk of their roster from its triple-A team. The minor leagues can be a long shot, but for Buckeye sophomore Scott Lewis, it may closer than expected.
Lewis, the 6-foot left-handed pitcher out of Washington Court House, Ohio, has a history of various accolades both past and present. Lewis has earned his spot atop the starting rotation for Ohio State. Lewis opened the season with a 5-3 win over Lamar in Beaumont, Texas and has kept it going ever since. He leads the team with a 1.93 ERA including 58 strikeouts in 42.0 innings pitched. Lewis is credited for a perfect 4-0 record on the season with additional wins over Northwestern, Columbia and Louisiana-Lafayette. He has allowed only nine earned runs in his four outings as a starter and has struck out at least 10 batters in all but two of his six appearances this season.
“My best pitch would have to be my fast ball,” Lewis said. “I like the location of the pitch and my velocity is stronger this year. I feel more comfortable on the mound this season than last.”
In his debut last season, Lewis struck out 91 batters in 92.0 innings and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He pitched his first nine-inning complete game to beat Minnesota, 6-3 and earned Lewis and the Buckeye squad its sixth Big Ten Tournament championship and an automatic invitation to the NCAA Tournament.
Lewis admits that he did have some trouble on the mound in his 2002 campaign.
“There are a few teams I did not pitch well against last year,” Lewis said. “Iowa and Michigan are the two that stand out. This season I don’t want to lose a game. It is always a goal to go undefeated.” Against those teams, Lewis did not make it out of the fifth inning and allowed seven hits in each of those games.
Lewis was selected by the Anaheim Angels in the 33rd round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft. Since he was drafted in a late round right out of high school, Lewis did not sign. Instead, he decided to come to Ohio State and gain collegiate experience wearing the Scarlet and Gray No. 3.
Lewis is hopeful of his future within the minors and ultimately the major leagues. As a sophomore, Lewis has already captured a number of awards and titles as well as some pretty impressive stats on the mound. For Lewis, life after baseball at Ohio State is simply stated.
“Out of college I plan on playing in the minors,” Lewis said. “That’s what I want to do. Play baseball.”
