Miniota’s Keenan Lewis loves being part of the Oak River Dodgers and winning a championship makes it even better.
The son of Marcie and Trevor Lewis helped the Dodgers win the South West Baseball League championship series, 3-2, over the Boissevain Centennials, which featured Virden product Zane Sawyer. The team also included the veteran Lewis’ younger brother Connor. It was the second SWBL crown for the Dodgers in three years.
“Over the last few years, since our team came into the league, we’ve gained a few new guys and we’ve lost a few guys,” Keenan Lewis said. “But each year, it is always a great team to be a part of, with a great group of guys and all of us love getting the chance to show what the Dodgers can do and what kind of team we are year after year.”
The Dodgers had trailed in the best-of-five series 2-1 but won game four decisively 10-4. The fifth and deciding game started on Aug. 14 but was suspended for a few days due to rain. When it continued Aug. 19, the Dodgers triumphed 5-0.
While Lewis was able to be teammates this season with his brother, a few years ago he took the field with his father, who also played with such teams as the Virden Oilers, McAuley Blazers, and Birtle Blue Jays.
“While being a Dodger I’ve had the privilege to play on the field with my dad, Trevor, a few years ago and not many people get to say that to begin with, then to add on to that I got the chance to play on the field with my younger brother, Connor,” Lewis said. “Not only did we get to play together, but we happened to win the league in the process. The chance to play with both of them is something I’ll look back at and cherish later on in life I’m sure. I still have my youngest brother (Aiden, 12), who also plays so who knows, hopefully I get the chance to play with him too sometime.”
SENIOR AAA
While the Dodgers won their Senior AA league, they also sent a team, with some pickups, to compete for the 2019 BIGS Seeds Men’s National Championship, at the Senior AAA level, in Miramichi, N.B. The team went 3-1, including a 10-inning victory, in the round robin. Their run at the nationals came to an end with a 7-6 loss to B.C. in the quarterfinals.
Local players on the Dodgers squad in N.B. included Keenan Lewis, Sawyer, and Virden’s Jeff Peel.
