The Region's Team Of Northwest Indiana

Whiting, Ind. – March 15, 2015 – The Northwest Indiana Oilmen have announced the addition of Purdue outfielder / right-handed pitcher Jordan Lewis to the 2015 roster.

Lewis, a sophomore from Escondido, California, has appeared in four games and made one start in the early-portion of the season for the Boilermakers. He holds a .500 batting average.

Lewis elected to attend Purdue because of the school’s engineering program and to escape his comfort zone in the San Diego area.  

“There’s definitely a bit of a culture difference,” he said. “No matter where you’re from, college kids are college kids. Everyone’s going to get along and have something in common. I really enjoy being with different people and seeing how different kids enjoy different ways of life.”

Since coming to West Lafayette, Lewis has observed a noticeable difference between high school baseball and the college game.

“It’s the first level of baseball where you have a fan base and it’s a lot bigger,” he said. “You’re competing nationally instead of locally. I’m looking forward to having a great season.”

Lewis joins teammate Alec Olund on the current Oilmen roster and becomes the seventh Purdue player to spend a summer in Northwest Indiana. He’s heard many positives about the Midwest Collegiate League from fellow Boilermakers.

The summer provides him a chance to adapt to a demanding baseball schedule in a pre-minor league setting.

“The biggest adjustment for a summer season is that it’s the most dense season that you’re ever going to play,” Lewis said. “Playing in that many games, you’ve got to stay on top of your abilities and mechanics. You have to make sure you’re staying focused and you’ve got to take advantage of every at-bat.”

During his senior year of high school, one of Lewis’ league games was selected to be played at Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres. He threw a complete game shutout to lift his team to victory.

“That was definitely a cool experience, being able to play where the pros play,” Lewis said. “It was really nice having success in that kind of environment. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Lewis was a four-year letter-winner at Escondido High School and was named Avocado East League Pitcher of the Year as a senior after helping his team to the league title. He finished his prep career with a sparkling 1.52 earned run average.

Though Lewis’ enthusiasm for playing baseball goes without question, it’s also clear that his fervor goes beyond the white lines.

“I’m really passionate about life,” he said. “I like experiencing everything that I can and making the most of everything. If there’s something new that I haven’t tried, I want to experience it. I’m really just making the most of life and taking every experience that I can.”