Colby Lewis during spring training in March.
Boys of summer Bakersfield baseball standouts playing on the national stage By Stephen Lynch
B
akersfield natives Colby Lewis and Brent Morel both began the 2012 Major League Baseball season with similar goals: to stay healthy and help their respective teams win the World Series. So far Lewis, a pitcher for the Texas Rangers, has managed to stay on track to reach both objectives. The former
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Bakersfield Life
July 2012
Photo by Paul Moseley
Community
North High and Bakersfield College standout has stepped up to the role of being the Rangers’ No. 1 starter in a big way, posting impressive stats and helping Texas jump out to an early lead in the American League West division race. For Morel, a Chicago White Sox third baseman, things haven’t gone nearly as well so far. He injured his back during spring training and struggled at the plate once the regular season began. After realizing that he wouldn’t to be able to fully heal while trying to play through the injury, the White Sox placed Morel on the disabled list in late May. Lewis’ season began with a bang. After being chosen opening day starter by Texas manager Ron Washington, he went out and struck out nine as the Rangers claimed a 3-2 victory over Morel’s White Sox in front of 49,085 fans at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington. Lewis hasn’t slowed down much since then, posting an impressive 3.38 earned run average and stellar 1.09 WHIP (walks and hits allowed per innings pitched) through his