Hammond Central’s Elijah Lewis has appeared as an extra in three episodes of “Chicago Fire,” including once as a basketball player.
The versatile junior does play basketball, but it’s in baseball where he has emerged in a leading role.
“Eli’s been with me for three years now, and he’s pretty much been our rock,” Hammond Central baseball coach Michael Caston said. “Him and his brother Aaron, who graduated last year, they’ve been our main staples in the lineup, producing offensively and defensively, making plays. Eli’s been a pitcher for me all three years. He just does a good job all around.”
But Lewis has lifted his game to a new level this season. Moving around among shortstop, center field and left field when he’s not pitching, Lewis is batting a team-high .549 with 17 RBIs, a team-high 25 runs scored and a team-high 20 stolen bases.
He hit .218 last year.
“I couldn’t even hit the ball last season, to be honest,” Lewis said.
That has changed dramatically this season with the Wolves (8-14-1, 3-2), who open Class 4A Lake Central Sectional play against Great Lakes Athletic Conference rival Morton on May 29.
Lewis points to his work with Hammond Central hitting coach Albert Carpen; watching YouTube videos from Teacherman Hitting, who has gained a following largely for his connection to New York Yankees star Aaron Judge; and the power of prayer, as among the reasons for his major strides.
“It’s my timing,” Lewis said. “I added a little leg kick, coiling my hip so I could snap at the ball. I didn’t really have a load last season, and now I do, and it’s just been working.
“I was really struggling sophomore season, and I just kept asking what I could do with my swing. This season, I came back, and I’ve been studying video of my swing, swinging before bed, in the mirror, just watching my swing. I just kept working at it, and I’ve been seeing the results this season. I didn’t really expect it, but I’ve just kept on hitting. I saw I was one of the top people in the Region, and I just want to keep on moving up.”
Caston noted Lewis has been putting in time with Hammond Central’s new pitching machine.
“He’s been getting more reps, seeing the ball really good,” Caston said. “I can’t say enough about the kid. It’s like every swing that he gets on a pitch, he’s barreling it up and it’s getting through or he’s hitting it hard through a hole. He’s just finding a way to get us hits.”
Lewis attends church on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, and he said he believes that has also had a positive effect.
“I started going during baseball season last year, and it’s been going good ever since then,” he said. “Especially with this season, everything’s just been clicking.
“My confidence, I knew I could do good, so I just spoke it into existence. I prayed about it. I think that’s the main thing for me doing good, because of church. I’ve been praying about it. I want to be good at baseball, and now my numbers are up there. I’m glad I’ve been going.”
After a handful of games on the junior varsity team to begin his career, Lewis earned a promotion to the varsity team as a freshman, hitting .333 while primarily at third base. He settled into center field last season.
“It felt pretty natural to me,” Lewis said of center field. “I’m pretty quick, so I could get under the ball pretty easily to make catches.”
Growing up with his brother Aaron, Lewis mainly played first base.
“That’s actually my natural position,” he said. “I would still go back to first base if it was up to me. I actually like that position a lot. I always used to stretch, pick the ball. I was really good at first base.”
Shortstop is new to Lewis.
“I never played shortstop, but I’m actually doing pretty good,” he said.
Wherever he plays, Lewis has an influence.
“I’ve known him for a very long time, and he’s a great kid,” Hammond Central junior Juan Magallanes said. “It’s very fun playing with him. He brings positive vibes. He’s a good hitter too.”
Caston praised Lewis for the way he responded after junior shortstop Adrian Tiscareno suffered a dislocated kneecap in the season opener and unsuccessfully attempted to come back a month later.
“Once Adrian went down, Eli was the one who stepped up and said somebody needs to fill that leader role, not only leading by example but vocal also,” Caston said. “It’s like having another coach out there on the field with you.
“He’s a team guy. He’s always happy. He’ll never come to practice and have a down day. He’s always smiling. He keeps the team upbeat even when the team’s not doing the best. We’ve had some troubles here with some players being out for a period of time, but we’re going to get everybody back here toward the end, at the right time for sectionals. But Eli’s just a leader, captain of the team.”
Caston also mentioned Lewis’ humility.
“He has his little acting career going for him, too, but he doesn’t like to brag about it,” Caston said.
Lewis doesn’t see acting as a path he plans to pursue.
“My mom signed me up for ‘Chicago Fire’ last year, and I went on there last year, and they called me back to go on another episode, and this year I went on there again,” he said. “It’s just something I’ve been doing on the side. I’m just in the background. I don’t really do too much. But it’s fun.
“I like sports better, to be honest. My parents do real estate, so I want to do that. That’s probably what I really want to do.”
In baseball, Lewis wants to continue building on his success, with an eye on next season. The Wolves have 13 juniors in the program, and many of them played together with the Hammond Hermits.
“We’re getting ready for next season too,” Lewis said. “Next season, we could be good. We’ve been playing together a long time, Hermits too. If everybody stays together, that could be our year.”
