HARLEM – Harlem High School made it official with the naming of Jimmie Lewis Field after defeating Westside 15-0 on Friday, March 21.
This marked the Bulldogs’ 19th consecutive win and career win No. 917 for Head Coach Jimmie Lewis.
“I’ve seen the sign up there like two months of Jimmie Lewis Field and said, ‘Boy, that is great,’ but now that it actually happened, it was pretty emotional,” Lewis said. “I am real happy and excited because I know it represents me but also represents a lot of people who put in a lot of hard work.”
Lewis is No. 4 in Georgia’s all-time winningest high school baseball coaches and is only 39 wins away from retired Westside Coach Gerald Barnes. Lewis thanked the legendary coaches Barnes and Terry Holder and said it is an honor to be mentioned with those greats.
Lewis also received a congressional award from U.S. Rep. Rick Allen.
“I didn’t expect that. I am really thankful and blessed and humble and real honored,” Lewis said.
Lewis thanked everyone including the fans, assistant coaches, his wife and many others Friday evening.
Harlem baseball is currently on a historic run with a 93-3 record over the last three seasons. The Bulldogs are looking to win their third consecutive state title, an eighth championship for Lewis.
Christopher Rickerson/Augusta Good News
“The last three seasons kind of put us back on the map,” Lewis said. “We are playing with a lot of confidence right now.”
While some may think Lewis will retire soon, it seems he still has the motivation to continue coaching at Harlem.
“The Lord knows when my career will be over, and he will let me know. As long as I have the desire and health to do it, I am going to continue to do it. The players rekindle that fire,” Lewis said.
The Bulldogs have nine games remaining on the regular season and will play Aquinas at Jimmie Lewis Field at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25.
Christopher Rickerson, an Augusta University graduate, has covered area sports for Augusta University, The Augusta Press and Augusta Good News. Subscribe to the Augusta Good News newsletter here.
