Connor Lewis named baseball coach at UConn Avery Point
Groton – Former Waterford High School standout Connor Lewis has been named the head baseball coach at UConn Avery Point, UCAP Athletic Director Travis Beausoleil announced on Friday.
Lewis, who had served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator under Beausoleil at Mitchell College last season, replaces Ian Ratchford who coached the Pointers for the last four seasons before being named the head coach at Albertus Magnus College.
“I could not think of a better coach and person to take the reigns of the baseball program here at UConn Avery Point,” Beausoleil said in a release. “In my 12 years at Mitchell, coach Lewis was the hardest working assistant I ever had and I know his experience as a Division I athlete, coupled with his experience in my Mitchell program is going to serve him greatly as he continues the rich tradition of success that Avery Point baseball is synonymous with.”
Lewis, a standout pitcher, helped lead the Lancers to the 2013 Class L tournament final. He captained the baseball and basketball teams as a senior. Lewis was named the 2015 CIAC Scholar Athlete of the Year and was named to the CT senior All-Star game along with Zone 6 Pitcher of the Year that summer for Waterford Legion.
Lewis continued his career at the University of Hartford where he was named to the America East All-Academic team in 2017 and named team captain in 2019. Lewis also spent summers playing for the Torrington Titans of the Futures Collegiate League and the Mystic Schooners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
At Mitchell, Lewis oversaw a staff that ranked top 20 nationally in several key statistics including: 19th in ERA (3.89), 14th in WHIP (1.30), T-9th in shutouts (6), 4th in strikeout-walk ratio (3.11), and 3rd in walks/9 inn. (2.36).
“I would like to thank Athletic Director Travis Beausoleil and the rest of the administration for the opportunity, and entrusting me to lead the baseball program at Avery Point. It is a tremendous honor to continue the tradition of success established by coach (Roger) Bidwell,” said Lewis in a release. “Avery Point has a storied history of winning and helping student-athletes achieve their goals on and off the field. I look forward to continuing this tradition and competing to get back to the (NJCAA) World Series.
“The Avery Point program has always been a great option for players to advance to the professional level, whether it be playing or coaching, including MLB players John McDonald, Pete Walker, and Rajai Davis as well as coaches such as Ryan Fuller and Roberto Mercado. I am grateful for all the incredible coaches I have learned from along the way and am extremely excited to get to work.”
“I could not think of a better coach and person to take the reigns of the baseball program here at UConn Avery Point.”
AVERY POINT AD TRAVIS BEAUSOLEIL, ON CONNOR LEWIS