By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
For most family members and fans at the Babe Ruth Ohio Valley Regional tournament, this is the first time they have visited Niles. One spectator, however, used to call this town home.
Ron Lewis sat in the visitor's stands during Tuesday's championship game watching his grandson play on the same field he played on more than 50 years ago.
Lewis was born in Buchanan in 1927, but grew up in Niles. He played baseball at Niles High School and graduated in 1955. He started playing at Thomas Stadium, though, as a little leaguer on the White Sox.
Lewis' grandson, Abraham Mitchell, plays the outfield for the Eastern Kentucky team from Lexington. Mitchell has been to Niles before, but never played baseball in town.
When Lewis first started playing on the field at Thomas Stadium, it was all dirt. In fact, he played in the first game with sod on the field. It was a 1955 Niles' game against Sturgis.
Lewis lives in Louisville, Ky. now, where he has been for about 30 years, he said. After graduating from Niles, he went to the Navy, then played baseball at Western Michigan for four years.
After four years of teaching at Mattawan, Lewis joined the F.B.I., where he worked for 28 years.
Although his grandson didn't get to play in the championship game, and his team lost, Lewis said he enjoyed being back in the town where he grew up.