Drury University Athletics

Drury launched its baseball program in 2007, and while many expected the Panthers to be competitive quickly, few saw what was coming in its inaugural season. Drury won the Great Lakes Valley Conference in Year One of the program, and when they reached the NCAA-II Tournament, they didn’t go quietly. The Panthers went 2-2 in the North Central Regional and got to the semifinals before sixth-ranked Grand Valley State stopped Drury’s postseason run.
 
Tony Lewis was a key component to Drury’s success in that inaugural season. Lewis transferred from Missouri State for his senior season, choosing to close out his collegiate career as a Panther and helped the Drury program set a winning tone that has carried over nearly two decades later.
 
Lewis posted a .367 batting average in the 2007 season and added three home runs while producing 36 RBIs. He posted a .524 slugging percentage and a .449 on-base percentage. His play resulted in Lewis being named a First Team All-GLVC selection and a First Team All-Region pick by the ACBA. Lewis’ defense also saw him being awarded the Midwest Region Gold Glove Award for first base.
 
In addition to his numbers and production, it was Lewis’ leadership that helped Drury to a 33-24 record and a championship in the program’s first year. The Panthers were 5-7 going into their conference opener but would go 28-17 after that with a 22-14 league record.
 
After graduating from Drury, Lewis played professional baseball overseas, competing in France in 2008. He even connected his art teacher at Drury, Jackie Warren, in addition to Drury students studying overseas while playing in Florence, Italy. Lewis also played professionally in North America in independent leagues in Toronto, Chicago and he ended his career winning the Can-Am League championship with Quebec City.  
 
Since graduating from Drury in 2007 and wrapping up his playing career, Lewis entered the world of banking. He started as a personal banker and, after 15 years in the industry, is now the Springfield Bank President for The Bank of Missouri. He now uses his leadership skills from the diamond to guide his team of bankers to help people achieve their dreams via lending and assist to make southwest Missouri an even better place.
 
And his baseball days aren’t completely over. Ten years ago, Lewis created the Grip ‘N Rip Baseball League, a circuit he calls “Baseball’s Ultimate Second Chance.” The six-team league is a structured, wooden-bat adult league that features 85 players.  
 
He and his wife Stephanie have two children, Mila and Jack.