Previously an assistant at Village Christian, coaching veteran Craig Lewis will become new head coach and team with former University of Tennessee and USA Softball standout Brooke Vines as associate head coach.
SUN VALLEY, CALIF. – Coming off a thrilling run to the CIF Southern Section Division 6 championship game, the Village Christian Softball coaching staff is reloading for the new school year.
Veteran high school coach Craig Lewis has been promoted to head coach for the coming season and will be joined by former University of Tennessee and USA Softball standout Brooke Vines as associate head coach, the school has announced.
“We are so proud to welcome both of these amazing coaches to the VCS family,” said Athletic Director Diana Putignano. “Their skills, hearts for the players, and expectations for the program are exciting and perfectly align with the mission of the school.”
Lewis, who has 16 years of coaching experience at the travel and high school levels, was a member of the two-time City Section championship-winning staff at Chatsworth before coming to Village in 2020.
He said he’s ready to build upon last year’s late-season surge that saw the Crusaders finish 17-8-1 overall as the D6 runners up.
“That’ doesn’t happen all the time,” Lewis said. “To do what these girls did last year was amazing. I was very proud of them. They bonded together, and they rallied, and they fought for everything they got. It was impressive. It was an honor being with these girls on that run.”
Lewis will look to develop all levels of the program, he said, from Middle School up through varsity.
“I always look at softball as a teaching tool,” he added. “It’s Xs and Os, but when you’re pitching or batting or making a play, it’s just you. Yes, you are helping the team, but how you recover from a mistake or make big a hit, your composure and being able to handle the situation, that’s where I focus on as a coach. It’s life lessons.”
When it comes to handling those situations, Vines will add an invaluable voice as she makes her high school debut after coaching travel ball for the elite 16U Firecrackers.
“I quickly learned that I love giving back to this age,” Vines said. “There is something about being able to encourage young women’s walks from a spiritual standpoint and a social standpoint. They are very impressionable at this age, so I think it’s very important who people surround their kids with. … Wins are great, but I believe that at this age, it’s all about development. I know softball. I have softball IQ and I know the mechanics. [We will be] focused on the processes. I know that’s cliché, but that was the focus at Tennessee, and that will be the focus with the girls.”
The former All-SEC honoree and member of Team USA holds a Masters in bioethics from Loyola Marymount and also brings an incredible story of perseverance.
In 2016, Vines tore her labrum during her USA Softball tryout. Not only did she make the team, she continued to play through the injury for the next year.
“Grit is everything,” she said. “One’s mental state is what allows them to get through the hard times in life. With my travel ball team, it’s what I impress on my team—your brain has to be your strongest muscle. I think we as human beings can get through a lot when we have grit and resilience. The barriers, you figure out how to get past them.”
Lewis’ and Vines’ complementary skill sets line up in a special way that Putignano believes will pay major dividends for VCS Softball.
“It’s such a great and unique time to be part of this program,” she added. “I have full confidence this entire staff will not only bring the best out of our student-athletes athletically but also personally and spiritually.”