Southern Ohio Copperheads

Independent baseball team
name = Southern Ohio Copperheads
founded = 2002
city = Athens, Ohio

cap
current league = Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
current division=
past league =
uniform =
currentname = Southern Ohio Copperheads (2002-present)
past league =
colors = Green, Gold, and Orange
ballpark = Bob Wren Stadium
leaguechamps =
divisionchamps =
owner = Southern Ohio Copperheads Limited Partners
manager = Ted Tom
gm = Dave Palmer
media = Athens Messenger, The Post
website = http://aspnet.cob.ohiou.edu/copperheads/index.aspx

The Southern Ohio Copperheads are an amateur baseball team based in Athens, Ohio. The team is a member of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, one of eight leagues in the National Alliance of Summer Baseball. The Copperheads play their home games at Bob Wren Stadium, which is also the home of the Ohio Bobcats baseball team. Owned and operated by the Southern Ohio Copperheads Limited Partners, the team began play during the summer of 2002. The current General Manager of the Copperheads is Dave Palmer, and the head coach is Ted Tom, who is also the manager of the Shawnee State University baseball team.

History

Early Roots

The inception of the Southern Ohio Copperheads baseball team began in the spring of 2002, with a conversation between two prominent Ohio University officials. Dr. Andy Kreutzer, director of the Sports Administration program at Ohio University and Alan Geiger, assistant to the president of Ohio University, began a discussion about summer in Athens, Ohio and the need for affordable, family entertainment. Their conversation slowly drifted to other university officials and civic leaders looking for activities in the summer and the idea of a baseball team in Athens started to gain momentum. It really picked up when Joe Carbone, head baseball coach Ohio University, recommended the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League because it was coming to town for a weekend in the summer of 2001.

Bob Wren Stadium, the home park of Ohio University baseball), played host to an exhibition game between Team USA and the Great Lakes League All Stars on July 15, 2001. Nearly 1000 fans came out to enjoy a day of summer baseball, and the game was considered a great success. Following the game, Dr. Andy Kreutzer stated, “We received a lot of really positive feedback from the all star game and the success led us to believe that southern Ohio would support a team."

Slowly, the small group started to grow through phone calls and recruitment. John Wharton, former Chairman of the Copperheads Board of Directors, was recruited because of his ties to Ohio University baseball. As a major fundraiser for the Bobcats, he was a natural supporter of a new initiative for summer baseball in Athens.

Other board members came in slowly in the drive to make summer baseball a reality. Dave Palmer, current team general manager and owner of local radio station WXTQ/WATH, wasn't involved at the beginning, but after seeing the exhibition game he became convinced that a baseball team in Athens was a viable idea. "The summer months here are slower paced and more relaxed," Palmer said. "I saw this as an opportunity to bring an athletic event to the summer months that will really enrich the region's life."

With a full roster of business, academic and community leaders in place, the group decided to come together formally at the end of the summer of 2001 and create an organizational structure. The non profit organization listed three goals for the team: Providing family entertainment in southern Ohio, offering a great opportunity for collegiate players to develop and improve their skill levels, and creating a laboratory learning environment for students at Ohio University. The next step was gaining acceptance into the Great Lakes League as a new franchise, and that word came in September of 2001. With acceptance from the league, the board now had just over nine months to make baseball in Athens a reality.With a structure in place, the team needed a business plan, which they got by working in conjunction with the Ohio University Master’s of Business Administration program. A group of eight students, which included three sports administration students, worked closely with the board for eight weeks and produced a 157 page business plan that the board has followed closely in building the team.

As the winter months were passing, the team named Scott Googins, assistant coach of the Miami Redhawks baseball team, as its first head coach. Googins started to put his roster together for the new team, while the Board of Directors organized a contest to name the team and after two weeks of suggestions the Copperheads was chosen as the team's name. Local artist Tad Gallaugher was called upon to create the logo that would grace the team's uniforms, caps and merchandise.

The team began to take shape, and work was being done around the clock, fitting in between business meetings and classes. The board continued its strong leadership and several sports administration students were called upon to take the lead in finding sponsorships, selling tickets and various other duties. To assist Andy Kreutzer, who was named the team's General Manager, a handful of sports administration students took positions with the team. Nathan Kievman, a second year sports administration graduate student, was named Assistant General Manager. Two first year students were also named Assistant Managers: Steve Frohwerk, Operations, and Chris Boggs, Merchandise and Concessions.

The First Season

Under the leadership of Coach Googins, the newly formed team first took the field on June 12, 2002 against the now-defunct Youngstown Express. The team lost by a margin of 6-4, and followed up with another loss to the Pittsburgh Pandas. The Copperheads played their first home game at Bob Wren Stadium on June 15, 2002 in a doubleheader against the Delaware Cows, ultimately losing both games by scores of 4-2 and 14-3. On June 16, the team finally broke into the win column with a 7-6 victory over the Northern Ohio Baseball Club. The Copperheads ultimately ended with an 18-22 record, finishing in seventh place out of ten clubs. Five future professional players suited up for the 2002 Copperheads, including current White Sox pitch Adam Russell.

The 2003 to 2006 Editions

The 2003 Copperheads were coached by University of Dayton Assistant Coach Todd Linklater. Paced by Ohio University star Anthony Gressick and his .353 batting average, the team finished with a 19-20 record and made the league playoffs for the first time in team history. Featuring 9 future professional players, the 2003 team would prove to be the best Copperheads squad until 2006.

In 2004, the Copperheads also featured 9 future professional players, but struggled throughout most of the season with a 16-23 record. Despite finishing the season with a 5 game winning streak, the team just missed the playoffs and finished in eighth place out of nine teams. Coached by University of Kentucky assistant Brad Bohannon, the squad was led by current minor league stars Ryan Norwood, Victor Alvarez, and Joe Mihalics.

The lowest point in Copperheads’ franchise history was undoubtedly the 2005 season. Under the direction of current Ohio University assistant Andrew See, the team lumbered to a 17-25 finish that placed them seventh out of eight league teams. Featuring just five future professionals, the squad was led by Ohio University star and current Cincinnati Reds minor leaguer Matt Stiffler.

The resurgence of the Copperheads began with the 2006. Winthrop University assistant coach Stas Swerdzewski brought in a talented group of players and coaches that led the team to its first winning record and a league playoff appearance. The Copperheads would go on to post a 21-19 record, and ultimately produced four professional players. The team once again was paced by Ohio University star Matt Stiffler, and also enjoyed the services of Appalachian State star pitcher David Rubenstein.

The 2007 Copperheads: A Near Miss

The Copperheads’ 2007 squad proved to be the best in the brief history of the franchise. Led by Marietta College assistant coach Mike Deegan, the team finished 23-15, good for sixth place out of eleven league teams. For the third year in a row, Ohio University outfielder Matt Stiffler led the team in hitting, while John Karr and Chuck Boring paced the Copperheads’ pitchers. The team ultimately advanced to the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League playoffs, winning its first two games over the Lima Locos and the Cincinnati Steam. A loss to eventual champion Columbus forced the Copperheads into a must-win game over the Delaware Cows, which they lost 9-8. Despite going into the ninth inning with an 8-3 lead, poor relief pitching by Kyle Cowden and a fielding error by Zach Hartle cost the team a spot in the league championship game.

2008: A Year of Promise

On paper, the 2008 season has the potential to be the best in Copperheads history. Esteemed Shawnee State University head coach Ted Tom will lead the team along with talented assistants Andrew Engebretson and Chris Moore. Featuring Northwestern University star outfielder Jake Goebbert, University of North Carolina at Asheville slugger Phillip Vaughn, and Ohio University pitcher Joe Stover, the squad figures to once again challenge for the league crown.

eason records

(Place listed is finish in Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League)
*2002: 18-22 (7th), manager Scott Googins
*2003: 19-20 (6th), manager Todd Linklater
*2004: 16-23 (8th), manager Brad Bohannon
*2005: 17-25 (7th), manager Andrew See
*2006: 20-19 (6th), manager Stas Swerdzewski
*2007: 23-15 (6th), manager Mike Deegan

Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Playoff Appearances

*2003
*2006
*2007

Major League Draft Picks

*Adam Russell (Chicago White Sox, 2004)
*Anthony Gressick (Cincinnati Reds, 2006)
*Ben Crabtree (Texas Rangers, 2005)
*Ben Rulon (Tampa Bay Rays, 2005)
*Chad Liter (Colorado Rockies, 2002)
*Corby Heckman (Seattle Mariners, 2005)
*Dan Pfau (Washington Nationals, 2006)
*David Rubenstein (Pittsburgh Pirates, 2008)
*Dominique Rodgers (Minnesota Twins, 2007)
*Eric Butler (Arizona Diamondbacks, 2005)
*Jason Rook (Baltimore Orioles, 2008)
*Jeff Opalewski (Cleveland Indians, 2003)
*Jesse Collins (Minnesota Twins, 2003)
*Jim Gulden (Montreal Expos, 2003)
*Joe Mihalics (New York Mets, 2005)
*Joey Newby (Oakland Athletics, 2007)
*Jordan Alvis (Seattle Mariners, 2008)
*Kevin House (Cincinnati Reds, 2003)
*Matt Stiffler (Cincinnati Reds, 2008)
*Mike Folli (St. Louis Cardinals, 2007)
*Paul Bennett (Atlanta Braves, 2006)
*Rip Warren (New York Mets, 2004)
*Rob Harmon (Seattle Mariners, 2006)
*Ryan Norwood (Chicago Cubs, 2004)
*Ryan Peisel (Colorado Rockies, 2008)
*Seth Bynum (Montreal Expos, 2003)
*Tony Campana (Chicago Cubs, 2008)
*Victor Alvarez (Pittsburgh Pirates, 2006)
*Walt Novosel (Arizona Diamondbacks, 2003)

Broadcasting

All Copperheads home games are heard on WXTQ-105.5 FM. The “Voice of the Copperheads’’ Tom Hodson calls the action along with color analyst Luke Florence.

Road games are broadcast on CopperheadBaseball.com, with Brian Boesch behind the microphone.

External links

* [http://aspnet.cob.ohiou.edu/copperheads/index.aspx Southern Ohio Copperheads official site]
* [http://aspnet.cob.ohiou.edu/copperheads/roster.aspx Copperheads’ Roster]
* [http://aspnet.cob.ohiou.edu/copperheads/staff.aspx Copperheads’ Front Office Staff]
* [http://aspnet.cob.ohiou.edu/copperheads/careerrecords.aspx Copperheads All-Time Record Book]
* [http://ohiobobcats.cstv.com/facilities/wren-stadium.html Bob Wren Stadium]
* [http://www.greatlakesleague.org Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League]
* [http://www.nacsb.org/ National Alliance of Collegiate Summer Baseball]