Southern Ohio Copperheads
Encyclopedia
The Southern Ohio Copperheads are a collegiate summer 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 Mike Florak, who previously served as head coch of the Youngstown State Penguins
.
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.
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
.
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.
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.
head coach Ted Tom led 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 started out the season strong. The Copperheads posted a 5-1 mark in their first six games, but faltered into a 7 game losing streak in early July. Proving resilient, however, Coach Tom's team posted a seven game winning steak in late July to force their way back into playoff contention. Only needing to win one game of an August 3 doubleheader against Lima to enter the GLSCL playoffs, the Copperheads stumbled in both games to finish the season with a 19-21 record. Though tied for the sixth and final playoff berth, the squad lost the tiebreaker to Lake Erie through losing the season series 3-1.
baseball team for nine years, leading the team to their first Horizon League
title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004. Coach Florak came to the team with a litany of off-field accomplishments as well, including being the author of the critically acclaimed autobiography "Healthier than Normal". Detailing his struggle with Crohn’s disease, battle with depression and life in baseball, it has led to Florak's budding career as a motivational speaker.
Florak led the team to the best season in franchise history in 2009. The Copperheads' finished the regular season with an 18-16 record, including a season sweep of the Xenia Scouts and a 3-1 record against the league-leading Lima Locos. The Copperheads featured dominant starting pitching, led by Northwestern University
pitcher Dave Jensen. Jensen set the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League ERA record, posting just a 0.30 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched. The Copperheads were also strong in the bullpen, featuring Marion Military Institute
closer Jordan Langley and Marshall University
set-up man Tyler Gatrell. The offense was led by Ohio University
outfielder Jerod Yakubik, Southeast Missouri State infielder Trent Moses, and Sinclair Community College
utilityman Justin Marerro.
The Copperheads' first season under Florak was highlighted by a run in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Playoffs. The Copperheads defeated Licking County and Grand Lake to advance to their first-ever GLSCL title game. The team fell 4-2 to Cincinnati in a battle for the championship, finishing with a season record of 20-18.
On August 12, 2009 it was reported by Athens radio staton WATH
that Mike Florak and assistants Chris Moore and Tim Culver would all return for the 2010 season.
Road games are broadcast on CopperheadBaseball.com, with Jon Corum behind the microphone joined by Media Director Ben Strunk.
Former announcers for the Copperheads include Brian Boesch, Allie LaForce, Dan Griffin, Tom Hodson, Brian Corbin and Daniel Utts.
Athens, Ohio
Athens is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio. A historic college town, Athens is home to Ohio University and is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
. The team is a member of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League is an collegiate summer baseball league in the Great Lakes region of the United States that is affiliated with the Alliance of Summer College Baseball and comprises teams with collegiate baseball players from around North America. Players are not paid so...
, one of eight leagues in the National Alliance of Summer Baseball
National Alliance of Summer Baseball
The National Alliance of College Summer Baseball consists of 8 NCAA sanctioned summer baseball leagues.-Leagues:*Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League*Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League*Cape Cod Baseball League...
. The Copperheads play their home games at Bob Wren Stadium
Bob Wren Stadium
Bob Wren Stadium is a baseball stadium located in Athens, Ohio on the campus of Ohio University. It serves as the home field for the Ohio Bobcats since opening on April 18, 1998. The Bobcats opened the facility by defeating the Bowling Green Falcons 4-1 in front of a sellout crowd.Bob Wren Stadium...
, which is also the home of the Ohio Bobcats
Ohio Bobcats
Ohio University features 16 varsity sports teams called the Bobcats. The Bobcats compete in the Mid-American Conference in all sports. The Bobcats were a charter member of the Mid-American Conference in 1946 and are the only team still in the conference from the original 5 team league that...
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 Mike Florak, who previously served as head coch of the Youngstown State Penguins
Youngstown State Penguins
Youngstown State University is in NCAA Division I. Nicknamed the Penguins, they play in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Football Conference, and compete in the following sports:*Baseball *Basketball *Cross Country...
.
Early Roots
The inception of the Southern Ohio Copperheads baseball team began in the spring of 2002, with a conversation between two prominent Ohio UniversityOhio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
officials. Dr. Andy Kreutzer, director of the Sports Administration program at Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
and Alan Geiger, assistant to the president of Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, began a discussion about summer in Athens, Ohio
Athens, Ohio
Athens is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio. A historic college town, Athens is home to Ohio University and is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
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
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, recommended the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League is an collegiate summer baseball league in the Great Lakes region of the United States that is affiliated with the Alliance of Summer College Baseball and comprises teams with collegiate baseball players from around North America. Players are not paid so...
because it was coming to town for a weekend in the summer of 2001.
Bob Wren Stadium
Bob Wren Stadium
Bob Wren Stadium is a baseball stadium located in Athens, Ohio on the campus of Ohio University. It serves as the home field for the Ohio Bobcats since opening on April 18, 1998. The Bobcats opened the facility by defeating the Bowling Green Falcons 4-1 in front of a sellout crowd.Bob Wren Stadium...
, the home park of Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
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
Miami RedHawks
Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, features 18 different varsity level sports teams for men and women, all of which are known as 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 StadiumBob Wren Stadium
Bob Wren Stadium is a baseball stadium located in Athens, Ohio on the campus of Ohio University. It serves as the home field for the Ohio Bobcats since opening on April 18, 1998. The Bobcats opened the facility by defeating the Bowling Green Falcons 4-1 in front of a sellout crowd.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
Adam Russell
Adam W. Russell is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball.In , Russell was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round as the 179th overall pick....
.
The 2003 to 2006 Editions
The 2003 Copperheads were coached by University of DaytonUniversity of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
Assistant Coach Todd Linklater. Paced by Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
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
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, 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
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
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
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
star and current Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
minor leaguer Matt Stiffler.
The resurgence of the Copperheads began with the 2006. Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Winthrop University is a public, four-year liberal arts university in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA. In 2006-07, Winthrop University had an enrollment of 6,292 students. The University has been recognized as South Carolina's top-rated university according to evaluations conducted by the South...
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
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
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 CollegeMarietta College
Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
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
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
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 and Disappointment
On paper, the 2008 season had the potential to be the best in Copperheads history. Esteemed Shawnee State UniversityShawnee State University
Shawnee State University is a public university in southern Ohio. It is Ohio's newest state-supported university and lies on the north bank of the Ohio River in the city of Portsmouth in Scioto County.Shawnee State University was established in 1986...
head coach Ted Tom led the team along with talented assistants Andrew Engebretson and Chris Moore. Featuring Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
star outfielder Jake Goebbert, University of North Carolina at Asheville
University of North Carolina at Asheville
The University of North Carolina at Asheville is a co-educational, four year, public liberal arts university. The university is also known as UNC Asheville. Located in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, UNCA is the only designated liberal arts institution in the University of North...
slugger Phillip Vaughn, and Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
pitcher Joe Stover, the squad started out the season strong. The Copperheads posted a 5-1 mark in their first six games, but faltered into a 7 game losing streak in early July. Proving resilient, however, Coach Tom's team posted a seven game winning steak in late July to force their way back into playoff contention. Only needing to win one game of an August 3 doubleheader against Lima to enter the GLSCL playoffs, the Copperheads stumbled in both games to finish the season with a 19-21 record. Though tied for the sixth and final playoff berth, the squad lost the tiebreaker to Lake Erie through losing the season series 3-1.
The Florak Era
On October 30, 2008, Mike Florak was named the eighth manager of the Southern Ohio Copperheads. Florak coached the Youngstown State PenguinsYoungstown State Penguins
Youngstown State University is in NCAA Division I. Nicknamed the Penguins, they play in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Football Conference, and compete in the following sports:*Baseball *Basketball *Cross Country...
baseball team for nine years, leading the team to their first Horizon League
Horizon League
The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States....
title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004. Coach Florak came to the team with a litany of off-field accomplishments as well, including being the author of the critically acclaimed autobiography "Healthier than Normal". Detailing his struggle with Crohn’s disease, battle with depression and life in baseball, it has led to Florak's budding career as a motivational speaker.
Florak led the team to the best season in franchise history in 2009. The Copperheads' finished the regular season with an 18-16 record, including a season sweep of the Xenia Scouts and a 3-1 record against the league-leading Lima Locos. The Copperheads featured dominant starting pitching, led by Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
pitcher Dave Jensen. Jensen set the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League ERA record, posting just a 0.30 ERA in 30.1 innings pitched. The Copperheads were also strong in the bullpen, featuring Marion Military Institute
Marion Military Institute
Marion Military Institute, often abbreviated with the initialism MMI, is the official state military college of Alabama. Founded in Marion in 1842, it continues at its original location.-History:...
closer Jordan Langley and Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
set-up man Tyler Gatrell. The offense was led by Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
outfielder Jerod Yakubik, Southeast Missouri State infielder Trent Moses, and Sinclair Community College
Sinclair Community College
Sinclair Community College is an urban community college located in downtown Dayton, Ohio and is the largest community college at a single location in the state of Ohio....
utilityman Justin Marerro.
The Copperheads' first season under Florak was highlighted by a run in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Playoffs. The Copperheads defeated Licking County and Grand Lake to advance to their first-ever GLSCL title game. The team fell 4-2 to Cincinnati in a battle for the championship, finishing with a season record of 20-18.
On August 12, 2009 it was reported by Athens radio staton WATH
WATH
WATH is a radio station broadcasting a Classic Hits format. Licensed to Athens, Ohio, USA. The station is currently owned by WATH, Inc. and features programing from CBS Radio, Fox Sports Radio and Westwood One....
that Mike Florak and assistants Chris Moore and Tim Culver would all return for the 2010 season.
Season 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
- 2008: 19-21 (T-6th), manager Ted Tom
- 2009: 20-18 (5th), manager Mike Florak
Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Playoff Appearances
- 2003
- 2006
- 2007
- 2009 - GLSCL Runner Up
Major League Draft Picks
- Adam RussellAdam RussellAdam W. Russell is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball.In , Russell was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round as the 179th overall pick....
(Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, 2004) - Anthony Gressick (Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
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, 2003) - Joe Mihalics (New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
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, 2007) - Jordan Alvis (Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, 2008) - Kevin House (Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, 2003) - Matt Stiffler (Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, 2008) - Mike Folli (St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, 2007) - Paul Bennett (Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, 2006) - Rip Warren (New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, 2004) - Rob Harmon (Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, 2006) - Ryan Norwood (Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, 2004) - Ryan Peisel (Colorado RockiesColorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, 2008) - Seth Bynum (Montreal ExposMontreal ExposThe Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
, 2003) - Tony Campana (Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, 2008) - Victor Alvarez (Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, 2006) - Walt Novosel (Arizona DiamondbacksArizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, 2003)
Broadcasting
All Copperheads home games are heard on WXTQ-105.5 FM. The “Voice of the Copperheads’’ Jon Corum calls the action along with color analyst Anthony Sylvester.Road games are broadcast on CopperheadBaseball.com, with Jon Corum behind the microphone joined by Media Director Ben Strunk.
Former announcers for the Copperheads include Brian Boesch, Allie LaForce, Dan Griffin, Tom Hodson, Brian Corbin and Daniel Utts.