After splitting a double-header on Saturday against the Lake Erie Monarchs, the Southern Ohio Copperheads met their opponents again on Sunday and were victorious in their last game of the season by a score of 3-0.
The game began as a defensive battle against the teams as Copperheads starting pitcher Dallas Puskar, Denison, faced Monarchs pitcher John Ruhlman, Central Michigan. Both pitchers displayed great skill as each kept the opposing team scoreless for the first four innings of the game; but everything changed for Ruhlman in the 5th inning when the Copperheads' offense started to click, bringing in all three of their runs in the inning.
Jared Willis, Ohio, was the man to start everything off by hitting a single. Teammate Jared Perdue, Shawnee State, followed Willis by hitting a single, as well. Shawn Lehmann, Kentucky, capitalized on the runners in scoring position by crushing a double off the left field wall to bring in both runners. Pitcher-turned-outfielder Richie Fralick, Ball State, utilized one of his few batting opportunities of the season and hit a sacrifice fly bring in Lehmann.
Before he was relieved, Puskar finished the game pitching seven innings, giving up three hits, one walk, and striking out seven batters. It was his second win of the season. Aaron Miller, Lynn, stepped up to the mound after Puskar and pitched the last two innings of the game. He notched one strikeout and his fifth save of the season.
Even though the Copperheads ended their season in 7th place with a record of 17-25 -one spot away from a playoff berth -the players enjoyed their experience and feel prepared to go back to their schools with what they've learned during this summer.
We didn't win as much as we might have wanted to
but everything that we picked up this season is going to help us when the college baseball season comes around for us said Catcher A. J. Jezierski regarding the end of the season.
I met a lot of great players being a part of this team and I feel a lot more confident in my own skills which I know will help me next season Jezierski said. It really helped having the coaches and players that we had
we were all able to benefit and learn something.
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Anthony Chambers
