Athens residents can enjoy a bit of America's pastime this summer with the Southern Ohio Copperheads.
The Copperheads baseball team is a member of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League and plays at Bob Wren Stadium.
This summer Copperheads fans will have an opportunity to watch four Ohio players; catcher Jason Selhorst, first baseman Matt Stiffler, centerfielder Willie Walker and second baseman Jared Willis.
(Ohio) coach Carbone works with his players to play summer baseball
Copperheads Co-General Manager Andrew Kreutzer said. Since the limitation is the maximum of four players from any one college team can play together on any summer league team coach (Carbone) has been very generous in terms of recommending players to stay here and play for the Copperheads.
Each summer Ohio selects four players to play for the Copperheads. Past players include Ben Crabtree, Anthony Gressick, Rob Harmon and Phil Sabatini.
We've had some really outstanding players Kreutzer said. Anthony Gressick for the past two years-certainly has been a contributor.
We want to have more players here for the fans to identify with Carbone said. Ohio University players are Copperheads players
there's some identification there.
The NCAA-sanctioned wooden-bat league is typically designated for younger players who need to get some experience during the off-season. Some Ohio players are able to find even more benefits for playing with the Copperheads.
Not only did I need a place to play
I was going to take a couple summer classes
former Copperhead Phil Sabatini said.
Other players are selected by the Copperheads head coach. This year's head coach is Andrew See.
He's an OU alum and played baseball here
Kreutzer said. Andrew came with some players that were already signed and then he's also working with other coaches that he knows.
The Great Lakes League consists of seven teams from Ohio and one from Indiana. Teams will play roughly 30 games with an All-Star game on Sunday, July 17.
The Copperheads are scheduled to play 32 contests, including 17 home games.
With so many games in less than two months, injuries can become a concern.
The only negative probably could be if someone overpitches a pitcher and he hurts his arm
Carbone said. That's always the million-dollar question.
However, Carbone said he feels the coaches handle the situation well.
I would say for the most part the coaches and managers that are in the Great Lakes League do a pretty good job of monitoring pitchers.
Other possible difficulties come from the transition of aluminum to wooden bats.
At first it's a tough adjustment
Sabatini said, After a while you don't even think about it. It's just part of the game
you play either way.
The Copperheads begin the season Saturday, June 11 at Shawnee High School -the home of the Lima Locos. The Copperheads return for their home-opener 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14 when they host the Delaware Cows.
