Copperheads Postseason Recap

 

By Justin Sampson      

 

Just like that, the eighth and arguably finest season in Southern Ohio Copperheads history is over.

 

In a season full of gutty performances, the Copperheads dug their deepest for their tournament run. Fighting their way through the best that the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League had to offer, Southern Ohio shocked everyone by making it to their first ever championship game.

 

It was a postseason to remember. It was a postseason worth revisiting.

 

Coming in as the fifth seed, the Copperheads opened the tournament against Licking County. The Settlers had taken all four regular season meetings, but the tournament told a different story. Behind the arm of all-star David Starn, Southern Ohio beat Licking County 5-2. The Kent State Golden Flash went six and a third innings, striking out three.

 

That set up game two with top-seeded Lima, whom the Copperheads swept in the final games of the regular season. With a win, the Snakes guaranteed themselves a spot in the championship. The Locos, coming off a come-from-behind win against hometown Xenia, were hoping their momentum would carry them past the Green and Gold.

           

The game was hotly contested throughout as the pitching staff had allowed only four hits on the day. However, Southern Ohio went into the ninth down 2-1. They had the opportunity to tie the game with one out and men on the corners, but the Snakes could not complete the rally.

 

With the loss, the Copperheads needed a small miracle to reach their first title game. They had to secure a win over Grand Lake on Friday as well as a Licking County victory over Lima. If that happened, Southern Ohio needed to be the one team in Pod 1 who had allowed the fewest runs in the tournament. So far, the team had allowed only four.

 

In the contest with Grand Lake, Southern Ohio jumped on the board early thanks to RBIs by Trent Moses, Jeff May and Ryan Burnett. The Mariners made it interesting, scoring once in the sixth and again in the eighth to make it a one-run game. However, Dave Jensen worked the last three innings, including a one-two-three ninth, to save the 3-2 victory for the Copperheads.

 

All the team could do now is wait for the fate of their season to be decided. The baseball gods were indeed smiling on the Athens’ boys of summer, as their long shot scenario played out and the Copperheads were matched against Cincinnati, the defending champions, for the GLSCL title.

 

Andy Onak toed the rubber for Southern Ohio, going three innings while walking in one run. After Jeff May got his team on the board in the eighth with a sacrifice fly, the Copperheads went into the ninth inning trailing 4-1. They were able to get men on first and second, but a great stop by Travis Shaw stole a base hit from Justin Marrero and sealed Cincinnati’s second straight championship.

 

Though the ultimate prize eluded them, the Copperheads could look back at their tournament run and be proud. After going 18-16 and setting a home attendance record, Southern Ohio did what no other group in team history had done. It is also a feather in the cap for skipper Mike Florak, who can boast the Copperheads’ first title game appearance in his first year at the helm.

 

Unquestionably, the future looks bright for this organization. Summer baseball in Athens now carries with it a winning attitude. Although the curtain has fallen on another season, belief in this team has been restored. Fans can rest easy knowing that Southern Ohio is a force to be reckoned with in the GLSCL.

 

The faith is definitely back.