2009 Copperheads Awards

By Brian Boesch

With the most successful season in the history of the Southern Ohio Copperheads in the books, it is time to take a look back at some of the highlights of an incredible season. Here are the winners of the 2009 Copperheads Awards (with some of the closest competitors for each award in italics):

Best Pitcher: Dave Jensen

Apologies to: Jordan Langley, Cameron Hobson, Andy Carter, David Starn

This was by far the most loaded category. However, it was one of the easier choices, too, but not because of a lack of competition. All five players mentioned above could have been the top pitcher on many other staffs in the GLSCL, but this Southern Ohio stable was special. And at the top of the list sits the best pitcher statistically in the history of the league. Jensen notched a total of 33 and a third innings during the regular season and the playoffs, and the lanky lefty allowed only one earned run, which is good for a 0.27 ERA. His 0.30 regular season ERA is the best mark in the history of the league. The Northwestern University product even notched the team’s most important save, a three-inning save on the final day of the season to bring the Snakes one step closer to the GLSCL title game.

Best Hitter: Jerod Yakubik

Apologies to: Trent Moses, Jeff May

The Ohio Bobcat proved he was familiar with Bob Wren Stadium with his solid summer efforts. Yakubik hit .321 with two homers and 18 RBIs, while earning first team All-GLSCL honors along the way. He led the team in batting average, runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The soon-to-be senior went to the All-Star game and played a fantastic left field despite manning the first base position during the spring with Ohio. While Moses was the first team All-GLSCL third baseman and May came up with clutch hit after clutch hit, Yakubik clearly set himself apart, earning him this award and the nickname “The Franchise” from his teammates.

Most Dominant Player: Jordan Langley

Apologies to: Andy Carter, David Starn, Jerod Yakubik

This was fairly easy as well. Langley, the freshman from Marion Military Institute, had a tough act to follow, as two-time Copperhead closer and all-time team saves leader Chuck Boring was no longer with the team. However, the right-hander did it with style and with dominance. He posted a 4-0 record with a 1.59 ERA, and he joined Licking County’s Nick Karow as a first-team All-GLSCL reliever in 2009. Langley saved seven games and gave up only 14 hits in 22 and two-thirds innings. The most impressive part of Langley’s game was his strikeout-to-walk ratio, which was a jaw-dropping 33-4. Opponents had just a .167 batting average against Langley, and many looked befuddled as they returned from an at bat against the Snakes’ closer.

Best Play: Pat Glass’ diving catch July 26 vs. Grand Lake

Apologies to: Trent Moses’ diving stop July 28 at Xenia, Brian Hiscox’s diving stab June 20 at Lima

Like last year, the play of the year involved a sensational leaping grab by a center fielder at the warning track. Last year, Jared Humphreys pulled off the feat. This year, it was another Mid-American Conference outfielder, Miami’s Pat Glass. In game two against the Mariners in a twin bill at Bob Wren Stadium, Tyler Rogers lifted a ball deep into left center. The RedHawk extended at the track and made an incredible grab to notch the first out of the inning. The catch aggravated Glass’ shoulder, and he was not the same the rest of the season, but it was enough to earn the freshman the play of the year.

Best Game: July 10 vs. Anderson (9-8, 10-inning win)

Apologies to: Aug. 7 vs. Grand Lake (3-2 win to keep tournament hopes alive), July 28 at Xenia (5-4 win), July 18 (game 1 of a doubleheader) at Lake Erie (1-0 win as Andy Carter flirts with a no-hitter into the sixth inning)

The table was set for a great game. It was the first fireworks night in Copperheads history. It was the first game of Parents Weekend. A new high of 1,119 fans packed Bob Wren Stadium for a Friday night contest with the Anderson Servants. However, the beginning of the game did not go as planned. The Servants jumped out to an 8-0 advantage and held it until the seventh inning. A Jerod Yakubik two-run bomb put the Snakes on the board immediately after the seventh inning stretch. Southern Ohio tacked on three more runs in the eighth. In the ninth, Justin Marrero launched a two-run home run over the right field fence to trim the lead to one. After Sam Mahoney was hit by a pitch, Jeff May laced a double off the wall in left. Because the ball ricocheted off the wall, Mahoney was able to score the tying run on a bang-bang play at the plate. The game would go into extra innings, when…

Best Moment: Trent Moses’ walk-off home run vs. Anderson July 10

Apologies to: Reaching the team’s first ever title game, A record 1,209 fans at Bob Wren Stadium July 23 vs. Licking County

…Trent Moses walked off with a Copperheads’ winner. With two down and nobody aboard, the third baseman from Southeast Missouri State lined a solo shot over the left field fence to send the captivated crowd into a frenzy. Moses was mobbed at home plate by his giddy teammates. Southern Ohio, who had come into the contest hitting just .197 with just one home run, had wiped away an eight-run lead and launched a winning streak of six, its longest of the season. The post-game fireworks were even sweeter for the fans who stuck around for the thrilling ending.

Most Improved Player: Jeff May

Apologies to: Brannon Belair, Justin Marrero

Jeff May did not play during the spring, instead redshirting for the University of North Carolina. He had not actually faced off against collegiate pitching in game action until he arrived in Athens. As a result, the Tar Heel struggled at the start. In fact, May went 0-for-12 until July 10. Then, the right-hander stepped up in the season’s best game and delivered the game-tying double. From there, May hit .281 with one home run and 10 RBIs while cementing himself as the team’s number five hitter down the stretch. May had some huge hits along the way, including a two-run single in the eighth inning at Xenia July 28 to pull the Snakes from down one to up one. That victory snapped a four-game losing skid. In the first inning of the tournament opener against Licking County, May doubled in a pair of runs to give Southern Ohio some critical momentum against a team it went 0-4 against during the regular season. May will certainly look back at this summer as a time during which he improved greatly.

Best Personality: Jeff May

Apologies to: Justin Marrero, Cameron Hobson, Nick Egan, Jake Plata

This category may have been the most difficult because the five players listed above all had something to bring to the table. Jeff May was the funniest guy on the team, and he was also the most vocal on the field. And when he talked with the coaching staff, it was all business. In fact, May basically patented the phrase “Yes, sir” during his seven weeks in Athens. Those three characteristics allowed him to edge the strong competition. Justin Marrero was the best interview, was the brother of the best batboy in the GLSCL and had the most traveled parents in the league. Cameron Hobson was a blast to watch on the mound, with his mannerisms on the mound capturing the attention of all onlookers. Nick Egan was certainly the most talkative man on the roster, and he never experienced a dull moment. And finally, Jake Plata was the most polite player I have met in my two years of working with the Copperheads.

Congratulations to all of the winners, and congratulations to you, the Copperheads’ fans, for being a part of the best season in Copperheads history. The page has turned, and Southern Ohio is now looking toward 2010. Stay tuned to copperheadbaseball.com for news on the 2010 coaching staff and roster as we move through the off-season.