Hanging (and Bowling) with the Snakes

When I was young, all I wanted to do was be a baseball player. I was convinced that I was going to do it. No problem.

Then reality set in, and I was done with my dreams. But today, I could have gone toe-to-toe with the Copperheads...at the bowling alley. 

Today was the first ever "Hang out with the Heads." Around 20 local kids had a chance to bowl, watch a movie with and talk to some of the Copperheads. 

My bowling career was much more successful than my baseball career, and I even won the Cleveland Plain Dealer Bowler of the Year (and I can prove it), which by the way was a complete and utter fluke. I had one really good series, and that was the series that determined the award winner. I didn't even know about it, so I can't claim that I am "clutch." 

But I had the chance today to take on the Copperheads on the bowling alley. However, I couldn't make it. Now I will sulk in all of my bowling and baseball fame (which is about as humbling as a strikeout swinging) and give you some news and notes on the Copperheads:

• The Copperheads and Servants are in talks about a make-up date for the rainout July 11. No date has been selected, and there still is no guarantee that it will be made up. However, an effort is being made by Southern Ohio.
• Interesting to note: Southern Ohio has the fewest strikeouts (131, or 5.7 per game) and double plays (3) offensively in the league. For a team that was hitting .197 through 16 games, that is pretty surprising (and impressive).
• The one concerning stat pitching wise is the team's 105 walks. Almost five walks per game cannot sit well with the coaching staff, even if the pitchers have been great.
• Jordan Langley leads the league with seven saves (I know the stats say six, but he should have received a save in the June 18 win against Stark County and has not yet--it will be changed). He has 18 Ks in 13 innings. When he comes in, opponents look silly. 
• Langley is such a contrast from Chuck Boring, the Copperheads' closer in '07 and '08. Boring was the least boring closer out there, as he made things interesting during seemingly every ninth inning. Langley is fun to watch in a different (and less stressful) way.
• Dave Jensen leads the league with a 0.00 ERA and a .107 opponents batting average. Jensen has walked nine, but he has been able to navigate his way out of trouble and only allow one run (unearned) in 17 and two thirds innings.
• Special thanks to Aaron Rieck for adjusting our website to accommodate for this blog, the audio page and the twitter. Everything can be accessed on the left side of the homepage (copperheadbaseball.com) because of Mr. Rieck's handiwork. 

We will take the air Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. for a first pitch at about 7:30 p.m. As always, e-mail your thoughts to copperheadsradio@copperheadbaseball.com. 

- Brian