Copperheads vs. Stark County Terriers

It's another midsummer night's dream... an evening at the ballpark.  Under some pretty cloudy skies, the Copperheads (6-6) look to get above .500 for the first time this season as they welcome in the Stark County Terriers (5-9).  Word is the weather should hold out for an entire nine innings to be played.  We'll keep you posted throughout the game.  Let's play ball...

• 7:40 - Great play by Justin Marrero to get the bang-bang play at first for out number one. Solid first inning for Cameron Hobson as the Terriers to go 1-2-3.   It's these kind of innings that the Copperheads offense needs to take advantage of.
• 7:47 - Burnett and Geier go down to start the inning, but Yakubik reaches third after being beaned.  Davis lines out to third to end the inning.
• 7:54 - I just received the keys to my new car.  Not really, hopefully someone claims them, are they're walking home.  Back to baseball, Hobson looks solid early on as he fans McCoury, Sherwood, and Corfman for a quick inning.  
• 8:00 - Plata is thrown out at first to start the inning.  Trent Moses knocks the first hit of the game into center field, but Sam Mahoney lines one right back to the pitcher for the inning ending double play.
• 8:08 - Mark Lapikas reaches first on a Chad Geier error, adding another to his growing list.  He redeems himself with a good double play attempt, but the throw from second by Marrero is a little high.  Hiscox snags it and appears to tag Katich on his way down before he reaches first, but he's called safe, sending the crowd into a bit of a frenzy (I agree with them).  Hobson continues to be strong as he holds the Terriers hitless and scoreless through the first three.
• 8:14 - This game has been scorching fast as the Southern Ohio hitters go 1-2-3 in another quick inning.
• 8:26 - A foul ball into the stand right behind home plate almost takes out several fans.  Perfect time to remind them to return foul balls to staff members (leading to a couple boo birds).   Hobson gives up his first hit of the night to Kevin Haas.  Ferrell is retired, but McCoury's double to the right field wall give the Terriers a 1-0 lead.  Corfman is then beaned to put men on first & second, and Hobson's mistakes are beginning to show.  After a meeting on the mound, he comes back to sit the last two batters down.  Good rebound for #26. 
• 8:32 - First two batter go down, but Davis reaches on an error by the second baseman.  Plata flies out to right, however, and no damage is done.  That bats are gonna have to get a little more active for the Snakes to pull this one out.
• 8:41 - Similar to the last half-inning, the first two batters are sat down, but Thompkons singles past Marrero to occupy first.  He steals second with no pickoff attempt from Davis.  No damage is done, however, as Haas is struck out to end the inning.
• 8:50 - The rain has begun to fall at the stadium as fans head for cover.  Moses & Mahoney go down to start the inning, but big Brian Hiscox comes back to double down the left field line.  Marrero flies out to right and Hiscox is left stranded.  It remains 1-0 Stark County. 
• 8:59 - Ferrell gets a leadoff bloop single into left.  McCoury strikes out before Ferrell moves to second and then third on the steals. Sherwood strikes out and Corfman lines out to third to end the inning.  Hobson is racking up the K's and still looking in good form. 
• 9:17 - Burnett beats out a throw to first to get the leadoff single.  Geier moves him over with a fine sac bunt.  On an side note, pitching coach Chris Moore has strangely made two straight visits to the mound for the opposing pitcher.  Yakubik flies out to left as Burnett tags and heads to third.  Davis is walked to put men on the corners, leading to a meeting on the mound.  With an 0-2 count, Davis is able to steal second, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position.  Shortstop Joe Bogdewiecz makes a great diving catch to save two runs and the score remains 1-0.
• 9:26 - Mark Lapikas ground out for out number one.  Hobson's day is done after a solid day, giving up four hits and one run over 5 1/3 innings.  Now it's Nick Egan's turn.  Katich lines one to the third baseman, but a great catch Trent Moses saves a hit.  Bogdewiecz grounds out to end the inning.  Three innings left for Southern Ohio to make up this short deficit.
• 9:36 - JD Osborne is now on the mound for Stark County.  Moses walks to start the inning, bringing up Mahoney, who grounds into the double play.  Hiscox walks to reoccupy first as Pat Glass is brought in to pinch run.  Marrero flies out to end the inning and the Copperheads stay with the goose egg.  
• 9:51 - Thompkins gets the leadoff single to right field.  Haas lays down the bunt and the runners advance to second and third on the error at first.  Ferrell flies out to deep center, allowing bother runners to advance and push the Terriers' lead to two.  Egan's night is done as Tyler Gatrell comes out of the bullpen.  He strikes out McCoury & intentionally walks Sherwood to bring up Corfman.  Sherwood advances to second as Corfman strikes out to end the inning.  Solid first go for Gatrell.
• 9:58 - Matt Rosinski's now in to pitch for the Terriers and gets Burnett to ground out for the first out.  The list of great catches by Stark County is growing as a nice running catch by Sherwood robs Geier of an extra-base hit.  Yakubik grounds out to first to end the inning and the Copperheads remain scoreless through eight.
• 10:16 - Someone FINALLY claimed the car keys after four announcements.  On the field, Gatrell walks Lapikas to start the inning but comes back to fan Katich.  Bogdewiecz grounds to the second baseman but is safe off the error at first.  Credit him with the RBI... it's now 3-0.  Dave Jensen is now in to pitch, hoping to get the last two outs.  He strikes out Thompkins before intentionally walking Haas to bring up Ferrell.  The first baseman bobbles the grounder but gets Ferrell just in time to end the inning. Do-or-die time for the Copperheads.
• 10:25 - Davis walks to start the inning & advances to second on a wild pitch.  Plata grounds to second for out number one.  Moses singles to right field to put men at the corners.  Mahoney grounds into the forceout at second, but brings Davis home to make it 3-1.  That would be all-she-wrote, however, as pinch-hitting Michael Fear flies out to deep left to end the game.

The Copperheads registered five hits, one run, and three errors on the night & fall to 6-7.  Stark County improves to 6-9 as they register five hits, three runs, and one error on the night.  Southern Ohio now has a long break to prepare for Sunday when the Xenia Scouts come back to town.  First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. and, as always, you can catch all the action with Brian Boesch and Allie LaForce on Power 105.  

-Justin Sampson