Time to be Thankful

First off, happy Thanksgiving to everyone. This is truly a great time of the year, and I hope everyone reading gets a chance to take a break and enjoy some food and friendship.

As always, the Copperheads are staying busy, announcing a new assistant coach for the 2010 season--Jordan Becker. The Copperheads will go with a coaching staff quartet in '10. In talking with Becker a few times, he seems to be an engaging personality who is excited about coming to Athens. Should be fun.

Also, there is some possible movement in the GLSCL this upcoming season. The league is looking into an expansion to Lexington, Kentucky. The league added Hamilton prior to the '09 season, and the Joes drew better than most.

On the flip side, the Anderson Servants will request a year off to re-organize their organization. There were some complaints about the condition of Memorial Field, the home of the Servants. The Copperheads did not have to go to Anderson this year (Southern Ohio hosted the Servants for a three-game set in 2009), but the field was not in great shape in 2008 when the Snakes went to Anderson. From what I've heard, it got worse this past season.

The hope is to re-apply for membership in the GLSCL at some point. "Certainly, rest assured that we would not re-apply unless [the league] felt that all the components were already in place for a quality program," Anderson general manager Greg Lymberopoulous said via e-mail to the league. "I would like to remain a supporter of the Great Lakes League and its mission for the long term."

Also, before starting to down that turkey, here are some players with contracts to play for the Copperheads in 2010:

• Bryan Barnes, IF, Ohio University.
• Andy Carter, P, Shawnee State University.
• Matt Croglio, P, College of the Holy Cross.
• Addison Dunn, P, Kent State University.
• Ryan Jones, P, Michigan State University.
• Kevin Kiermaier, OF, Parkland College/Purdue University.
• Sam Mahoney, C/IF, Ohio University.
• John Martinez, C, Michigan State University.
• Wes O'Neill, IF, Ohio University.
• Spencer Payne, IF, Boston College.
• John Pedrotty, P, College of the Holy Cross.
• Trey Popp, P, Michigan State University.
• David Starn, P, Kent State University.
• Seth Streich, P/IF, Ohio University.
• Andrew Waszak, P, Michigan State University.
• Darin Worman, P, Parkland College/Eastern Illinois University.
• David Wright, P, Kent State University.

Keep an eye on copperheadbaseball.com for the audio tribute to the 2009 Southern Ohio Copperheads, which will be available by the end of the weekend. Until then, Happy Thanksgiving from all of us with the Copperheads!

- Brian