Copperheads Miss Playoffs Again

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For the sixth season straight, the Southern Ohio Copperheads won’t be in the playoffs. In 2018, the Copperheads won the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Championship. However, since then the team has struggled. They have consistently been at the bottom of the standings. Although, their interns provide a fun environment for each and every game. As a Gen Z vibe is added to every game appealing to the youth and affordable entertainment for families with tickets as low as $5. Making it a perfect trip for the summer months of June and July. While the Copperheads look the rebuild for next season, let’s look back on what the Cheads accomplished this year.

June-

The Copperheads kicked off their season at home against the Xenia Scouts. Bob Wren stadium was packed, excited for Cheads to return. Unfortunately it was a sour home opening. Xenia played spoiler to Athens. As the Scouts defeated the Copperheads 11-1.

The Cheads were able to respond equally in the second game winning 17-7. Ohio ultimately took the first series winning the final game 8-6.

Their winning momentum continued into their next series. In game one verus the Hamilton Joes the Cheads looked dominant. They came away with a 14-3 win, likewise a 11-1 followed in game three. However they did lose game two 4-7 to go 4-2

Athens winning record wouldn’t last as they lost their next two series. First they lost 2 out of 3 at home versus the Grand Lake Mariners. Then they finished their home stand versus the Muskegon Clippers. Here the Clippers swept the Cheads dropping Athens to 5-7

Southern Ohio’s first road series of the season brought some luck. In Lima the Copperheads beat the Locos 7-6 and 14-8 and lost game two to the Lima Locos 12-6.

In a short season like a collegiate summer league, a losing streak becomes a death sentence. And the Cheads fell into one early on. After winning 11-6 on the road over the Michigan Monarchs, Athens went on a 6 game losing streak. They dropped two to the Monarchs, two to the Flag City Sluggers and two to the Scouts. They broke the losing streak winning game three over Xenia 10-9. This put Southern Ohio at 8-14

July-

The Cheads looked strong at the beginning of July as their first series came against the Joes, a team they have been strong against. They won 11-1 and 10-6 but lost 4-3. They won their following series over the Mariners taking a 14-9 and 7-6 win while also losing 8-1. This kept them alive for the playoffs at 12-16.

Before the Cheads could continue their comeback, they ran into the Clippers again. The match did not change as the Clippers swept the Copperheads again. They lost a fourth against Lima. The rest of the series was cancelled.

At this point the Cheads season was over. Athens fell down to 12-20. They had been eliminated from the playoffs. Marking their sixth straight playoff miss. Their final home series versus the Monarchs was bitter. The Copperheads dropped two more losses before game three was cancelled.

Southern Ohio wrapped things up versus the Sluggers whom they went 1-2 against. They were blown out in game one losing 7-18. They were able to win game two 7-4, but lost the series in overtime for game three.

The Southern Ohio Copperheads finished this season 14-24. Which is on par with their records for the past two seasons 13-23. The Copperheads managed to finish ahead of the Grand Lake Mariners this season, but missed the playoffs as the Xenia Scouts and Hamilton Joes will represent the South Division this season.

About Post Author

Zachary Worstell

A Marietta College Student with three years of journalism experience writing for Marietta's Marcolian Online Newspaper. He was promoted to Editor in Chief of the Marcolian in 2023. A Pittsburgh native, he covers sports from the Pittsburgh region as well as Ohio and West Virginia.

zach102803@gmail.com

https://ngscsports.com/