Athens Ohio’s Community-Owned, Student-Operated, Nonprofit Baseball Team
The Southern Ohio Copperheads are a summer collegiate wooden-bat baseball team that competes in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League—and the whole community wins each time they play ball. On the field, talented young players benefit from a near-minor-league experience that prepares them for professional baseball, with over 50 alumni drafted to the major league since the team’s founding in 2002. In the bleachers, local fans enjoy some of the most affordable, family-friendly, outdoor entertainment available. Behind the scenes, the Copperheads are primarily staffed by students from Ohio University and other regional institutions, providing them with immersive experiential learning opportunities in fields such as journalism, marketing, and sports management. And beyond the field, the Copperheads give back to their community by hosting charitable fundraisers, facilitating events for kids and community members, partnering with local businesses, and more.
