The Southern Ohio Copperheads are celebrating 25 years since the team’s first pitch in Bob Wren Stadium.
Since 2002, the Copperheads have been an integral part of Southeast Ohio and almost 25 years later, the team is still prioritizing fan engagement and in-game experiences. The Copperheads have continued to foster special relationships with community members and local businesses everyone loves.
“The Copperheads have always viewed ourselves as a community organization that happens to play baseball, and that mindset drives everything we do,” Executive Director Jake Lietzow said, “Beyond that, we’re intentional about making a real impact in the community. We’ve broken the record for the largest donation to the Athens Food Pantry, partnered with the Joe Burrow Foundation on fundraising efforts, and continue to raise funds for local families battling childhood cancer through initiatives like Turn It Gold.”
The Copperheads have also involved higher education students from the beginning, allowing them to gain hands-on experience and be prepared for a career in sports. General Manager Devin Nelson was drawn to the Copperheads due to the positive reputation of the program.
“The culture is something I heard about before I even applied and as soon as I started working with everyone last year I could tell I was where I belonged,” Nelson said.
This will be Nelson’s second year with the Copperheads. He was formerly the Director of Player Operations and returned as General Manager for this season.
The 25th season will feature a lot of events, theme nights, local business promotions, and more. Each game has several interactive challenges and contests for fans to participate in and opportunities to meet the players. General Manager Derrick Welsh is looking forward to making this season special for the fans, while honoring traditions that have been with the Copperheads since 2002.
“We are making this 25th anniversary season extra special by taking time to remember and celebrate all of the amazing memories that we have had by doing history overviews, all-time moment fan votes, and more,” Welsh said.
For many Athens locals, including Welsh, the Copperheads have been the source of many fond memories, and it is no different for fans now than it was almost 25 years ago.
“I recall going to Copperheads games as a kid with my family, and looking up to the players on the field,” Welsh said, “The Copperheads have a way of making everyone feel welcome and included, for an affordable price, just as they did for me and my family around 15 years ago!”
The start of the Copperheads 25th Anniversary Season is less than 50 days away, and the staff and team are gearing up for a memorable summer of fun both on and off the field.
There are still Grand Slam Ticket Packages available for $35, which includes 8 undated tickets and several local-business and Copperhead merch discounts. Anyone interested in the Grand Slam Package can visit the Copperheads website or reach out to Director of Ticket Sales, Drew Rohlen, or Director of Group Ticket Sales, Brayden Cleighton.
derrickwelsh@copperheadbaseball.com
devinnelson@copperheadbaseball.com
The Southern Ohio Copperheads is a community-owned, student-operated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Established in 2002, the Copperheads is a summer collegiate wooden bat baseball team that competes in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League and plays its home games at Bob Wren Stadium in Athens, OH. The Copperheads organization strives to provide the most affordable means of family-friendly outdoor entertainment in southeast Ohio. Tickets to the Copperheads games are $5 and children under the age of 5 receive free admission. Staffed by Ohio University students, the Southern Ohio Copperheads also serve as a “learning lab” for student interns looking to work in the sport and entertainment industry.
