News

The Southern Ohio Copperheads are excited to announce the addition of Rocky Brunty to the 2024 coaching staff. He will be replacing former head coach Jonathan Shiver, who led the Copperheads for the 2023 season.

“The Copperheads family is extremely pleased to bring in a coach with Rocky’s experience and passion,” said Copperheads Board Chairman Bill L’Heureux. “His years of service not only in baseball, but with Athens County will help bring success both on and off the field for our players, staff, and fans.”

Brunty has accumulated 401 career wins as a high school coach. The 11-time TVC Coach of the Year has led his teams to 13 sectional titles and coached five First Team All-Ohio players. Notably, Brunty’s teams have been ranked in the top 10 statewide four times. All of Bruntys’ success at the high school level led him to becoming an Ohio High School Southeast District Hall of Fame inductee.

The Director of Player Operations, Drew Geier commented, “Rocky is passionate about the sport and the organization. He is a very experienced coach and will be a valuable addition to our coaching staff. I am excited to see him thrive in this role.”

Prior to coaching at Federal Hocking, Brunty worked for the Athens County Jobs and Family Services. He has been in the Athens community for years and is very familiar with the Copperheads and their main mission. While working with Jobs and Family Services Brunty was able to become a part of the Athens community and has made a great impact within the community. He is excited to be back in Athens again and is working to make sure the Copperheads have the fun affordable family fun atmosphere that they have had since being formed.

 “Athens has always been a great baseball town. There's always something for kids to do whether that's sports or activities,” Brunty said. “It's an open playground to develop kids to help them be active instead of facing some of the hardships that they face everyday. [The Copperheads] offers so much community involvement. It allows people to have a feeling that they have their own minor league team.”

The Copperheads are slated to open the 2024 season on the road against the Xenia Scouts on Tuesday, June 4. They will return to Bob Wren Stadium for their home opener on Friday, June 7, taking on the Grand Lake Mariners at 7:05 p.m.

By Joshua Beach

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 OH. 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.