Coastal Plain League’s Copperheads Go to Bat as Randolph County’s Team
aaron pugh, asheboro copperheads, baseball, coastal plain league, dallas mcpherson, lance cole, pugh oil co, recreation, sports,
Aaron Pugh says he had a blast spending two summers of his college years as an infielder with the Asheboro Copperheads baseball team.
Although his playing days are now over‚ Pugh remains actively involved with the Coastal Plain League team as a general manager.
Pugh wears many hats for the Copperheads‚ one of 14 teams in the wooden-bat summer league that showcases top collegiate talent from across the country. Pugh‚ 25‚ not only helps compile the roster; he also finds host families for the players and promotes the team.
“We bring in guys from all over the place‚” says Pugh‚ an Asheboro native whose family owns Pugh Oil Co. “It’s a great way for scouts to evaluate players using wooden bats. The talent in the league has really skyrocketed the last few years.”
Some CPL players have reached the major leagues. Randleman native Dallas McPherson‚ who played for the Copperheads in 1998‚ now plays third base for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The Copperheads enter their ninth season in 2006. The team has a 56-game schedule from early June into August. Home games are played at McCrary Park‚ where the Copperheads averaged more than 1‚000 fans per game last year. They drew a record crowd of 2‚814 for the Fourth of July game and fireworks show.
“We definitely have one of the best playing surfaces in the league and one of the most family-friendly environments you’ll find in the CPL‚” Pugh says.
In 2005‚ the Copperheads compiled a 25-30 record and finished fourth in the CPL’s five-team West Division‚ which also includes teams from Virginia and South Carolina. Pitcher Nick Schumacher and outfielder Seth Williams represented Asheboro at the CPL All-Star Game.
For 2006‚ the Copperheads have a new head coach in Patrick Swift. He was an assistant coach last season for the team and also serves as an assistant coach at Chowan College in Murfreesboro‚ N.C.
“I’m looking forward to the challenges that come with this position‚” Swift says. “It will be a learning experience for me as well as my players‚ but I’m sure it will be a fun summer at McCrary Park.”
Pugh says Asheboro’s business community has been very supportive of the Copperheads. He also is pleased that the team’s fan base is expanding to all parts of Randolph County.
“We’ve been very fortunate‚” he says. “Hopefully it shows we’re going in the right direction.”
For up-to-date information on the Copperheads‚ visit the team’s web site: www.teamcopperhead.com.
Story by Edward Navarro
Photo by submission
