Rob Hardin / Chief Photographer / rh124104@ohiou.edu

The Copperheads’ Jacob Goebbert dives to tag back up at first against the Grand Lake Mariners’ Joe Mack Saturday.  The Copperheads snapped their 6 game losing streak by sweeping the Mariners 4-0 and 12-10 respectively.

The Copperheads have come out of their All-Star break firing on all cylinders.

Following their sixth consecutive loss Friday, the snakes have rattled off six straight wins with a sweep last night against Grand Lake (11-21)

Last Week Southern Ohio (14-15) entered the All-Star break in last place in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. Since being at the bottom, the players have only been looking up as they’re working to get back into the playoff picture.

Copperhead head coach Ted Tom notices the team’s confidence is up, with outstanding pitching, better defense and timely hitting. Tinkering with the lineup is all that it took to turn performance around.

“I moved (Jeremie) Rehak and (Chad) Geier to the one and two holes and they have jumpstarted our offense by getting on base and creating more run production,” Tom said.

Moving Rehak, a junior at Ohio, to the top of the order has sparked his and the team’s offense. Since the move the Copperheads are scoring 8.6 runs per game, all started by their leadoff hitter who is 9 for 20 with 10 runs scored, forcing six walks.

Rehak isn’t the only reason for the team’s turnaround.

Copperhead first baseman Jake Goebbert has been a major part of the team’s tear they’re on. Leading the team in hitting (.344), Goebbert is 9 for 17 with 5 RBI’s over this stretch. He points at his team for the recent success and the playoffs down the stretch.

“We have some attitude back as a team and that is bringing us more and more confidence, Goebbert said. "The playoff race will be close from here on out and we need to continue to do our job at home and work for those road wins if we want to be playing in the post season.”

With just 11 games remaining on the schedule coach Tom knows how easily things can blow up on a team. He feels his team is really starting to mature and it’s showing on the field.

“The learning process is really starting to take shape for these guys,” Tom said.

The Copperheads finished the week with a record of 6-1 leaving them in fifth place just 3.5 games back of the second place Stark County (18-12).

Southern Ohio is in action tonight hosting the Xenia Athletes (12-16-1) on Christmas in July night at Bob Wren Stadium.