The Lake Norman Copperheads have started the year 2-1 after winning on opening night 8-7 versus Asheville and then splitting with the Carolina Chaos on Wednesday.  They dropped game 1, 6-4 and then came back to win the nightcap 9-2.  The Copperheads are off to a good start thanks in large part to great bullpen work and timely hitting.  In game one, Ben Long picked up the win after coming into the game trailing by  five.  After leaving the bases loaded in the seventh and shutting down the Redbirds in the eighth, the Copperheads put up six runs in the bottom of the 8th to take the 8-7 lead.  Long then closed the door in the ninth to pick up the Copperheads first win of the 08 summer.  Anthony Sosnoskie lead the Copperheads offense going 3-4 with two doubles.

On Wednesday, the Copperheads traveled to Clemson to take on the Chaos in a midweek doubleheader.  The Copperheads dropped game 1, 6-4.  Alex Burkard took the loss despite pitching well.  He struck out 5 in 5 innings and walked 0.  Jerod Faggart hit his first homerun of the summer for the Copperheads and went 2-4 on the day.  Buddy Sosnoskie also added two hits for the Copperheads.

In game 2, TJ Worrell got the start and look very sharp only throwing 18 pitches in two innings without giving up any runs.  He went out start the third, but felt numbness in his fingers and was forced to come out of the game.  Nick Daniels took over and never looked back.  Daniels threw four innings and didn't give up an earned run while only allowing three hits.  Jesse Cadenhead came in to close the game out and struck out four in the sixth after a passed ball on one strike three call.  Offensively, Mark Perry returned to the Copperheads and was 3-3 with a walk, a double and two runs scored.  Anthony Sosnoskie hit his first homerun of the season and drove in three runs.  Buddy Sosnsokie was also 2-3 with two singles, hit by a pitch, and scored two runs. 

The Copperheads will return to action this Friday as they travel to Spartanburg to take on the unbeaten Blue Eagles in a doubleheader.  They will then return home on Saturday to take on the Fort Mill Thunder in a doubleheader.  First pitch at Hopewell will be at 5:00.