Sept. 1, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. - The Johnson City, Tenn., Cardinals will send arguably the best pitcher in the league, former Redbird Ryan Copeland, to the mound tonight in game one of the Appalachian League Playoffs. Starting Copeland was a no-brainer, considering last week he was honored as the Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year and selected to the all-star team.
"With this being my first season in the Minor Leagues, I really wanted to get off to a good start and make a name for myself," said Copeland. "To win Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year is special. There are so many great players in this league, so it's quite an honor."
The Des Plaines, Ill., native finished the regular-season with a 7-0 record (second most wins in the league) and a league-low 1.86 ERA through 53.1 innings pitched. Copeland allowed just 11 earned runs on 39 hits, walked seven batters and struck out 48 for the St. Louis Cardinals' rookie-advanced league affiliate. Copeland amassed the fifth-lowest ERA and win-total, and the second lowest WHIP (0.86) among all-rookie leagues.
After Johnson City won the western division, the Cardinals open up the four-team Appalachian League playoff series tonight against the Burlington, N.C., Royals.
"It's a great honor to get to start game one," Copeland said. "It's a great feeling to know that everyone has confidence in me to get the job done. I'm really looking forward to getting us a win tonight."
Copeland graduated from Illinois State in May, after he helped the Redbirds win their first-ever Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship, and their first State Farm Valley Tournament title since 1994. An All-Valley First Team selection, Copeland was drafted in the 32nd round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.
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