Belpré senior Chris Copen signed his national letter of intent Wednesday to play baseball at West Virginia Wesleyan. Pictured in the front row, left to right, are AJ Copen (brother), Lauren Copen (mother), Chris Copen and Curt Copen (father). Back row, left to right, are Nate Watson (Belpre head baseball coach), Pat Copen (grandfather), Becky Copen (grandmother), James Vondenhuevel (Belpre assistant baseball coach) and Zac Carte (Blennerhassett Bears coach). (Photo by Jordan Holland)

BELPRE — Chris Copen is following in his older brother’s footsteps.

On Wednesday at Belpre High School, the Belpre senior signed a national letter of intent to play baseball at West Virginia Wesleyan. Copen will move from a Golden Eagle to a Bobcat.

“I went there twice” he said. “The first time I visited the campus, it was really nice. I liked everything. Everything was close. I could walk to all my classes. The second time I got to see a little more of the baseball field and got to hang out with some of the kids on the team and the coach. I really felt at home there, and that was a big part. I really wanted to feel at home in the place I had chosen.

Wesleyan is an NCAA Division II program that competes in the Mountain East Conference. The Bobcats are led by head coach Lee Bradley.

Copen was inspired to play college ball when his older brother, Patrick, became a standout pitcher at Marshall and was eventually selected in the MLB draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“It’s really special” » said Copen. “Ever since I saw my older brother go to Marshall and ultimately get drafted, it’s always been a really big dream of mine.”

Copen was recruited as a pitcher. He throws a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. Its heating reaches its limit in the mid-80s.

Copen had a breakout season as a sophomore at Belpré, compiling a 4-2 record and a 2.13 ERA in 46 innings pitched.

Although his record declined due to bad luck, Copen had an even better junior season last spring. Despite going 1-6, Copen had a 1.59 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 44 innings.

Copen, who plays shortstop and first base when not pitching, also hit .262 with five doubles, a triple, a home run and 12 RBIs as a junior.

“I do my best in everything I do, no matter what it is: school, sports, being a brother. » » said Copen. “I always have to look out for everyone. I am a great teammate. I stream everything when I can.

Last spring, Copen faced Warren ace Trent Taylor, who now pitches at Glenville State. Copen allowed just two hits and fanned 11 batters in that game, which Belpre ended up losing 1-0.

He thanks all of his coaches who helped him realize his dream of playing college ball.

“My father (Curt Copen) was a great one” he said. “He’s been training me since I was little. He really played a big role. Zac Carte also helped me a lot. Coach Chad Porter was very helpful in getting me noticed and also coached me throughout my high school and college career. Lots of people contributed.

Contact Jordan Holland at [email protected].