Belpre's Chris Copen signs with West Virginia Wesleyan baseball

Belpre senior Chris Copen signed his National Letter of Intent to play baseball at West Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday. In the front row, from left to right, are AJ Copen (brother), Lauren Copen (mother), Chris Copen and Curt Copen (father). In the back row, from 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 go from a Golden Eagle to a Bobcat.

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

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 big 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 eventually get drafted, it’s always been a big dream for me.”

Copen was hired as a pitcher. He throws a four-seam fastball, a slider, a curveball and a changeup. His heating peaks in the mid-80s.

Copen had a breakout season as a sophomore at Belpre, posting a 4-2 record and a 2.13 earned run average in 46 innings pitched.

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

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

“I do my best in everything I do, whatever it is: school, sports, being a brother,” said Copen. “I always have to pay attention to everyone. I’m a great teammate. I just put everything out there when I can.”

Last spring, Copen went against Warren great Trent Taylor, who now pitches at Glenville State. Copen allowed only two hits and fanned eleven batters in that game, after which Belpre ultimately lost 1-0.

He credits all of his coaches growing up for helping him achieve his dream of college ball.

“My dad (Curt Copen) was a big one,” he said. “He has been coaching me since I was little. He really played a big role. Zac Carte also helped me a lot. Coach Chad Porter really helped me get noticed and coached me through most of my high school career. A lot of people contributed.”

Contact Jordan Holland at [email protected].