Coastal Plain League

The Coastal Plain League (CPL) is a wood-bat collegiate summer baseball league, featuring college players recruited from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from the Class D level Coastal Plain League which operated in the area from 1937 to 1952.[1]

Coastal Plain League
SportBaseball
Founded1997
No. of teams15
Country United States
Most recent
champion(s)
Lexington County Blowfish (2023)
Most titlesHigh Point-Thomasville HiToms, Edenton Steamers, Savannah Bananas (3)
Official websitecoastalplain.com

History edit

The modern Coastal Plain League was formed with six teams in 1997.[2] The league has expanded over the years with teams across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia, with the 2024 addition of the Greenville Yard Gnomes being the most recent expansion, bringing the league to 15 teams.[3][4]

Founding edit

The league was founded in 1997 by Pete Bock. Bock conceived the idea in the early 1990s while traveling long distances to the Valley Baseball League in Virginia to see his son, Jeff, play summer baseball. Bock, an experienced sports executive, wanted a collegiate summer league closer to his home. He acted on it and the Coastal Plain league began play for the 1997 season.[5]

Teams edit

Coastal Plain League[6]
East Division
TeamCityStadiumYear founded
Greenville Yard GnomesGreenville, North CarolinaGuy Smith Stadium2024
Holly Springs SalamandersHolly Springs, North CarolinaTing Stadium2015
Morehead City MarlinsMorehead City, North CarolinaO'Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium2010
Peninsula PilotsHampton, VirginiaWar Memorial Stadium2000
Tri-City Chili PeppersColonial Heights, VirginiaShepherd Stadium2020
Wilmington SharksWilmington, North CarolinaBuck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium1997
Wilson TobsWilson, North CarolinaFleming Stadium1997
West Division
TeamCityStadiumYear founded
Asheboro ZooKeepersAsheboro, North CarolinaMcCrary Park1999
Boone BigfootsBoone, North CarolinaJim and Bettie Smith Stadium2021 (joined 2023)
Florence FlamingosFlorence, South CarolinaCarolina Bank Field1997
Forest City OwlsForest City, North CarolinaMcNair Field2008
High Point-Thomasville HiTomsThomasville, North CarolinaFinch Field1999
Lexington County BlowfishLexington, South CarolinaLexington County Baseball Stadium2006
Macon BaconMacon, GeorgiaLuther Williams Field2018
Martinsville MustangsMartinsville, VirginiaHooker Field2005

Former teams edit

Past champions edit

Petitt Cup years edit

YearPettit Cup WinnerRunner-upSeries ResultEast Division winnerWest Division winner
2023Lexington CountyWilmington2 games to 1Morehead CityLexington County
2022SavannahWilson2 games to 0Morehead CitySavannah
2021SavannahMorehead City2 games to 1PeninsulaSavannah
YearPettit Cup WinnerRunner-upSeries ResultNorth Division winnerSouth Division winnerEast Division winnerWest Division winner
2019Morehead CityMacon2 games to 1WilsonSavannahMorehead CityGastonia
2018Morehead CityThomasville2 games to 0PeninsulaSavannahMorehead CityThomasville
YearPettit Cup WinnerRunner-upSeries ResultEast Division winnerWest Division winner
2017GastoniaWilmington2 games to 0WilmingtonForest City
2016SavannahPeninsula2 games to 1PeninsulaForest City
2015EdentonGastonia2 games to 0EdentonAsheboro
2014PeninsulaFlorence2 games to 1PeninsulaFlorence
2013PeninsulaColumbia2 games to 0EdentonAsheboro
2012ColumbiaFayetteville2 games to 1EdentonMartinsville
YearPettit Cup WinnerRunner-upSeries ResultNorth Division winnerSouth Division winnerWest Division winner
2011GastoniaEdenton2 games to 1EdentonFayettevilleThomasville
2010Forest CityEdenton2 games to 1WilsonMorehead CityGastonia
2009Forest CityPeninsula2 games to 0PeninsulaWilsonForest City
2008ThomasvilleFlorence7–4PeninsulaWilsonThomasville
2007ThomasvillePeninsula4–3EdentonFayettevilleThomasville
2006ThomasvillePeninsula6–1PeninsulaFayettevilleMartinsville
2005EdentonFlorence9–1EdentonFlorenceGastonia
2004EdentonOuter Banks13–2EdentonWilsonThomasville
2003Outer BanksFlorence7–2PetersburgDurhamThomasville
2002Outer BanksPetersburg10–6Outer BanksWilmingtonGastonia

Playoff seedings based on overall record, so division champions listed are based on overall record.

Pre-Petitt Cup edit

YearWinnerRunner-upSeries ResultNorth Division winnerSouth Division winner
2001Durham[12]WilsonWilsonFayetteville
2000PetersburgAsheboroPetersburgAsheboro
YearWinnerRunner-upSeries ResultFirst Half winnerSecond Half winner
1999WilmingtonOuter BanksWilmingtonOuter Banks
1998WilmingtonRocky MountWilmingtonRocky Mount
1997RaleighWilson2 games to 0RaleighWilson

References edit

  1. ^ "Coastal Plain League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ Parsons, Keith (July 18, 2005). "CPL not just a Cape Cod imitation". The Daily Advance. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 12, 2006.
  3. ^ Reichard, Kevin (October 5, 2023). "CPL Greenville team on tap for Guy Smith Stadium". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  4. ^ Reichard, Kevin (January 24, 2024). "New for 2024: Greenville Yard Gnomes". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  5. ^ "Today's CPL". coastalplain.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  6. ^ "Coastal Plain League Unveils 2024 Schedule". Coastal Plain League (Press release). September 28, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  7. ^ Spedden, Zach (October 4, 2019). "SwampDogs Leaving Fayetteville, Will Sit Out 2020". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  8. ^ Hughes, Joe (October 22, 2020). "'The roar is gone': Grizzlies bolt south for new name, fresh start". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  9. ^ "City introduces newest baseball franchise 'The Spartanburgers'". WSPA-TV. February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  10. ^ "Despite postponed season, Spartanburgers coach, city believe in future of CPL baseball". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. March 4, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  11. ^ Dominitz, Nathan (August 24, 2022). "Savannah Bananas fold collegiate team, focus on taking Banana Ball nationwide". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  12. ^ "RTRP: Sports". researchtriangle.org. Research Triangle Regional Partnership. Archived from the original on May 4, 2007. Retrieved May 24, 2010. The Americans have found success in recent years, including a league championship in winning the 2001 Petit Cup (as the Durham Braves).

External links edit