Coastal Plain League

Last updated

Coastal Plain League
Coastal Plain League Logo.png
Sport Baseball
Founded1997
No. of teams15
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Most recent
champion(s)
Lexington County Blowfish (2023)
Most titlesHigh Point-Thomasville HiToms, Edenton Steamers, Savannah Bananas (3)
Official website coastalplain.com

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]

Contents

History

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 2023 addition of the Boone Bigfoots being the most recent expansion, bringing the league to 14 teams. [3]

Founding

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. [4]

Teams

Coastal Plain League [5]
East Division
TeamCityStadiumYear founded
Greenville Yard Gnomes Greenville, North Carolina Guy Smith Stadium 2024
Holly Springs Salamanders Holly Springs, North Carolina Ting Stadium 2015
Morehead City Marlins Morehead City, North Carolina O'Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium 2010
Peninsula Pilots Hampton, Virginia War Memorial Stadium 2000
Tri-City Chili Peppers Colonial Heights, Virginia Shepherd Stadium 2020
Wilmington Sharks Wilmington, North Carolina Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium 1997
Wilson Tobs Wilson, North Carolina Fleming Stadium 1997
West Division
TeamCityStadiumYear founded
Asheboro ZooKeepers Asheboro, North Carolina McCrary Park 1999
Boone Bigfoots Boone, North Carolina Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium 2021 (joined 2023)
Florence Flamingos Florence, South Carolina Carolina Bank Field 1997
Forest City Owls Forest City, North Carolina McNair Field 2008
High Point-Thomasville HiToms Thomasville, North Carolina Finch Field 1999
Lexington County Blowfish Lexington, South Carolina Lexington County Baseball Stadium 2006
Macon Bacon Macon, Georgia Luther Williams Field 2018
Martinsville Mustangs Martinsville, Virginia Hooker Field 2005

Former teams

Past champions

Petitt Cup years

YearPettit Cup WinnerRunner-upSeries ResultEast Division winnerWest Division winner
2023 Lexington County Wilmington 2 games to 1 Morehead City Lexington County
2022 Savannah Wilson 2 games to 0 Morehead City Savannah
2021 Savannah Morehead City 2 games to 1Peninsula Savannah
YearPettit Cup WinnerRunner-upSeries ResultNorth Division winnerSouth Division winnerEast Division winnerWest Division winner
2019 Morehead City Macon 2 games to 1 Wilson Savannah Morehead City Gastonia
2018 Morehead City Thomasville 2 games to 0 Peninsula Savannah Morehead City Thomasville
YearPettit Cup WinnerRunner-upSeries ResultEast Division winnerWest Division winner
2017 Gastonia Wilmington 2 games to 0 Wilmington Forest City
2016 Savannah Peninsula 2 games to 1 Peninsula Forest City
2015 Edenton Gastonia 2 games to 0 Edenton Asheboro
2014 Peninsula Florence 2 games to 1 Peninsula Florence
2013 Peninsula Columbia 2 games to 0EdentonAsheboro
2012 Columbia Fayetteville 2 games to 1 Edenton Martinsville
YearPettit Cup WinnerRunner-upSeries ResultNorth Division winnerSouth Division winnerWest Division winner
2011 Gastonia Edenton 2 games to 1 Edenton Fayetteville Thomasville
2010 Forest City Edenton 2 games to 1 Wilson Morehead City Gastonia
2009 Forest City Peninsula 2 games to 0 Peninsula Wilson Forest City
2008 Thomasville Florence 7–4 Peninsula Wilson Thomasville
2007 Thomasville Peninsula 4–3 Edenton Fayetteville Thomasville
2006 Thomasville Peninsula 6–1PeninsulaFayetteville Martinsville
2005EdentonFlorence9–1EdentonFlorenceGastonia
2004Edenton Outer Banks 13–2EdentonWilson Thomasville
2003Outer BanksFlorence7–2 Petersburg Durham Thomasville
2002Outer BanksPetersburg10–6Outer BanksWilmington Gastonia

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

Pre-Petitt Cup

YearWinnerRunner-upSeries ResultNorth Division winnerSouth Division winner
2001Durham [11] WilsonWilsonFayetteville
2000PetersburgAsheboroPetersburgAsheboro
YearWinnerRunner-upSeries ResultFirst Half winnerSecond Half winner
1999 Wilmington Outer BanksWilmingtonOuter Banks
1998WilmingtonRocky MountWilmingtonRocky Mount
1997 Raleigh Wilson 2 games to 0RaleighWilson


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References

  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. "Coastal Plain League Announces Addition of Boone Bigfoots". Coastal Plain League (Press release). October 18, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  4. "Today's CPL". coastalplain.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  5. "Coastal Plain League Unveils 2024 Schedule". Coastal Plain League (Press release). September 28, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  6. Spedden, Zach (October 4, 2019). "SwampDogs Leaving Fayetteville, Will Sit Out 2020". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  7. Hughes, Joe (October 22, 2020). "'The roar is gone': Grizzlies bolt south for new name, fresh start". The Gaston Gazette . Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  8. "City introduces newest baseball franchise 'The Spartanburgers'". WSPA-TV . February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  9. "Despite postponed season, Spartanburgers coach, city believe in future of CPL baseball". Spartanburg Herald-Journal . March 4, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  10. Dominitz, Nathan (August 24, 2022). "Savannah Bananas fold collegiate team, focus on taking Banana Ball nationwide". Savannah Morning News . Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  11. "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).