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]

For other uses, see Coastal Plain League (disambiguation).

Coastal Plain League

Sport	Baseball
Founded	1997
No. of teams	15
Country	United States
Most recent champion(s)	Wilmington Sharks (2024)
Most titles	High Point-Thomasville HiToms, Edenton Steamers, Savannah Bananas, Wilmington Sharks (3)
Official website	coastalplain.com

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 2024 addition of the Greenville Yard Gnomes being the most recent expansion, bringing the league to 15 teams.^[3][4]

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.^[5]

Teams

Coastal Plain League^[6]

East Division
Team	City	Stadium	Year 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
Team	City	Stadium	Year 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

• Raleigh RedWolves (1997, moved to Florence)
• Rocky Mount Rockfish (1997–98)
• Durham Braves (1997–2000, renamed Durham Americans)
• Durham Americans (2001–03, formerly Durham Braves)
• Spartanburg Stingers (2003–07, moved to Forest City, renamed Owls)
• New Bern River Rats (2005–07, moved to Morehead City, renamed Marlins in 2010)
• Outer Banks Daredevils (1997, 1999–2011, changed leagues)
• Petersburg Generals (2000–2016)
• Edenton Steamers (1998–2019, changed leagues)
• Fayetteville SwampDogs (2001–2019)^[7]
• Gastonia Grizzlies (2002–2020, moved to Spartanburg, renamed Spartanburgers)^[8][9]
• Spartanburgers (2021, suspended operations)^[10]
• Savannah Bananas (2016–2022, left league to concentrate on its professional exhibition operation)^[11]

Past champions

Petitt Cup years

Year	Pettit Cup Winner	Runner-up	Series Result	East Division winner	West 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 1	Peninsula	Savannah
Year	Pettit Cup Winner	Runner-up	Series Result	North Division winner	South Division winner	East Division winner	West 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
Year	Pettit Cup Winner	Runner-up	Series Result	East Division winner	West 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 0	Edenton	Asheboro
2012	Columbia	Fayetteville	2 games to 1	Edenton	Martinsville
Year	Pettit Cup Winner	Runner-up	Series Result	North Division winner	South Division winner	West 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	6–1	Peninsula	Fayetteville	Martinsville
2005	Edenton	Florence	9–1	Edenton	Florence	Gastonia
2004	Edenton	Outer Banks	13–2	Edenton	Wilson	Thomasville
2003	Outer Banks	Florence	7–2	Petersburg	Durham	Thomasville
2002	Outer Banks	Petersburg	10–6	Outer Banks	Wilmington	Gastonia

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

Pre-Petitt Cup

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Series Result	North Division winner	South Division winner
2001	Durham[12]	Wilson		Wilson	Fayetteville
2000	Petersburg	Asheboro		Petersburg	Asheboro
Year	Winner	Runner-up	Series Result	First Half winner	Second Half winner
1999	Wilmington	Outer Banks		Wilmington	Outer Banks
1998	Wilmington	Rocky Mount		Wilmington	Rocky Mount
1997	Raleigh	Wilson	2 games to 0	Raleigh	Wilson

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. 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

• Official site