Coastal Plain League
The Coastal Plain League (CPL) is a wood-bat collegiate summer league, featuring college players recruited from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from a Class D minor league baseball league which operated in the area from 1937 to 1952.[1] The modern 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 2018 addition of the Macon Bacon being the most recent addition.[3]
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 |
| No. of teams | 15 |
| Country |  |
| Most recent champion(s) | Morehead City Marlins (2019) |
| Most titles | High Point-Thomasville HiToms, Edenton Steamers (3) |
| Official website | www.coastalplain.com |
History
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]
Past champions
Petitt Cup years
| 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 | Peninsula | 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 | Forest City |
| 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 | Forest City |
| 2009 | Forest City | Peninsula | 2 games to 0 | Peninsula | Wilson | Forest City |
| 2008 | Thomasville | Florence | 7-4 | Edenton | Florence | Thomasville |
| 2007 | Thomasville | Peninsula | 4-3 | Edenton | Fayetteville | Thomasville |
| 2006 | Thomasville | Peninsula | 6-1 | Edenton | Fayetteville | Martinsville |
| 2005 | Edenton | Florence | 9-1 | Edenton | Fayetteville | Spartanburg |
| 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[5] | 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 | Rocky Mount | Wilmington | |
| 1997 | Raleigh | Wilson | 2 games to 0 | Raleigh | Wilson |
Teams
| Coastal Plain League | ||
|---|---|---|
| East Division | ||
| Team | City | Stadium |
| Florence RedWolves | Florence, SC | Sparrow Stadium |
| Holly Springs Salamanders | Holly Springs, NC | Ting Park |
| Morehead City Marlins | Morehead City, NC | O'Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium |
| Peninsula Pilots | Hampton, VA | War Memorial Stadium |
| Tri-City Chili Peppers | Colonial Heights, VA | Shepherd Stadium |
| Wilmington Sharks | Wilmington, NC | Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium |
| Wilson Tobs | Wilson, NC | Fleming Stadium |
| West Division | ||
| Asheboro Copperheads | Asheboro, NC | McCrary Park |
| Forest City Owls | Forest City, NC | McNair Field |
| Gastonia Grizzlies | Gastonia, NC | Buddy Lewis Field at Sims Legion Park |
| High Point-Thomasville HiToms | Thomasville, NC | Historic Finch Field |
| Lexington County Blowfish | Lexington, SC | Lexington County Baseball Stadium |
| Macon Bacon | Macon, GA | Luther Williams Field |
| Martinsville Mustangs | Martinsville, VA | Hooker Field |
| Savannah Bananas | Savannah, GA | Grayson Stadium |
Former teams
- Raleigh Red Wolves (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)
- New Bern River Rats (2005–07, relocated franchise to Morehead City in 2010)
- Outer Banks Daredevils (1997–2011, changed leagues)
- Petersburg Generals (2000-2016)
- Edenton Steamers (1998-2019, changed leagues)
- Fayetteville SwampDogs (2001-2019, inactive pending relocation)[7]
References
- "Coastal Plain League (D) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference.com.
- 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.
- "Coastal Plain League Announces Expansion Into Macon, Georgia For 2018 Season". coastalplain.com. Coastal Plain League. June 20, 2017. Archived from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
- "Today's CPL". coastalplain.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
- "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).
- "2020 Coastal Plain League Schedule Released". Coastal Plain League. October 21, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
- Spedden, Zach (October 4, 2019). "SwampDogs Leaving Fayetteville, Will Sit Out 2020". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
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