 | |
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 |
| No. of teams | 14 |
| Country |  United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | Lexington County Blowfish (2023) |
| Most titles | High Point-Thomasville HiToms, Edenton Steamers, Savannah Bananas (3) |
| Official website | coastalplain |
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]
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]
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[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 | Wilmington | Rocky Mount | |
| 1997 | Raleigh | Wilson | 2 games to 0 | Raleigh | Wilson |
Teams
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)[8]
- Gastonia Grizzlies (2002–2020, moved to Spartanburg, renamed Spartanburgers)[9][10]
- Spartanburgers (2021, suspended operations)[11]
- Savannah Bananas (2016–2022, left league to concentrate on its professional exhibition operation)[12]
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 Addition of Boone Bigfoots". Coastal Plain League (Press release). October 18, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ↑ "Today's CPL". coastalplain.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 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).
- ↑ "Coastal Plain League Unveils 2024 Schedule". Coastal Plain League (Press release). September 28, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ↑ Holloway, Jaylen (May 12, 2023). "Coastal Plain League baseball team coming to Greenville following unanimous council vote". WITN-TV.
- ↑ Spedden, Zach (October 4, 2019). "SwampDogs Leaving Fayetteville, Will Sit Out 2020". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
- ↑ Hughes, Joe (October 22, 2020). "'The roar is gone': Grizzlies bolt south for new name, fresh start". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "City introduces newest baseball franchise 'The Spartanburgers'". WSPA-TV. February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ↑ "Despite postponed season, Spartanburgers coach, city believe in future of CPL baseball". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. March 4, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ↑ Dominitz, Nathan (August 24, 2022). "Savannah Bananas fold collegiate team, focus on taking Banana Ball nationwide". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
External links
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