Coastal_Plain_League
Coastal Plain League
US collegiate summer baseball 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]
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 |
| No. of teams | 15 |
| 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 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]
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 |
- 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.
- Reichard, Kevin (October 5, 2023). "CPL Greenville team on tap for Guy Smith Stadium". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- Reichard, Kevin (January 24, 2024). "New for 2024: Greenville Yard Gnomes". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
- "Today's CPL". coastalplain.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
- "Coastal Plain League Unveils 2024 Schedule". Coastal Plain League (Press release). September 28, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- 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.
- "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).
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