The Coastal Plain League (CPL) is a wood-bat collegiate summer league, featuring college players from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from a Class D minor league baseball league which operated in the same area from 1937 to 1952.[1] The modern league was formed with six teams in 1997.[2] The league is currently comprised of 15 teams across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The expansion Morehead City Marlins will begin play in 2010.
The 2009 Coastal Plain League champions were the Forest City (NC) Owls. The Owls were also voted as the top collegiate summer team in the country. [3] In 2010, the CPL will feature a three-round playoff system. The 2010 All-Star Game host has not yet been determined.
[edit] History
[edit] Founding
The league was founded in 1997 by Pete Bock. Bock conceived the idea in the early 1990's while traveling long distances to the Valley Baseball League in Virginia to see his son, Jeff, play summer baseball. Bock, an experiences sports executive, wanted a collegiate summer league closer to his home. He acted on this and the Coastal Plain league began play for the 1997 season.[4]
[edit] Past Champions
| Coastal Plain League |
| North Division | South Division | West Division |
| Team | City | Stadium | Team | City | Stadium | Team | City | Stadium |
| Edenton Steamers | Edenton, NC | Historic Hicks Field | Columbia Blowfish | Columbia, SC | Capital City Stadium | Asheboro Copperheads | Asheboro, NC | McCrary Park |
| Outer Banks Daredevils | Kill Devil Hills, NC | First Flight Baseball Complex | Fayetteville Swampdogs | Fayetteville, NC | J. P. Riddle Stadium | Forest City Owls | Forest City, NC | McNair Field |
| Peninsula Pilots | Hampton, VA | War Memorial Stadium | Florence Red Wolves | Florence, SC | American Legion Field | Gastonia Grizzlies | Gastonia, NC | Buddy Lewis Field at Sims Legion Park |
| Petersburg Generals | Petersburg, VA | Petersburg Sports Complex | Morehead City Marlins | Morehead City, NC | O'Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium | Martinsville Mustangs | Martinsville, VA | Hooker Field |
| | | Wilmington Sharks | Wilmington, NC | Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium | Thomasville Hi-Toms | Thomasville, NC | Historic Finch Field |
| | | Wilson Tobs | Wilson, NC | Fleming Stadium | | | |
[edit] References
- ^ Baseball Reference Coastal Plain League History
- ^ Keith Parsons, AP Sports, July 18, 2005
- ^ 2008 Petitt Cup Tournament
- ^ Today’s CPL at coastalplain.com, URL accessed November 24, 2009. Archived 11/24/09
[edit] External links
