Coastal Plain League
U.S. collegiate summer baseball league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Coastal Plain League (CPL) is a wood-bat collegiate summer baseball league, featuring college players recruited from throughout the United States. 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 | Wilson Tobs (2025) |
| Most titles | High Point-Thomasville HiToms, Edenton Steamers, Savannah Bananas, Wilmington Sharks (3) |
| Website | coastalplain |
History
The modern CPL 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] On May 24, 2025, Alexia Jorge became the first woman to play in the CPL, which she did as a catcher for the Holly Springs Salamanders.[5]
Capitol Broadcasting Company purchased the league in 2022.[6]
Founding
The league was founded in 1997 by Pete Bock. He 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 CPL began play for the 1997 season.[7]
Teams
Teams on hiatus
The following teams will be on hiatus for the 2026 season:
| Team | Location | Ballpark | Capacity | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithfield Tobs | Smithfield, North Carolina | Smithfield Community Park | - | 1997 |
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)[9]
- Gastonia Grizzlies (2002–2020, moved to Spartanburg, renamed Spartanburgers)[10][11]
- Spartanburgers (2021, suspended operations)[12]
- Savannah Bananas (2016–2022, left league to concentrate on its professional exhibition operation)[13]
- Wilson Tobs (1997–2025, moving to Smithfield for 2027)
Past champions
Petitt Cup years
| Year | Pettit Cup Winner | Runner-up | Series Result | East Division winner | West Division winner | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Wilson | Forest City | 2 games to 0 | Wilson | Forest City | ||
| 2024 | Wilmington | Lexington County | 2 games to 0 | Peninsula | Martinsville | ||
| 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 | |
| Year | Pettit Cup Winner | Runner-up | Game Result | North Division winner | South Division winner | West Division winner | |
| 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[14] | 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 |