# Coastal Plain 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.

## History

The modern Coastal Plain League was formed with six teams in 1997. 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.

### 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.

## Teams

Coastal Plain League :
| East Division ||||
| Team | City | Stadium | Year founded |
| Greenville Yard Gnomes | Greenville, North Carolina | Guy Smith Stadium | 2024 |
| Holly Springs Salamanders | Holly Springs, North Carolina | Ting Stadium | 2015 |
| Morehead City Marlins | Morehead City, North Carolina | O'Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium | 2010 |
| Peninsula Pilots | Hampton, Virginia | War Memorial Stadium | 2000 |
| Tri-City Chili Peppers | Colonial Heights, Virginia | Shepherd Stadium | 2020 |
| Wilmington Sharks | Wilmington, North Carolina | Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium | 1997 |
| Wilson Tobs | Wilson, North Carolina | Fleming Stadium | 1997 |
| West Division ||||
| Team | City | Stadium | Year founded |
| Asheboro ZooKeepers | Asheboro, North Carolina | McCrary Park | 1999 |
| Boone Bigfoots | Boone, North Carolina | Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium | 2021 (joined 2023) |
| Florence Flamingos | Florence, South Carolina | Carolina Bank Field | 1997 |
| Forest City Owls | Forest City, North Carolina | McNair Field | 2008 |
| High Point-Thomasville HiToms | Thomasville, North Carolina | Finch Field | 1999 |
| Lexington County Blowfish | Lexington, South Carolina | Lexington County Baseball Stadium | 2006 |
| Macon Bacon | Macon, Georgia | Luther Williams Field | 2018 |
| Martinsville Mustangs | Martinsville, Virginia | Hooker Field | 2005 |

### 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)
* Gastonia Grizzlies (2002–2020, moved to Spartanburg, renamed Spartanburgers)
* Spartanburgers (2021, suspended operations)
* Savannah Bananas (2016–2022, left league to concentrate on its professional exhibition operation)

### 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 | 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 |