New CPL baseball team coming to Holly Springs in 2015

Pendulum and Integrated Design via CPL, CoastalPlain.com
Pendulum and Integrated Design via CPL, CoastalPlain.com

Holly Springs, N.C. – The Coastal Plain League (CPL) is bringing baseball to the town next summer according to a release posted on the league website on Monday.

The new league franchise will play out of a new town-owned, multi-sport facility currently under construction – the North Main Athletic Complex – located between Main Street and the N.C.55 Bypass.

The league posted renderings of the new facility on its website and described the stadium as including a ‘welcoming front entrance, wide concourse area and a multi-room press box’.

Spectator seating for the facility will eventually include 1,800-2,000 individual chair backs and berm seating with the stadium roof covering both the concourse area and seats from dugout to dugout.

The field surface will be artificial turf and will sport Minor League-style dugouts, along with a locker room facility off the third-base side that will feature locker rooms for both the home and visiting teams, coaches and umpires.

The stadium was designed by Integrated Design and Pendulum, along with Withers & Ravenel, and is being built by T.A. Loving Company out of Goldsboro, N.C.

The facility is included in the first of a three-phase construction process for the complex located at 1129 N. Main Street, and when not in use by the CPL, will also accommodate town activities including baseball, football, soccer, lacrosse and tennis among other recreational amenities and events.

The league office, which is also located in the town, is currently getting the word out about the new team by sponsoring a ‘Name the Team’ contest.

The new franchise, that will be co-owned by league founder and current president Pete Bock, will continue promoting the team throughout the year as the facility’s construction progresses with a timeline to be ready to start the CPL season in 2015.

Presenting itself as ‘the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league’, the CPL will enter its 19th season in 2015, and with the addition of the Holly Spring franchise, adds to its current list of 14 teams that play out of venues in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

As a developmental wood bat league, the CPL provides college players the chance to refine their skills during the summer months with the use of wooden bats while preparing them for potential pro careers.

The league’s alumni base includes such notables as 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander and Russell Wilson – Super Bowl XLVIII winner – who played briefly in the league while a two-sport athlete in baseball and football at N.C. State.

More information and details on the new franchise and the Name the Team contest can be found on the league website at www.coastalplain.com/hollysprings.