The Coastal Plain League announced today that four of its teams will host the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team during the 2012 summer season.

“This is a very exciting addition to our 2012 league schedule,” said CPL assistant commissioner Justin Sellers. “We have a great relationship with USA Baseball and I want to personally thank them – and especially Eric Campbell – as well as all our team owners and general managers for helping make this possible. These four games will be quite memorable and filled full of talent that no fan will want to miss.”

Team USA, led by Tennessee head coach Dave Serrano, will start a three-day CPL trip on June 25 in Fayetteville, N.C. as it faces the Fayetteville SwampDogs. The ‘Dogs are no stranger to playing the Red, White, and Blue, as the two teams have faced off on the diamond three times before.

From Fayetteville, Team USA will journey to face two new CPL opponents in the Wilmington Sharks on June 26 and the Morehead City Marlins on June 27.

“I am very happy to announce that the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team will be returning to play teams in the Coastal Plain League this summer,” said Campbell, general manager of USA Baseball National Teams. “With the support of the CPL, USA Baseball is able to create a strong schedule for our nation’s best players. The Collegiate National Team will make a great swing through Fayetteville, Wilmington and Morehead City. It will be a wonderful way to start our summer – by playing against strong competition in scenic ballparks packed with great fans!”

Then, on July 1, Team USA will make the trip to Forest City to play the Owls in a first-ever meeting between the two teams. The Owls, however, have already proven to be exciting hosts, as they created a memorable playing experience in 2011 when Team Japan came to play in a sold-out McNair Stadium.

“Forest City provided a outstanding night for Team Japan and baseball fans in general last year,” said Campbell. “We hope that experience will grow in 2012 with the appearance of the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team!”

The CPL will be the only summer league to host Team USA in its ballparks during the 2012 season. In addition to hosting Team USA, teams in the Coastal Plain League have also welcomed and played other international teams in the past, including Team Japan and the Russian National Team.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 16th season in 2012, the CPL features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 930 alumni drafted and 46 alums – including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cpleague).

Justin Sellers

(919) 852-1960