The Forest City Owls, under the leadership of head coach Matt Hayes, defeated the Asheboro Copperheads by a score of 6-4 in game one of a doubleheader Monday night, and by doing so, broke the record for the best start for a team in Coastal Plain League history.

Then, in game two, the Owls won 4-2 to move to 20-2 on the season, which is two wins better than the 2004 Edenton Steamers who started the season at 18-2 before losing their next four games and finishing the first half with a 19-6 record. Furthermore, Forest City clinched the West Division first half championship with the win, earning a home playoff game in round one of the 2009 CPL Petitt Cup Playoffs that start August 6.

The Owls started the 2009 season 4-0 before suffering their first loss on the road at Outer Banks, 12-7. But Forest City rallied around players like Konstantine Diamaduros (Wofford / .393 BA, 22 hits, 20 RBIs) and right-handed pitchers Spencer Patton (Southern Illinois at Edwardsville / 2-0, 0.72 ERA, 38 K’s) and Ryan Arrowood (Appalachian State / 4-0, 2.20 ERA, 27 K’s) and went on a seven-game winning streak from that point.

Divisional opponent, Asheboro, however ended that streak on June 12 with a 5-3 upset victory. Similar to the loss to the Daredevils, the loss to the Copperheads came on the road. Meanwhile, the Owls are undefeated at home, sitting at 11-0.

Like they had done earlier, Forest City fed off performances from key players like third baseman Pratt Maynard (NC State / .397 BA, 27 hits, 19 RBIs), outfielder Grant Buckner (West Virginia / .348 BA, 23 hits, 14 RBIs) and outfielder Wade Moore (NC State / .321 BA, 18 hits, 11 RBIs, 18 stolen bases), as well as right-handed starter Bryan Breedlove (3-0, 2.78 ERA, 24 K’s) and right-handed closer Robbie Andrews (Virginia Commonwealth / 0.00 ERA, 5 saves) as they pieced together another winning streak - this time of eight games.

Furthermore, the 2009 version of the Forest City nine have an opportunity to continue to write the CPL history books as they can also eclipse the most wins in a single half with five games left in the first half. The record is set at 23 wins, which was recorded twice - by the Fayetteville SwampDogs and Edenton Steamers in the first half and second half respectively on the 2007 season.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league, heading into its 13th season.  Featuring 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, the CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months.  Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts.  For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at http://www.coastalplain.com.