Raleigh, N.C. The Coastal Plain League announced today its All-Decade Team, which honors the top players, by position, who have played in the CPL over its first 10 years of action. The Citadel placed three players on the list as former Bulldogs Dallas McPherson and Chip Cannon were honored, as well as current senior first baseman Zach Brown. Players and one coach were selected based on their performance and accolades while in the Coastal Plain League by team and league representatives, and were revealed at the CPL's spring meetings in Fayetteville yesterday.
The list of All-Decade members consisted of one head coach, two players per infield position, six outfielders, two designated hitters and eight pitchers. Furthermore, of the 26 players honored, nine of them Dallas McPherson, Russ Adams, Ryan Zimmerman, Kevin Youkilis, Ty Wigginton, Jason Dubois, Justin Verlander, David Aardsma, and Tom Mastny have gone on to make their Major League debuts after their career in the Coastal Plain League.
“We are very pleased to announce our All-Decade Team,” said CPL President and Commissioner Pete Bock. “Our league has had a wonderful first 10 years and with that, a great amount of talented ball players come through our ballparks. This list is just a hint of that talent, but we feel each and every name on this list are players who played exceptionally well in our league, and many of them have benefited from that by going on to play in professional baseball and quite a few in the Majors. On behalf of our teams and league office, we congratulate each player and Darrell, the coach, on what they accomplished in the Coastal Plain League and wish them all the best now and in the future as always!"
First Basemen:
1) Dallas McPherson (The Citadel) Asheboro Copperheads, 1999
• League-bests in batting average (.349) and hits (58)
• Featured 19 runs scored, three home runs and 28 RBIs
• Named the CPL MVP
• Drafted in the second round of the 2001 MLB Draft by Anaheim
• Made Major League debut on September 10, 2004 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2) Zach Brown (The Citadel) Thomasville HiToms, 2005-06
• Career batting average of .295
• Featured 2005 team-bests in hits (58), doubles (9), RBIs (24), and total bases (57)
• Featured 2006 team-bests in hits (63), doubles (14), home runs (12), RBIs (44), total bases (113), and stolen bases (13)
• For his career, racked up 121 hits, 23 doubles, 12 home runs, 55 runs scored, and 68 RBIs
• Had a slugging percentage of .557 and on-base percentage of .403 in 2006
• Named as one of Baseball America's Top 10 CPL Prospects in 2006
• Helped lead the HiToms to their first-ever Petitt Cup Championship in 2006
• A two-time CPL All-Star: Starting first baseman of the National CPL All-Star team in 2006 and back-up first baseman of the American CPL All-Star team in 2005
Designated Hitter:
1) Chip Cannon (The Citadel) Thomasville HiToms, 2002-03
• In 2002, batted third-best on the team with a .268 average, with 45 hits, 27 runs scored, 14 doubles (a team-best), six home runs (a team-best), 29 RBIs, 77 total bases (a team-best), a .458 slugging percentage, and three stolen bags
• In 2003, batted third best on the team with a .291 average, with 41 hits (a team-best), 32 runs scored (a team-best), eight doubles, a triple, eight home runs (a team-best), 29 RBIs (a team-best), 75 total bases (a team-best), five stolen bags, and a .532 slugging percentage
• Career .278 batting average with 86 hits, 22 doubles, 14 homers, 59 runs scored, and 58 RBIs
• Ranks in the Top 10 all-time in CPL history for a single season in home runs (8) and extra base hits (20)
• Ranks in the Top 10 all-time in CPL history for a career in runs scored (59), doubles (22), home runs (14), RBIs (58)
• Starting third baseman of the CPL South All-Star team in 2003
• Drafted in the eighth round of the 2004 MLB Draft by Toronto
View all players selected to the CPL All-Decade Team by clicking on the PDF link below.
