With a 9-6 win at Macon Wednesday night, the Savannah Bananas clinched the Coastal Plain League’s West Division First Half Championship. The win improved their first half record to 16-5 with three games remaining.
Thus far, Savannah’s offense has been hot, putting up an average of 6.24 runs per game, while outscoring their opponents 131-77 overall. As a team they are batting .272, which is the second highest average in the CPL. Leading the way at the plate for the Bananas are Beau Brewer (Paris JC), Armando Becerra (Erskine), Drew Yniesta (Lenoir-Rhyne) and Indy Stanley (Columbia College). The foursome sports a .362, .328, .320 and .318 average respectively; and have combined for 18 doubles, three triples, five dingers, 56 runs scored and 47 RBIs.
On the mound, the Bananas pitching staff has been consistently atop the league as well, sporting a team ERA of 3.13, which is second best in the CPL. Further, opposing batters are swinging a measly .191 against them. They feature 13 different pitchers with an ERA below 4.00, including ace Jared Donalson (Georgia Southwestern), who is currently 4-0 with a 0.52 ERA through 17 innings of work. In that time, he’s surrendered only one run on seven hits, walked two and struck out 19.
By clinching the division first half crown, Savannah has earned a spot in the 2022 CPL Petitt Cup Playoffs. They will host game 1 of the West Division Championship on July 31 at Historic Grayson Stadium. Their opponent will be the winner of the second half in the West; with the winner of the best-of-three series advancing to the CPL Championship.
About Coastal Plain League:
The Coastal Plain League, brought to you by FloSports, is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Now in its 26th season in 2022, the CPL features 14 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had over 1,700 alumni drafted and 155 alums make their Major League debut – including 2017 ALCS MVP, 2017 World Series champion, 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander, as well as 2017 NLCS MVP Chris Taylor. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @CPLBaseball.