The Coastal Plain League announced today that Peninsula Pilots head coach Hank Morgan has been named the 2024 CPL Coach of the Year.
“I would like to thank Chip Allen, Justin Sellers and the rest of the Coastal Plain League leadership for highlighting the effort that every member of Pilots Nation put forth this season by selecting me for this recognition,” said Morgan. “It is a reflection of how well our organization came together and joyfully pulled on the same rope this year.”
With quite the diverse roster this season, the Pilots found a lot in common and gelled right from the start, winning nine of their first 12 games, including all six of their first road contests. As the first half was nearing its end and the race tightening, Morgan guided the club to four victories in their last five games to clinch the East Division First Half title, its first since 2021. Peninsula continued with their foot on the gas into July, including a stretch of 11 wins in 15 games that saw them clinch the Second Half crown in the East with a week left to play in the season. Overall, the Pilots finished with a league-best 34-13 record and was the only team to win both halves of it’s season.
“Special recognition is owed to our players who made every day a joy ride, and Ian Millman, who helped me find them,” continued Morgan. “This was our most diverse team ever, and they quickly came together as perhaps the closest, most unified team I’ve had the privilege to coach. Their enthusiasm, playfulness, hustle and selflessness was refreshing to say the least. I miss you already!”
As a club, Peninsula was pretty well-balanced between hitting and pitching. It finished with the highest team batting average across the CPL at .285. In total, they were in the Top 5 in 10 different offensive categories, including hits (432), runs (330), RBIs (277), stolen bases (112), on-base percentage (.399), and slugging (.396). On the mound, the Pilots sported a 4.58 ERA as a team and finished fifth in most strikeouts (378), while fourth in fewest hits (361) and fifth in fewest runs (241). They also were tied for the second lowest WHIP at 1.41 and fourth lowest opponent batting average at .234.
“Our coaching staff — David Mitchell, Gage Riddick, Sergio Miranda, and Chris Ochsenfeld — is as unique as it is incredible, and I appreciate them being genuine servants to our players more so than to any selfish motivation,” Morgan remarked. “I’m also deeply grateful to our general manager, Matt Mitchell, whose leadership and vision are vital to helping to make us who we are.”
Individually, the talent on the team was quite impressive as well, highlighted by a league-high 10 All-Star selections: catcher Cole Stanford (Lenoir-Rhyne), first baseman Grayson Fitzwater (VMI), third baseman Chris Martinez (Science and Arts Oklahoma), shortstop Jevin Relaford (Florida Southern), designated hitter Darnell Parker (Wichita State), and outfielders Henry Garcia (Louisiana Monroe) and Jorsixt Jimenez (Queens); as well as pitchers Trey Morgan (VMI), Kenny Leiner (Limestone), and Caden Plummer (VMI). Additionally, Morgan was selected to captain the East All-Stars. The Pilots also had three Players of the Week honors in Fitzwater (week 4) and pitchers Sam Rochard (Tennessee Wesleyan, week 5) and Dalton Barham (Norfolk State, week 8).
“Finally, a huge thank you to our amazing sponsors, front office, volunteers, broadcasters, game day staff, and interns — your unwavering support and mostly unseen effort made all the difference,” said Morgan. “To the best and most loyal fans in the business, thank you for bringing the electricity to the stadium — it made a huge impact. Lastly, thank you to the Caretaker (Henry Morgan), for entrusting me once again with this labor of love.”
Morgan, who started coaching the Pilots late in the season of 2007, is the CPL’s all-time winningest coach with 550 wins. This year’s honor marks his third Coach of the Year award (others being in 2014 and 2016). As Peninsula’s skipper, he has won two CPL Petitt Cup Championships, defeated USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team twice, seen 123 players get drafted and coached 12 Major Leaguers.
About Coastal Plain League:
The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. The CPL is currently comprised of 15 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had over 1,800 alumni drafted, and 194 alums make their Major League debut. Most notable alumni include Justin Verlander, Ryan Zimmerman, Mark Reynolds, Kevin Youkilis, Chris Taylor, Alec Bohm, Jake Cave, Chas McCormick and NFL Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson. 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.
About Capitol Broadcasting Company:
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAZ-TV, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WNGT-CD, WCMC-FM, WCMC-HD1, WDNC-AM, WCMC-HD2, WCMC-HD3, WCLY-AM, WCMC-HD4, Microspace, WRAL Digital and Wolfpack Sports Properties (a joint venture with Learfield) in Raleigh, NC; WILM-TV, WILT-LD and Sunrise Broadcasting in Wilmington, NC; The Durham Bulls Baseball Club, Bull City Hospitality and Coastal Plain League in Durham, NC; The Holly Springs Salamanders in Holly Springs, NC; Greenville Yard Gnomes in Greenville, NC, the American Underground startup hub in Durham, NC; and real estate interests including the American Tobacco Historic District in Durham, NC, and Rocky Mount Mills in Rocky Mount, NC.