The Coastal Plain League announced today the umpiring crew for the 2012 CPL All-Star Game in Wilson, N.C.

Cody Waterhouse, Brock Ballou, Kyle Wagner and Cameron Young will serve as umpires in the All-Star Game on Monday, July 23 at Historic Fleming Stadium. Waterhouse will have the plate, while Ballou will be at first, Wagner at second and Young at third.

The four CPL umpires are the fifth group of umpires of the Professional Baseball Umpire Corp (PBUC) reserve list to work the Coastal Plain League All-Star Game. PBUC, a Minor League Baseball wholly owned subsidiary, has entered into a working agreement to provide its umpires to the Coastal Plain League. The agreement allows young umpires to continue to develop their skills in a competitive environment, while waiting for the call from PBUC to sign a professional contract and move on to work Minor League Baseball games.

Already, eight CPL umpires have been called up to Minor League Baseball during the 2012 season. Furthermore, a total of 79 CPL umpires have moved onto the Minors in the five years of the CPL-PBUC agreement.

“The Coastal Plain League is tremendously excited about its partnership with the PBUC,” said CPL President and Commissioner Pete Bock. “We feel that our quality of play and overall atmosphere will go a long way in helping the PBUC develop future Minor and Major League Baseball umpires. We have and continue to look forward to working long-term with (PBUC Executive Director) Justin Klemm, his staff and the reserve umpires in what we feel will be a beneficial relationship for all parties.”

PBUC is responsible for the training, evaluation and recommendation for promotion, retention or release of all umpires in the Minor League Baseball system throughout the United States and Canada.

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 1,000 alumni drafted and 53 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