Edenton's Kinney Named 2011 CPL Coach of the Year

August 15, 2011 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain) News Release

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. - The Coastal Plain League announced today that Edenton Steamers head coach Dirk Kinney (photo courtesy of Pat Grecinger) has been named the CPL Coach of the Year following the completion of the 2011 season.

Kinney led the Steamers to a league best 44-11 regular season record, earning the No. 1 seed in the Petitt Cup Playoffs. In the postseason, his Edenton squad went 5-3, advancing to the championship round but ultimately fell to the champion Gastonia Grizzlies. Overall, his Steamers posted a record of 49-14, the second-best overall mark in CPL history.

Furthermore, for the last month of the regular season, Kinney led his team to the top ranking nationally by Perfect Game Crosschecker, and maintained that ranking up till the final game of the playoffs.

Kinney was named the head coach of the 2011 National CPL All-Stars and had six Steamers players (Joe Wendle, Ryan Brenner, Brian Blasik, Brooks Fiala, Jordan Egan, and Joshua Branstetter) join him as All-Stars as well. His National CPL All-Stars rallied in the top of the ninth to defeat the American squad, 3-2, in Fayetteville, N.C.

As a team, Edenton broke several league and franchise records. The Steamers went 25-3 in the second half of the season, which marked the most wins in a half in CPL history. They also broke the CPL single-season records for most RBIs (322), runs scored (370), walks (280) and on-base percentage (.388).

Edenton also broke 11 team franchise records in 2011, including wins in a season, runs scored, RBIs, total bases, and on-base percentage.

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Coastal Plain League Stories from August 15, 2011

• Edenton's Kinney Named 2011 CPL Coach of the Year - Coastal Plain

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