All Around Champions

The Wilmington Sharks are not only the winners of Coastal Plain League championship, but also superstars in community fundraising and involvement.

The Wilmington Sharks have brought the Coastal Plain League (CPL) Petitt Cup Championship to Wilmington for the first time in 25 years. The team finished the season with an impressive record of 30-19, and four Sharks players were honored by being selected for the 2024 All-Star Game. Head Coach Russ Burroughs also reached a significant milestone, recording his 150th win in the CPL during the season.

The Sharks defeated the Peninsula Pilots to win the East Division and then swept the Lexington County Blowfish in both three-game series, with a 2-0 victory in each. The 2024 season was a resounding success, bringing more than 35,000 fans to Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium, also known as the Shark Tank, marking some of the highest attendance numbers in the Coastal Plain League.

Under the leadership of first-year General Manager Brett Bloomquist, who previously played for the Sharks in 2008, the team excelled both on and off the field. The Sharks’ commitment to community involvement is evident through initiatives like the Read Around the Bases program, which encourages literacy by rewarding participants from New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick counties with tickets to baseball games for completing reading challenges.

Additionally, the Sharks hosted 18 summer interns from colleges and universities across the country, providing valuable, real-world experience in sports management. Through various community-driven events, including 50/50 raffles and specialty jersey auctions, the Sharks and their partners raised more than $41,000 for a range of causes, including foster care, veterans’ support, animal welfare, food accessibility, mental health and substance abuse recovery.

A notable fundraising highlight was the $11,000 raised for the Honor Flight of the Cape Fear Area through a groundbreaking partnership with GE Aerospace. Another successful collaboration saw the Sharks partner with Boombalatti’s Homemade Ice Cream to create a seasonal flavor — Sharky’s Sandbar, which raised $2,500 for local charities NourishNC and ACCESS of Wilmington.

“We are incredibly proud of the 2024 season with the Wilmington Sharks, not just because of our success on the field but because of the deep connections we’ve fostered within the community,” says Bloomquist.

“Winning the Coastal Plain League Championship was a tremendous achievement, but our true victory lies in the partnerships we’ve built and the initiatives we’ve supported. This season has truly showcased the power of coming together through baseball. Wilmington is more than just a place to play; it’s a community we are honored to be a part of and contribute to.”

The Sharks are a founding member of the CPL, the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. The league is currently comprised of 15 franchises across Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

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Wilmington Sharks