The Coastal Plain League All-Star Break signifies only two weeks left in the regular season. When action resumes on Wednesday, July 21, it'll start a 13-day sprint to the finish for teams looking to make the Pettit Cup Playoffs in the second half.

Complicating matter is the weather. After a June with many sunny days, the rains have come through much of the CPL cities in July. With such a tight schedule already, doubleheaders will be prevalent as the playoff race reaches its climax.

In the CPL North, Peninsula (25-21, 12-6 CPL second half) finds itself comfortably in the driver's seat, having won their last six games. Even though Wilson (30-16, 12-6 CPL second half) and Edenton (27-16, 9-6 CPL second half) will compete with them for the pennant, both teams already have clinched playoff berths. The closest non-playoff team is Outer Banks (17-26, 6-10), who is five games back with 11 to play, and Petersburg (11-33, 4-12 CPL second half) who is 8 games back with 11 games to play.

In the CPL South, Morehead City (25-16, 10-3 CPL second half) leads the pack. However, with 15 games in the final 13 days, they will have to fend off several big challenges from divisional rivals. Fayetteville (21-23, 9-7 CPL second half) stands 2.5 games back with three games in hand. First-half winner Florence (26-16, 7-8 CPL second half) can play spoiler in their quest for the top overall seed. Four games back is Wilmington (19-21, 5-7 CPL second half) who are in range and have 16 games to play. Columbia (17-27, 5-11 CPL second half) remains in last, 5.5 games back with 12 games left, but have won three of their last four.

The CPL North features the tightest divisional race as Martinsville (20-22, 9-5 CPL second half) currently holds the top spot on the strength of winning six of their last seven.. A game back is Gastonia (25-17, 8-6 CPL second half) and first-half winner Forest City (28-16, 9-7 CPL second half). Sitting two games back but with two games in hand is Asheboro (21-23, 8-8 CPL second half). Thomasville (12-31, 2-13) sits 7.5 games back having lost their last eight games.

The wild card race will probably live up to its name. Gastonia currently holds the wild card spot at 8-6. Sitting right behind them with two games in hand is Fayetteville at 9-7, who is behind only by percentage points and Asheboro, at 8-8, who is one game back. Wilmington at 5-7 is two games back. After those four comes Outer Banks at 6-10, three games back, and Columbia at 5-11, four games back.

For the next two days, it’s all fun and games for CPL All-Stars with the All-Star Break in Forest City, N.C. But on Wednesday, July 21, it’s back to business.