The Cape Fear River Ducks are the 2026 CMBL Spring Champions.
With one win needed to finish an unbeaten postseason run, the #1 Ducks left no doubt, defeating the #3 WarDogs 11-1 to defend their title and capture their third consecutive CMBL championship.
After two scoreless innings, the Ducks broke through with four runs in the third and never looked back.
Patrick Krack homered and finished with 3 RBI, while Casey Schoonmaker went 2-for-5 with a double, 2 runs, and an RBI.
Then came the swing that put the championship firmly in Duck hands.
With the bases loaded in the fifth, Chris Roan launched a grand slam, powering a five-run inning that pushed the lead to 9-0.
And while the offense went to work, Caleb Bishop controlled the game from the mound.
Bishop delivered 7 innings, allowing just 4 hits and 1 earned run while striking out 8, throwing 130 pitches with a championship on the line. Sam Zinn followed with two hitless innings and two strikeouts to finish it.
Enzo Bonventre added a home run, Hunter Wilson went 2-for-2 with an RBI double, and the Ducks finished with 11 runs on 12 hits and three home runs.
The Ducks entered the CMBL in 2025 after the merger of the Wilmington Rays and Wilmington Marlins.
Since then:
2025 Spring Champions.
2025 Fall Champions.
2026 Spring Champions.
Three seasons. Three championships.
They went 12-2 in the regular season, earned the #1 seed, led the league in runs scored and runs allowed, and then went 4-0 through the postseason.
The WarDogs broke through to their first CMBL Championship Round and put together one of the best seasons in program history.
But Sunday belonged to the Ducks.
A year ago, they were the new team.
Now they’re building a legacy.
CAPE FEAR RIVER DUCKS — 2026 CMBL SPRING CHAMPIONS.
