Zebulon Devil Dogz unveiled for Coastal Plain League, Opening Night May 22

Zebulon unveiled its new Coastal Plain League franchise name, Zebulon Devil Dogz (stylized with a "Z"), at a Feb. 24 news conference and announced Opening Night for May 22 at Five County Stadium in eastern Wake County. The organization is selling season tickets and mini plans now and says single-game tickets will go on sale later this spring, with an April on-sale window reported by team representatives.

Team officials said the name grew out of a months-long fan submission and voting process that produced finalists including Iron Horses, Thunder Roos, Croc Hunters and Bushrangers before Devil Dogz was selected. The branding nods to local industry and international imagery, referencing Devil Dog Dungarees, a long-standing Zebulon bluejeans manufacturer, while also invoking the Tasmanian Devil from Australia; the franchise intentionally stylized the nickname with a final "Z."

The organization announced a partnership with Ozball (also reported as OzBall/Ozball Australia) to supply players for the summer roster, saying the team will feature college players from Australia though the full roster and coaching staff have not yet been released. A team representative identified only as Mial said, "This team will bring together players and coaches from Australia. Baseball bringing people together across the world, landing right here in Zebulon." That partnership is expected to shape the roster makeup and offseason recruiting, with officials scheduled to release roster details in the weeks ahead.

General Manager Caleb Whittemore framed the franchise strategy around family entertainment and the community. "From day one, our vision has been bigger than baseball. Everything we do starts with one simple question, what is best for this community?" Whittemore said, adding the ticket approach was designed to ease cost concerns: "We want families to come out, relax, and enjoy an entire night of entertainment without worrying about the cost adding up." The team described an all-inclusive ticket model; all tickets for Opening Night will include access to an All-You-Can-Eat menu featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, soda, chips and a mystery Australian food item.

Coastal Plain League Commissioner Chip Allen emphasized local connections and fan experience, saying, "Zebulon and Eastern Wake County have such a rich baseball history, passionate fans, and a ballpark built for memorable summer nights." Allen added that the league's direction favors creativity and fan-focused promotions: "The league’s emphasis on creativity and fan experience aligns with the direction of the new franchise," and summed up the broader aim: "Sports is fun. It’s minor league fun, it’s family fun, it’s community fun."

Five County Stadium returns to summer-collegiate play after the long-tenured Carolina Mudcats relocated following the 2023 season to a new $69 million stadium in Wilson and began play as the Wilson Warbirds. The Mudcats drew roughly 120,000 fans in 2024, establishing a baseline of regional appetite for summer baseball. Capitol Broadcasting Company took over day-to-day operations of Five County Stadium in January and plans the venue to host the Coastal Plain League schedule along with Wake Tech Community College baseball, softball and soccer.

With Opening Night set for May 22, season-ticket buyers and partners are now the immediate focus; single-game ticket pricing and exact on-sale dates will be released by the franchise ahead of April, and the team has said it will announce its full roster and staff in the coming weeks.