MONROE - High school baseball players will have to get new baseball bats after a rule change took effect for this season.
Before this year, high school players were able to use aluminum bats that are Ball Exit Speed Ratio (BESR) certified.
The BESR-certified bats go through a testing procedure that measures the velocity of the ball off the bat, which can change once the bats are broken in. Starting Jan. 1 high school baseball teams are being required to switch to the Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) standard bats. The BBCOR bats measures the trampoline effect - the bounciness or pop of the bat by measuring the force of the bat on the ball.
Romy Cherney, who has been a high school and college umpire for 27 years and a former Monroe baseball coach for eight years, said the more baseball bat companies like Easton developed aluminum alloy metal and composite bats, the more safety concerns grew.
Many high school baseball players have their own bats which, in the past, had to be inspected before games.
"There is a liability factor if a kid gets hurt," Cherney said. "It's a responsibility none of us wanted to have. Now the onus is on the coaches and the conference. It's clearly clarified. It's not unusual for kids to have bats that cost $300 to $500. It's ridiculous. It's an important part of the game, performance and kids want to win. You never know what they were going to lug to the plate."
Cherney said the BBCOR standard bats go through a certification process that tests the composition ratio, velocity and reaction time when the bat hits the ball.
"These rules are about protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of kids," he said. "When you have a pitcher 70 feet or less than 60 feet by the time he releases the ball away from the hitter, there is not much reaction time and it's dangerous."
WIAA umpires are not required to inspect bats before games as they have in previous years. Coaches can still go through a challenge process for any bats they contend are illegal.
Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen, who has been coaching for 32 years, said the switch to BBCOR-certified bats will effect the game.
"The ball won't go off the bat as well this year," Strommen said. "The sweet spot is smaller. It won't pop off the bat as much. It was a safety issue. I think it will change the style of teams offensively and defensively."
Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said high school baseball will probably see a trend similar to that of colleges when they implemented the BBCOR standard last year.
"I think the BBCOR bats are similar in performance to a wood bat," Huffman said. "Offensively, I think you will see a lot less runs from home runs and extra base hits. You will have to manufacture runs more. The kids that were very good hitters will still have success."
Before this year, high school players were able to use aluminum bats that are Ball Exit Speed Ratio (BESR) certified.
The BESR-certified bats go through a testing procedure that measures the velocity of the ball off the bat, which can change once the bats are broken in. Starting Jan. 1 high school baseball teams are being required to switch to the Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) standard bats. The BBCOR bats measures the trampoline effect - the bounciness or pop of the bat by measuring the force of the bat on the ball.
Romy Cherney, who has been a high school and college umpire for 27 years and a former Monroe baseball coach for eight years, said the more baseball bat companies like Easton developed aluminum alloy metal and composite bats, the more safety concerns grew.
Many high school baseball players have their own bats which, in the past, had to be inspected before games.
"There is a liability factor if a kid gets hurt," Cherney said. "It's a responsibility none of us wanted to have. Now the onus is on the coaches and the conference. It's clearly clarified. It's not unusual for kids to have bats that cost $300 to $500. It's ridiculous. It's an important part of the game, performance and kids want to win. You never know what they were going to lug to the plate."
Cherney said the BBCOR standard bats go through a certification process that tests the composition ratio, velocity and reaction time when the bat hits the ball.
"These rules are about protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of kids," he said. "When you have a pitcher 70 feet or less than 60 feet by the time he releases the ball away from the hitter, there is not much reaction time and it's dangerous."
WIAA umpires are not required to inspect bats before games as they have in previous years. Coaches can still go through a challenge process for any bats they contend are illegal.
Pecatonica coach Jim Strommen, who has been coaching for 32 years, said the switch to BBCOR-certified bats will effect the game.
"The ball won't go off the bat as well this year," Strommen said. "The sweet spot is smaller. It won't pop off the bat as much. It was a safety issue. I think it will change the style of teams offensively and defensively."
Monroe coach Dustin Huffman said high school baseball will probably see a trend similar to that of colleges when they implemented the BBCOR standard last year.
"I think the BBCOR bats are similar in performance to a wood bat," Huffman said. "Offensively, I think you will see a lot less runs from home runs and extra base hits. You will have to manufacture runs more. The kids that were very good hitters will still have success."
