Wednesday, December 16, 1998

Aluminum bats
soon will be
smaller, lighter

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

Beginning with the NCAA playoffs in May, college hitters will use aluminum bats that are thinner and lighter, the result of an Division I baseball committee decision yesterday.

The move brings Division I in line with Division II and III.

The committee agreed that aluminum bat heads should be no thicker than 25/8 inches and the overall weight should be decreased.

The idea is to make aluminum bats more similar to wooden bats -- and less dangerous.

"Some people are hopping on the safety factor. Some people say the integrity of the game has to be the No. 1 factor," Hawaii head coach Les Murakami said.

"The integrity of the game is fantastic, but, in reality, it has to be the safety factor. Everyone knows bat companies can't sue for integrity."

Aluminum bat maker Easton Sports of Van Nuys, Calif., sued the NCAA in August to try to stop the changes. The lawsuit also seeks $267 million in damages.

"The initial move to the aluminum bat was to lessen the cost to colleges. Now it's a safety factor and we all have to consider that," Hawaii-Hilo head coach Joey Estrella said.

"We have to look at the liability. That's the key. The athlete is bigger and stronger and everyone is lifting weights. The lighter aluminum became a problem and that wasn't anticipated.

"I'm not worried about the integrity of game. It's safety, then cost."

The NCAA executive committee will consider the speed issue, known as exit velocity, later.

The NCAA claims balls coming off the bat can do so up to 113 mph and it would like to see that reduced to 93 mph to lessen the danger, especially for pitchers.

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http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu