Senate committee approves one-year ban on metal bats bill Sports, posted by Editor, Danville Weekly Online, on May 6, 2010 at 5:20 pm
The state Senate Education Committee approved a bill today that would place a one-year moratorium on the use of metal bats in high school baseball games, Assemblyman Jared Huffman said.
Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, May 6, 2010, 9:36 AM
Posted by Softball Mom, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on May 6, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Let us hope that the full senate can do what the NCS-CIF could not do the other night. Let us stop the insanity.
Lost in the news shuffle! Read below.
While the baseball community is extremely aware of the Gunnar Sandberg saga, the softball community is very much aware of the Kristi Denny incident which occurred in SoCal at about the same time. This high school pitcher took a line shot directly to her face. Kristi subsequently required six hours of reconstructive surgery and now has a forehead made of of titanium mesh. The real "kicker" to the story is that this young high school pitcher was wearing head/face mask potection. Doctors have stated that had Kristi not been wearing her face mask, she most likely would have been killed.
Currently designed aluminum bats must be considered lethal weapons. Don't think for a second because your daughter plays "softball" and wears her protective face mask that she is immune from such catostrophic injury.
Posted by NCAA, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on May 7, 2010 at 6:04 am
Yes, I believe the one-year high school metal bat moratorium bat is both reasonable and responsible action. It will allow coaches and programs to determine if wood bats do indeed impose an undue financial upon players, as aluminum bat proponents have stated.
However, even if the state legislatures adopt the one-year metal bat moratorium, there is still going to be an uphill battle. The NCAA has attempted to restrict and regulate metal bats in the past, but have been stymied by metal bat manufacturers who have prevented such regulation through "restraint of trade" law suits.
Posted by Reasonable Cost, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on May 7, 2010 at 6:29 am
High schools do not complain about the cost of football helmets. Swimming programs do not stop using chlorine in the pools to save money. The health and safety of the student athlete, in addition to skill development, should be the primary concern, not avoiding reasonable costs.
Posted by Ralph N. Shirlet, a resident of another community, on May 7, 2010 at 7:18 am Ralph N. Shirlet is a member (registered user) of Danville Express
Dear Emily,
I must be confused or simply drifting. Aren't metal bats those animals that hang upside down in caves and feed on aluminum foil each night?
If not, we must be discussing the materials used to create a large club-like devise to strike a hard, round sphere. One could ask that the choice of materials be explained as increased danger. A bat of such specification is dangerous no matter what hard wood or metal is used.
It does seem that tradition is the thing that separates other sports using club-like devices from Baseball. I watched helmeted La Cross players who were protected from the clubs and balls by a face mask. It seems to verify the definition of tradition as the excuses we make for the silly things we do repeatedly.
Have you ever wondered why the audience at golf competitions do not wear helmets?