Attention Bow Ridge Membership (New USA Bats)
2017-12-04
Bat Rules
Updated as of February 15, 2018
Rule 1.10 – Baseball
The bat must be a baseball bat which meets the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat) as adopted by Little League. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick, and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat).
Beginning with the 2018 season, non-wood and laminated bats used in the Little League (Majors) and below, Intermediate (50-70) Division, Junior League divisions, and Challenger division shall bear the USA Baseball logo signifying that the bat meets the USABat – USA Baseball’s Youth Bat Performance Standard. All BPF – 1.15 bats will be prohibited beginning with the 2018 season. Additionally, starting in 2018, the bat diameter shall not exceed 2⅝ inches for these divisions of play. Bats meeting the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) standard may also be used in the Intermediate (50-70) Division and Junior League divisions. Additional information is available at LittleLeague.org/batinfo.
With the new Little League change to USA bats, the following divisions will be impacted:
Coach Pitch - Will remain using 2 1/4 barrel 1.15 BPF bats
Machine Pitch - Will remain using 2 1/4 barrel 1.15 BPF bats
Minors - Must use the new USA bat standard (1.15 BPF bats will not be allowed)
Majors/Nationals - Must use the new USA bat standard (1.15 BPF bats will not be allowed)
Intermediate - Must use the new USA bat standard (1.15 BPF bats will not be allowed)
Juniors - Must use the new USA bat standard (1.15 BPF bats will not be allowed), or wood bats
- Bowridge wil be supplying teams with a few of the new bats to help ease the transition to the new USA standard. Also, please note for evaluations in the spring the new USA bats must be used.
- The implementation of the new USA bat standard will be a point of emphasis for umpires next year, to ensure only the proper bats are being used.
- Bowridge will be hosting a Bat Demo at ABA in the next few weeks to allow players to come try the new USA bats to get an idea of sizing and what to expect in the new year. Stay tuned for more information.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Andrew Schnell
VP on Field