Like everything else in society, buying a baseball bat today is a lot more complicated than it used to be. When bats were made exclusively out of wood, one simply needed to get a bat that was the right weight and the right length. Nowadays, bats can be made out of aluminum, wood, or composite materials. Different bats will have different properties, and each bat may feel different to the hitter because of what it is made out of. [Read more...]
Bat Rule Change for 2012 Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken Baseball
Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken players, coaches and families need to be aware of important BAT rule changes announced by Babe Ruth National for the 2012 Cal Ripken (12 and under) and the Babe Ruth 13-15 baseball divisions.
Cal Ripken Baseball Division 12 and Under
The bat may not exceed 33”in length, and the bat barrel may not exceed 2 ¼” in diameter. Only 2 ¼” barrel non-wood bats marked BPF 1.15 will be allowed. Wood 2 ¼” barrel bats are allowed.
Babe Ruth Baseball Division 13-15
The bat may not exceed 34” in length, and the bat barrel may not exceed 2 5/8” in diameter. All aluminum/alloy barrel bats and all composite handle (only) aluminum/alloy barrels are allowed. Only composite barrel bats certified and marked BBCOR .50 will be allowed. Wood barrel bats conforming to the specifications of Official Baseball Rule 1.10 are allowed.
While rule changes for Babe Ruth 16-18 division have also been announced by Babe Ruth National, the Willamette Valley Babe Ruth league which Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth is part of does not field teams in the 16-18 division.
Update applies as of 11/14/2011
WVBR states the following should you need further clarification of the Babe Ruth National batting rules.
Cal Ripken Division: All bats must be stamped with the “BPF (Bat Performance Factor) 1.15” in order to be used in the Cal Ripken Divisions. This includes all composite barrel bats.
13-15 Prep: Only composite barrel bats certified and marked BBCOR .50 will be allowed. All aluminum/alloy barrel bats and all composite handle (only) aluminum/alloy barrels are allowed. Wood barrel bats conforming to the specifications of Official Baseball Rule 1.10 are allowed.
In other words, the aluminum/alloy barrel bats and all composite handle (only) aluminum/alloy barrel bats do not require a BBCOR .50 stamp, only the composite barrel bats require the BBCOR stamp. There are no weight restrictions on the aluminum/alloy barrel bats. BBCOR composite barrel bats must meet the -3 weight criteria.
Babe Ruth National has further published the following penalty for the use of an illegal bat.
PENALTY
If the illegal bat is discovered prior to a batter completing his “at bat” the bat is simply removed from play and the “at bat” continues.
A player who uses an illegal bat or non-conforming barrel dimension and hits a fair ball will be ruled out. No advancement on the bases will be allowed, and any outs during the play shall stand. This is an appeal play. The “at bat” will be considered legal once a pitch is thrown to the next batter.
Any bat discovered prior to the game that does not conform to the above rule shall be directed to be removed immediately and not be allowed for use during the game.
Coach Kirk Miller has been elected to a two year term as President of Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth. For the past two years Kirk has served as Vice President of PHBR. As President Kirk will be the Chief Executive Officer of PHBR. He shall preside at all meetings of the board and in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of PHBR and serve as the Area Director to WVBR.
Kirk has served as both a PHBR assistant coach and head coach and this summer served as head coach for the WVBR All Stars 11 U “B” team.
Kirk and his wife Christal are the parents of two sons Kaleb and Andrew and the family makes their home in Pleasant Hill.
Kirk teaches health and PE for the Pleasant Hill school district and coaches high school football and baseball.
At the time this article was posted the position of Vice President, Treasurer and two Board of Directors positions remain open. Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth families are encouraged to participate actively in our local youth baseball program. Send an email to pleasanthillbaberuth@gmail.com if you would like to be nominated for one of these positions or assist our local youth baseball program in another way.
The Willamette Valley Babe Ruth Allstars 10U players took the Regional Championship for the second year in a row and are in the Cal Ripken World Series.
Dallas Doudna the father of Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth player Bradley Doudna has informed us that as of August 14th the Allstar team was 1-0 in the World Series. The team will be playing Monday August 15th at 4:30 PM and Tuesday August 16th at 12:3o PM and Wednesday 2:30 PM pacific time and can be watched or on demand at Gobalsports.net/baberuth. To watch the game click on the World Series link and select the Pacific Northwest team.
Dallas stated that Bradley pitched 4 innings in yesterdays game against Maryland and gave up only 1 hit and had 7 stikeouts and gave up no runs. Bradley also hit 2 of 4 from the plate with 2 singles. Trevor Groves of Churchill had the walk off single in the bottom of the 7th to win.
Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth is certainly proud of all of the players on the Willamette Valley Babe Ruth All Star 10U team and the fine success they have once again shown.
Congratulations to the Pleasant Hill Major Minor 60 team. Under the direction of Coach Ryota Sugitani the team took first place in their division for the Willamette Valley Babe Ruth baseball season. In the Championship playoff game against Elmira the Pleasant Hill team became the 2011 Willamette Valley Babe Ruth League Champios for their division. After a difficult season start the teamed pulled together like the champions they proved they are and had a great season.
Coach Ryota wanted us to know that the Major Minor 60 players grew much in just three short months. Ryota states, “That I mean mentally. Half way into this season I asked the kids either they would like to have a “OK” season (win some lose some) or win the championship. I warned them that if they chose latter, they will have to go through hard practices. They still chose the latter, and met that challenge head on. They really believed that they could and will win the championship. In the end, it was everything about baseball but really nothing about baseball.”
Great job MM 60 team and coaches for you have proved you are Champions and we can all learn from you.
Congratulations also go to Pleasant Hill AAA who placed second in both the WVBR season and in the Championship game against Sheldon. The Pleasant Hill Major Minor 70 team placed 4th for the season and for their division in the year end playoff games.
A number of Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth players were named to the Willamette Valley All Stars for 2011.
As family and friends we can all be proud of our Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth players and look forward to the 2012 baseball season.
