New bat standards promise to make prep baseball less offensive

CEDAR RAPIDS - If you're offended by scores of 15-12 and 13-10, prep baseball will be more to your liking this season. The game promises to be much less offensive, period.

The National Federation of State High School Associations has instituted new regulations for aluminum bats, making them less lively and therefore less dangerous. It's a similar change to what college baseball went through last season.

"It's definitely a big difference," said Cedar Rapids Prairie all-state second baseman Brayton Carlson. "You can tell when you hit the ball. It's a smaller sweet spot."

Bats previously used in prep baseball had more of a trampoline or springy affect, with more spring coming as the bats got older. Websites began touting being able to "roll" bats for players, stretching fibers inside brand new bats to give them immediate maximum performance.

The new bats, however, act much more like wood, which teams have the option of using, by the way. They are to be employed for every practice and every game, meeting BBCOR (Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution) standards.

Bats will not be allowed unless they are properly marked with the BBCOR logo in a specifically assigned spot on the barrel. Last week, the National Federation decertified two bat models that were judged to be too lively.

It is serious about making the game safer and less bastardized from an offensive standpoint.

"Obviously, run scoring is going to be down," said Cedar Rapids Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer. "Power numbers are really going to be down ... In talking to some college coaches, I don't think there's going to be a big dropoff in batting averages. But home runs and run production will definitely be down."

"Some people think the game will change quite a bit," Marion Coach Steve Fish said. "Some think it won't change quite as much. I think if you square it up, it's still going to go."

The baseball even sounds different coming off the new bats. The "ping" is gone, replaced by a duller sound.

"I think it'll definitely show who the real hitters are," said Kennedy all-state third baseman Devon Jacobus. "I think it'll help the game out a lot. Teams aren't going to just be waiting for a bomb. They'll have to execute."

Coaches believe you'll see a lot more "small ball" this season. More National League baseball, if you will.

That means bunts and stolen bases. Pitching and defense will be even more important.

"I think there will be a bigger premium on pitchers throwing strikes and making guys put balls in play," said Dyersville Beckman Coach Tom Jenk Jr.

"A lot of coaches will be in a wait-and-see approach," Hoyer said. "I think the knee-jerk reaction is to play small ball."

Beckman ended up buying 12 new bats for its entire program, though Jenk said the school got a pretty good deal on them. Fish said Marion spent $4,000, with the school's booster club picking up the tab.

Hoyer said Kennedy bought only three new bats, pointing out that players can purchase their own if they don't like what is being provided. BBCOR approved models usually run between $200 and $500.

"Somebody is making big money," Jenk pointed out. "Because everybody in the state of Iowa has new bats."

Not that anyone seems to be complaining too much, at least outwardly.

Fish watched senior pitcher Cale Cannoy get hit in the chest with a line drive during a game two years ago. Cannoy was removed, began vomiting and experiencing breathing problems and ended up in the hospital.

"I'm 100 percent behind anything that makes the game safer," Fish said.