John Gluschick and Brewbaker Tech will be short a couple of bats after Tuesday’s ruling by the NFHS. (Staff Photo)

Staff Report
(July 14, 2010)

When Brewbaker Tech baseball coach John Gluschick purchased a couple of Easton Stealth composite barrel bats prior to the 2010 season, he was unaware that, in less than a year, the bats would be illegal.

As of Tuesday, the $450 bats are “no good.”

“No, I wasn’t aware at the time there was a possibility that these bats would be outlawed,” Gluschick said. “But usually, the high school associations follow what the NCAA does, so this really isn’t that much of a surprise.”

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) announced on Tuesday a ban on composite-barreled bats. The ban follows suit after the NCAA announced a similar ban last year.

The ruling could cost high schools hundreds of dollars in replacements since the bats will not be allowed during the 2011 season.

“It’s tough but we’ll figure it out,” Gluschick said. “I know others have the same situation. We felt like we needed them just to keep up. The ball certainly jumps off the bat. We’ve been fortunate not to have any injuries but I know there have been some this year.”

The most notable injury due to a composite barrel bat took place when Gunnar Sandberg, a righthanded pitcher from Marin Catholic High in San Anselmo, Calif., was struck in the head by a line drive. He was placed in a medically-induced coma for several days. He has since been released from the hospital and gone through extensive rehab.

Coaches, when asked about the ruling, were in favor of the ban.

“I think it is a safety rule, especially for the third baseman and the pitcher,” said Alabama Christian Academy coach Don Gilliam. “I don’t think it will be that big of a deal.

“In our case, we don’t have team bats. Our players have their own and I don’t believe any of them have a composite barrel. They are so expensive but they are certainly good bats… I guess too good.”

Composite-barrel bats have an unusual capacity to improve in performance with more use. It’s not uncommon for owners to “roll” the bats to create friction on the barrel.

“I’ve read articles where people run over a bat with their car to give them more of a trampoline affect,” Gluschick said. “It actually made it stronger and more dangerously, obviously.”

Elliot Hopkins, NFHS liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee, and James Sherwood, director of the Baseball Research Center, and spent several hours witnessing composite bat testing.

“Rolling the bat gives it a higher performance,” Hopkins said. “It can significantly increase the performance and that’s huge in our game.”

Rolling the bat isn’t the only problem. Rolling only speeds up the performance enhancement that would occur over time after normal use. Even composite bats that were not altered will eventually see this increase in performance, and the rules committee views that as a major concern.

The new rule does not affect bats with composite handles. Under the new rule, bats with composite handles and tapers would still be legal. The stricter language applies primarily to the barrel of the bat.

“While the handles and taper are important components of the bat,” Hopkins said, “the area that we recognized as more susceptible to abuse is the barrel.”

Both Gluschick and Gilliam agree the next ruling would result in base coaches wearing helmets as they do in college and professional baseball.

“I’m surprised they haven’t already done it,” Gilliam said. “Whatever the NCAA does, it happens to the high schools.”