GARDEN CITY, NY LITTLE LEAGUE BANS METAL BATS,

MAKES THE SWITCH TO WOOD

Garden City, NY – The Garden City Athletic Association (GCAA) announced today that it will switch to “wood bats only” in Spring 2007 in its baseball leagues covering ages 8 through 12. In these leagues, the players themselves pitch to the batters.

“Our primary consideration in implementing the switch from metal to wood bats is the safety of our young players who are pitching in these leagues from the Little League distance of 46 feet,” said Al Vanasco, President of the GCAA.

“We know, of course, that we cannot make our programs totally risk-free, but we can, and must, take all necessary steps to eliminate what we believe are the very real risks presented by metal bats,” said Vanasco.

In the years since metal bats were introduced in the mid-1970’s as a cheaper, more durable alternative to wood bats, there have been many injuries and fatalities to youth league pitchers that resulted from batted balls hit off of metal bats. Citing both empirical and anecdotal evidence, opponents of metal bats claim that baseballs hit off of a metal bat travel at a substantially higher velocity than balls hit off of a wood bat.

“Every split-second matters,” said Mike Sparacino, a GCAA Board Member who led the movement for change. “Requiring that the bat be made of wood, not metal, will give our young pitchers more split-seconds to react and avoid being hit.”

In reaching this decision, the GCAA is taking a position that is contrary to that taken by Little League Baseball, Inc., the organization based in Williamsport, Pa. that charters and oversees the GCAA Little League program and 7,400 other programs like it around the world. Little League Baseball, Inc. claims that rules requiring that the specifications of metal bats be similar to wood bats have negated any safety issues.

“Inaction is not an option,” said Peter Johnson, a GCAA Board Member and past President of the GCAA’s baseball program. “Our responsibility, first and foremost, is to the children of our community who participate in our programs. We don’t want to wait until something tragic occurs before taking action.”

The decision of the GCAA comes at a time when there are indications that the anti-metal bat movement is gaining some momentum. Bills are currently pending in both the New York City Council and the New Jersey State Assembly that would ban the use of metal bats. Numerous leagues around the country are making the switch to wood. The Nassau-Suffolk Catholic High School Association, which includes Chaminade High School located in the village neighboring Garden City, made the switch last year.

“We realize that we are acting as trailblazers,” said Johnson, “but we are encouraged that we are not alone.”

According to GCAA Board Member Jim Confort, the GCAA will supply the wood bats, and replacement bats as needed, to the teams in these leagues. “We hope to strike a deal with a major wood bat manufacturer,” said Confort, “but we’re prepared to bear the cost no matter what.”

The mandatory wood bat rule does not apply to the GCAA Softball leagues since the softer ball used in those leagues inherently reduces the safety risks caused by batted balls. Further, at least for the Spring 2007 season, it will not be implemented in the 13 to 15 year-old league where the pitching distance is 60 feet, 6 inches.

The GCAA decision is being announced in its annual mailing to the Garden City community, which includes registration information about the upcoming 2007 baseball season. Apart from the safety issue, GCAA officials are expecting that some players and parents may be disappointed if the switch to wood results in fewer long-balls and hard line drives, especially as the kids get accustomed to using wood bats. Many baseball observers and experts contend, on the other hand, that it is a better game when played with wood, and that a greater emphasis will be placed on kids learning fundamental skills.

“We believe it will be a better game and a safer game,” said Sparacino. “Who would argue with this winning combination?”

- GCAA -