[jkumpire]

Well,

I had another game in the frozen tundra of Ohio today, and I got to use my HSM again.

Unlike the last time I wore it, I was wearing an Underarmor head/ear cold weather hat/cover. The fit was much much better with the hat on under the HSM, maybe like those FB players who wear a skull cap under their helmets.

Even though this is my second game with the HSM, taking it off is as easy as doing a regular mask, but then I have been using an 8 stitch cap for years behind the plate, so it shouldn't be a problem for me. IMO, the only times you should treat an HSM any different than a regular mask is: 1. Don't take it off to brush the plate, and 2, keep it on between innings, unless you need the breeze on your head. Keeping it on frees your hands for the other things you are doing between innings, and brushing the plate is easier with it on than off.

The other big news was that I took a shot right on the cage tonight, and the HSM did a nice job. No blinks after the hit, just a thump, and that's it. Now it was a HS game, and I am sure I will take harder hits later in the season. But, the HSM is starting to feel comfortable, and I am really starting to like it.

I had a couple of times coaches were making switches between innings, and carrying the mask in your left hand makes it hard to write on a lineup card.

I did have a complaint about the HSM, AllStar did not leave very much stretch fabric straps to make adjustments to fit on the helmet, Just before I went on the field, I changed a strap, and by the time I took it off, the strapping had come undone. A slight irritation, but an irritation none the less. But, AllStar needs to be appaluded, the padding inside the HSM is great. It is very, very comfortable, and from other HSM's have I have seen it is a big improvement.

I just wish they made the opening in the cage a little wider. So many people who have worn HSM's say they have a much better viewing area for their eyes than a regular mask. In my experience, that is not the case. I see as well in this as my Wilson "NewView" mask, or even my older stuff.

When Summer nall comes, I will probably go back to a regular mask for kids games (13-16 yr. old stuff). All my other stuff from Legion on up I will use the HSM.

The worst thing about it is that my luck has not changed much-- I had another balk tonight, and some stupid asst. coach that said the BU has to call
that balk, not you. The balk? LH picks his foot up, steps right to HP, and throws to 1B. That's balk #5 on the season already, and usually don't have as many balks or dopey coaches all HS season long. Home team was down 7-1 in the bottom of the 7th, and scored 7 runs to win it. Heck, without the big comeback, the game is 1:40, with it, it was 2:00 nuts (but I'm complianing too much, in my first game with the HSM I beat the SB game by 20 minutes).

Comments?