Hmmm,
 

The memo I was sent had an added paragraph that spoke directly to the NIKE bat.

My post kind of truncated that process.

Sorry.

TC

Here is exactly what I was sent:

Peter Weber of the OSAS sent Eliot an e-mail that was in association with my question concerning bats.

From Peter Weber Associatied Director of The Oregon School Activities Assocaiton (Baseball Coordinator). The memo was adressed to him and copied to me.

Please share this information with your staff, schools and baseball officials. The following baseball bats have been found rule-compliant by the NFHS for use in high school baseball:

1. DeMarini Vendetta

2. Reebok Vector O

"I also asked him about the Nike Aero Fuse and he said that was a legal bat." Weber quote.

BESR stamp is there, kid gets to use it in my game. I won't ask any questions and the unit president or instructors hasn't covered in the meetings. BESR stamp=good enough for me. Let the hitter think it's helping him hit. It isn't.

Vendettas are LEGAL in IL
 

(no pun intended - I'm referring to the bat)

The DeMarini Vendetta bat, as of today, is now LEGAL in Illinois. This is a change from the original Illinois High School Association ruling. The online rules interp meeting will now also reflect this change.

The Reebok Vector O is still ILLEGAL in Illinois.

JJ

I saw a Reebok Vector 0 yesterday. It doesn't look as if it should be made illegal. it was properly stamped BESR.

Why is the Vector ILLEGAL if the FED has said it's legal? (I know -- the handle isn't a cylinder. I guess the question is why has IL chosen to "override" the FED in this case? You can respond off-line if you'd like.)

BESR is only one criterion that a bat must have to be legal.

At the Illinois High School Interpreter's meeting we were told the Vendetta bat AND the Reebok were both ILLEGAL. Last week we got an email from Dave Gannaway, the IHSA Baseball guru, that the Vendetta was now LEGAL but the Reebok was still ILLEGAL. He gave no reasoning.
My bet is we wait a bit longer until the FED decides what IT wants to do, and then the IHSA will fall in line. Rule changes "on the fly"... I find it interesting that the rule book says "smooth cylinder", so there is support in black and white that would EASILY disallow these "gimmick" bats. By starting to make exceptions the FED has opened a can of worms and will necessitate individual rulings on many more such items in the years to come.

JJ

FED could use a back bone transplant.

Both are now LEGAL in IL
 

I just received an email from the IHSA's Baseball guy, and both the Demarini Vendetta bat and the Reebok Vector O bat are now LEGAL in Illinois. As I suspected, the IHSA is going with the NFHS ruling.

JJ

it really makes minimal difference to us as officials...we're not shelling out hundreds of dollars for a bat. this will be one slide in the rules meeting...game, set, match.

The following message is now posted in the "Case Plays" portion of the IHSA (Illinois) Officials' Center and Schools' Center:

"2/14 Illegal Bat

Boys Baseball

Coaches,

It is very important that you notify your baseball players that one bat meets the BESR certification but is illegal by rule since it is not round on the handle. The Reebock Vector O has been identified by the NFHS an Illegal bat.


THE NFHS HAS JUST NOTIFIED ALL STATE ASSOCIATIONS THIS BAT WILL BE LEGAL.

DAVE GANNAWAY
IHSA"

Wow. If we changed our mind this much in a game, we'd never see a field again.

Shipments Have Sailed
 

The NCAA or NFHS were not in a legal position to issue alternate rulings on any of the other bats right away. Approval of the first change in metal bat handle design opened the door for bat manufacturers to follow. Time will tell if these new bats offer significant advantages over BESR certification requirements. The NCAA and NFHS would then have to address the entire bat making industry.

Wow! I had no idea a post I made a month and a half ago had generated so much discussion!

No, this is what happens when States don't contact the National before making dumb decisions. The National ruled that these bats were legal for HS play a long time ago but ISHA thought that they were better at making this decision. I guess ISHA learned their lesson.