People Cheat at Softball?

Have you ever played softball? In a Sunday league, weeknight league, or worse yet, tournaments? Having played 142 games in the last 12 months, I can say that I play often. Especially since I live in Connecticut, where the season only lasts from April to early November. Have you ever seen some of these guys? Wearing jeans, sweatpants and sometimes (frightfully so) khakis? Ten fat out of shape truckers that can barely hit the ball, let alone catch or throw it. You take a look at the other team... nice, brand new Boombah pants with matching cleats and jerseys, but most are still fat and out of shape. Then you see ball after ball travel 400' and wonder where they learned to hit like that. I used to think the same way, and then I realized something. Every player on the team was using the same exact bat!

Playing softball starting in 2000, things were simple, you buy a bat for $75-$150, grab a glove, cleats, and some shorts... and go play! As years passed, new equipment was emerging, namely composite double wall bats. All of a sudden we have these great bats available, they did not dent in the cold, vibrate at all, and the ball carried off these things like a bat out of hell. Times were great! Any player could hit a ball just right, and BANG! Split a gap in the outfield and circle the bases. But then (around 2004) things started to change. As the bat companies were just starting to restrict the bats (to comply with ASA and USSSA standards), balls were flying further. As leagues started to use restricted flight balls, they still flew further. I don't know about anyone else out there, but it was confusing. Then I heard a little rumor about shaving bats.

For those that are not familar with the process, here is a quick overview. A guy buys a bat, such as an Worth Mayhem (bat #1). They also buy a very cheap bat from the same manufacturer (bat #2). They put bat #1 in a rolling machine to put pressure on all sides of the bat, simulating the break in needed on composite bats. They boil the end of bat #1 to soften the plastic end cap. Once this is soft, it is very easy to remove, although the cap is typically damaged and useless. The bat is then put on a lathe machine, where a precise (usually .001"-.010") amount is "shaved" off the inside wall. This gives the bat more flex when the ball is struck, increasing what is known as the "trampoline effect". Next, bat #2 is cut in half, so the end cap can be removed from the inside. Once the cap is removed from bat #2 (with little or no damage of course), it is then put onto bat #1. This gives the appearance of a brand new, fresh out of the wrapper bat.

A shaved bat increases the velocity in which the ball travels off the bat. ASA bats must conform to their 98 mph standard. After shaving, I have heard of some ASA bats being as high as a 110 mph rating. It may not sound like much, but have you ever played 3rd base or pitcher with a ball coming off the bat at 110 mph? In professional baseball, where equipment is closely monitored, a 3rd baseman is typically 90 feet or more away from the batter, and the pitcher is about 55 feet away when the batter makes contact. In slowpitch softball, a 3rd baseman is about 65 feet away and a pitcher is lucky to be 50 feet away. Add in a high, slow arc to the pitch, and a good hitter can place that ball anywhere he wants. Now add the shaved bat, and it is just a recipe for disaster. You wouldn't even need a shaved bat to injure someone (I broke a guy's colarbone once), but add in the extra velocity, and people are getting seriously injured. In Branford, CT back in 2007, a pitcher had half of the bones in his face broken by a batted ball. It is suspected that it was illegally altered because the hitter would not give up his bat, but I never followed up with the story to see what happened. Another man was Killedin Ohio that same year when the pitcher was struck in the chest. I know this is just a couple of the many incidents over the past few years, I would love to hear more about people being caught! The league I am in on Sundays does their best, put up a fee, the bat is sent in for testing. If it come back as altered, the player is suspended for life from the league. I once discovered a player on my own team was using an illegally shaved bat. As the coach, I removed him from the team and reported it to the league.

Grown men cheating at a game. A little gamesmanship to get a small edge is okay. Getting under players skin, taunting, even harassing... all okay in my book. But to flat out cheat, that is unforgivable.