The Fastpitch Chronicle

Here is an important announcement from the NFHS, WIAA and Hillerich & Bradsby via the Arthur J. Gallagher Company.

All Hillerich & Bradsby (Louisville Slugger OneX bats are banned. None pass the safety testing so their are banned and illegal bats in high school softball and all softball action. That announcement was made nationwide some time ago. School District business managers were even sent an e-mail from the Arthur J. Gallagher company. Here is the link to the information about the bats and the dangers they present.

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2013/Louisville-Slugger-OneX-Fastpitch-Softball-Bats or Click Here

Description
The recalled bats include all OneX style bats. The composite bat has a white and grey shell with blue and yellow lettering. “Louisville Slugger oneX” appears twice on the barrel, in yellow in one place and in blue lettering on the other side. The “X” is yellow in both places.

Incidents/Injuries
Approximately170 bat handle separations have been reported to the company. The company is aware of one report of a barrel from a broken bat hitting a player in the shin.

Remedy
Consumers should immediately stop using the bat and contact Hillerich & Bradsby for a free replacement bat and the choice of an additional free item.

Sold at
The bats were sold nationwide at sporting goods, other retail stores and distributed to college amateur competitive softball teams from approximately May 2012 through February 2013 for about $350.

Importer
Hillerich & Bradsby Co. of Louisville, Ky.

Manufactured in China

Here are the rules covering the use of a banned bat.
Rule 1, Article 5, d, The bat shall: Meet the 2004 ASA Bat Performance Standard, bear either the 2000 or 2004 certification mark (see figure 1-6) and no be listed on the ASA non-approved bat list as found on www.asasoftball.com. Bat barrels made entirely of wood are permitted and need not bear an ASA mark, but shall not exceed 2 1/4 inches in diameter.
Rule 7, Section 4 Batter is Out, Article 2 The batter enters the batter's box with an illegal bat or is discovered having used an illegal bat and the infraction is detected before the next legal or illegal pitch (only the umpire or defense may detect an illegal bat). Penalty: (Section 4) The batter is out and in article 2 all runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. In Article 2 when the illegal bat is an altered or non-approved bat, the batter and head coach are also ejected. Runners would not return if they were put out on the play.