After reading the post on Al’s Fastball about the “Wood Bat Classic” in Pennsylvania, I wrote to Steve Banasik and asked him for a bit of background as to how the PA Wood Bat league and tournament got started. Below is his reply, which he was kind enough to permit me to include here:
The fact of the matter about the wooden bats came about at the end of last year. Every pitcher in the league (every) had been line drived, four third baseman had taken line shots to the chest and numerous games ended up with a 5’0″ second baseman hitting a check swing homerun. That’s not the way this game was meant to be played. The outfielders are playing up next to the fences and if you’re an infielder, getting to a ball that is not rifled right at you, well was an automatic gimme hit.
I searched for a solution just as every player has for an answer to the problem. A softer ball, Less charged bats and even the thoughts of moving the mound back, but those weren’t the right answers. I pitched my first game at the age of 12, Wooden bats were the rule then and the aluminium bat had just come out. I could remember how the game used to be and wanted to put things back into perspective. The answer was simple,,, Keep the game in 1972. Wooden bats, a non poly cored ball and put the word “game” back into the sport.
In mid season, our league adopted a trial game schedule so that every team would have to use wooden bats. The result was overwhelming. Games became exciting again. Fielders had to field the ball, make good throws and of course hit the ball true. It took a matter of two weeks for the league to make the change. Just last night the game in our league finished 2-1. The game was won on a fielding error allowing the winning team to score 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th. Plays are now exciting. In the first game of the evening, a baltimore chop over the pitcher was fielded by the third baseman who made the putout at third. There were 8 bunts and 2 slap hits, 12 pop outs….
The bat company that we are using at the present time (BWP Bat, LLC.) Also make MLB bats. Johnny Damone used one of their bats in the world series (he hit the homerun heard round the world with it), but we as a league are looking at a bat company that will work a little more with us, rather than “We” having to work for them. Just one other note. As a league we used to have 30 to 40 fans in the stands at each game (outside of players) now we fill our bleachers…. Some say that since the game has changed to a point that each game at the park is more exciting than watching tv, others say that it reminds them of the old days… Myself I think that we should even change the lookback rule to the way it was in the 60’s and 70’s and let the game be the game it was meant to be.
Many Thanks
Steven L. Banasick
Scottdale, PA
Southwestern PA Fay-West Fastpitch League
And still more:
Jim,
I can tell you that I have had almost 18 calls since last night about teams wanting to enter our tourney. I’ve been doing it for the past 11 years, but the one thing that I’ve al;ways made a major point in this event is that it is meant for Fastball players to have fun. We take a little extra time in making players welcome, A party for the teams on Saturday late night and good wholesome sportsmanship for all.
I love the idea of the Metal shaft – wood topped bat. I think that the slugger bat is the only one made, but it’s for baseball…. If we could talk a maker into doing these as a softball bat, it would be the ticket. Only because a lot of players have never used a wooden bat and aren’t sure how to hold it. (Trade Mark UP!!) lol. but accidents happen, but we overcome.
As far as the teams coming we already have 8 teams that have paid. – 1 that has just sent out their funds. The big push from here is to get a team from Canada to come…. I’d even work with them to help things out. As far as the Bats are concerned we will have 12 teams, using two fields, if we could get 1 dozen mixed lot from him that would allow ample supply for the cause.
If you have any input into getting a team from the north I’d surely appreciate it. We hope to set our media market focal point of the wooden bats towards the ASA, ISC, NAFA and even the state as they have launched a major Champaign to limit Bats in the state of PA. For the record, based upon our league play with wooden bats, here are some stats over a month;
Based upon a 245 ft fence.
8 -Home Runs
18 – Triples
28 – Doubles
9 – Broken Bats
0 – Pitchers linedrived
0 – Injuries to 3rd Base and 1st Base
38 – BuntsA few simple facts before the change Composite and Metal Bats:
28 – Homer Runs
9 – Triples
28 – Doubles
5 – Composite Bats @ $250.00 to $400.00 each
8 – Linedrived Pitchers (3 to the Hospital)
4 – linedrives 3rd baseman (1 to the Hospital)
3 – linedrived 1st baseman
5 – BuntsThe biggest difference that I’ve seen is found in the outfield. Most of the Outfielders are playing next to the fence with the metal and composite bats. Therefore, a ball hit with one of these bats travels much faster and harder. In most cases the balls bounce off the fence making the idea of a good gap shot less attractive. With wooden bats the outfield has to play in. In many cases with the metal bats “getting burned” is when a ball travels over your head, but with wooden bats, it’s the opposite. “Getting Burned” is when a ball falls in front of you. As a pitcher you know how that makes you feel. A dead quail hit that costs you a run….
Again, the only way to have change happen is to try it… In many cases it’s the only way for anything to happen. If it fails then you can place the blame on a try, but if you don’t take time to look at the game as a whole….. It will surely continue the path that it is on right now. Ashland , OH was the hot bed for activity as I was growing up. 30+ teams and there were leagues all around the tri state area, but take a look at what has happened to the game. Changing how it is played and what it is played with have all but put it to sleep. The girls have made it exciting, but watch it closely as it too is changing…. And, as a history buff….History will repeat itself and the Girls will suffer the same fate. Go back to what we know, go back to fix the future and we will all play to game will they can’t push the wheelchair out to the mound.