Baseball Bats

The Chicagoland Metro League enforces High School bat limitations during the season for the 14U level. Those limitations are as follows:

1. cannot be more than 2 5/8" in diameter
2. its drop cannot be more than 3

A bat's drop is calculated by taking its weight in ounces less its length in inches. For example, a 34 inch bat must weigh at least 31 ounces for it to be permitted. A bat's drop contributes to swing speed. Clearly, a greater drop (lighter weight to length ratio) adds to swing speed. Apparently, this creates a greater risk of injury (particularly to pitchers) as the players get older.

CLICK HERE for a table of a sample of approved bats for the 14U level.

As we proceed through our Winter batting cage sessions, hitters will benefit by swinging a regulation bat. I also highly recommend that batters use the same regulation bat throughout the OYA Pony League recreational season--even though OYA imposes much more liberal bat requirements. It's important that the players build strength and become accustomed to the heavier bats before entering into a new season.

Coach Michael Heathcott

I'm pleased to announce that Coach Michael Heathcott will also be providing pitching instruction for our team. This instruction will supplement the development sessions already scheduled with Coach Al Hasan at Junior Diggins.

Coach Heathcott will be working with our pitchers on the evenings of Friday, January 14th and Friday, February 25th at the On-Deck Baseball Academy of Orland Park. As with our other development sessions, pitchers will be assigned a time during the evening for more individualized instruction. Please note that these events have been added to our team's schedule.

Coach Heathcott is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher, with experience with both the White Sox & Cubs organizations. Playing during one season at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox, Coach Heathcott is a Chicago-native who now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was drafted by the White Sox in the 13th round of the 1991 amateur draft. Coach Heathcott played his first professional season with their Class-A (Short Season) Utica Blue Sox in 1991, and his last with the Triple-A affiliates of the Chicago Cubs (Iowa Cubs) and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Edmonton Trappers) in 2000.