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ASA

BAT RECALL

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NFHS has been notified that Louisville Slugger has recalled its oneX bats because of a manufacturing issue that has compromised the durability of the bat which potentially shows up in the form of cracking between the barrel and handle.  In extreme cases, the manufacturing defect has resulted in a complete fracture between the handle and barrel.  The entire current line of oneX bats are being recalled.  Model numbers affected by the recall are FP136, FP1369 and FP1368.

The company will replace the recalled bats with 2013 Xeno bats and will discuss options with each customer to satisfy the price difference between the oneX and the Xeno replacement bat the customer will receive.

Directly from Louisville Slugger:

"For those of you impacted by this situation, we apologize for the inconvenience and we appreciate your patience.  We are working diligently to correct the issue and we look forward to launching our new bat models this summer with the same industry-leading performance you have grown accustomed to from Louisville Slugger.  We pledge to work tirelessly to maintain your trust, continue to bring you confidence at the plate, deliver the best in class product you have come to expect from Louisville Slugger and continue to bring you the best products the sport has to offer."

You may contact the customer service department 1-800-282-2287 to discuss this recall further.

Please peruse your school bats to determine if you have purchased oneX bats and make the necessary exchanges.  You will need to notify the players on your team of the oneX bat recall so that they are able to return such bat, if they have purchased one.

ASA has been given this same recall notification and the bats have been removed from the approved bat list.  You may access that list by using the link provided on NFHS Arbiter Hub under Softball Resources or by going directly to the ASA web page.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Umpires took more than 50 bats from players at last year's USA/ASA 18-under National Fastpitch Championships in the Quad Cities.

The same thing happened in Normal at last month's Firecracker Tournament.

With some bats costing more than $300, having one taken out of play is no small matter. "It's all a safety issue," said Donna Shurtz, the umpire coordinator for this week's USA/ASA 12-under National Fastpitch Championship at Champion Fields.

Shurtz, standing over a barrel of 10 confiscated bats in the press box Wednesday, said bats are taken out of play if any chips or cracks are visible no matter how small.

"Every now and then you will see a bat actually shatter," said Tim McKeown, coach of the BNGSA Angels 12-under team, co-host of the tournament with the Angels 11s. "There are a lot that are fracturing."

Some bats are made of exotic materials including aluminum lined with graphite and titanium. Others are made of composite materials such as carbon fiber, fiber glass and Kevlar.

Bat makers seek to create lighter bats with bigger "sweet spots" so batters can generate more power in their swing.

Shurtz remembers Californians bringing bats to the Quad Cities last year only to learn they couldn't be used.

"They're upset and I'm sorry about that," she said. "As umpires, it is our responsibility that all equipment is safe and legal for the safety of the kids."

Kim Nelson-Brown, coach of the Angels 11s, said her daughter, Tyler, is on her fourth bat of the year.

Read more: Umpires confiscating softball bats due to safety issues