Equipment

SMLL provides bats, batting helmets, catchers gear, practice balls, and other necessary equipment for clinics, practices, and games. While many players have their own bat, generally a player can use a bat from the bat rack in the dugout. If you decide to invest in a bat for your player, please see below for important information.

For baseball, the league will provide (included in your registration) a team jersey and hat. You will need to purchase baseball pants and shoes. Rubber cleats are recommended for all ages, metal cleats are ONLY allowed for the Intermediate Division and above.

For softball, the league will provide (included in your registration) a team jersey and socks. You will need to purchase baseball pants/shorts and shoes. Rubber cleats are recommended for all ages, metal cleats are ONLY allowed for the Junior Division and above.

Bats - What Do I Need to Know

Trying to determine what size bat to buy for your child? Go to the following link; How To Fit A Bat

USABat Standard for Rookie thru Junior Divisions baseball only, for those parents please make sure you go the following link; USABat Standard.

For a list of approved Bats, go to the following UASBat link; Approved USABat List

Intermediates and Junior baseball division can use either USABat standard and/or BBCOR.

Senior baseball division must use BBCOR.

Updated as of February 15, 2018

Rule 1.10 – Baseball

The bat must be a baseball bat which meets the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat) as adopted by Little League. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick, and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat).

Beginning with the 2018 season, non-wood and laminated bats used in the Little League (Majors) and below, Intermediate (50-70) Division, Junior League divisions, and Challenger division shall bear the USA Baseball logo signifying that the bat meets the USABat – USA Baseball’s Youth Bat Performance Standard. All BPF – 1.15 bats will be prohibited beginning with the 2018 season. Additionally, starting in 2018, the bat diameter shall not exceed 2⅝ inches for these divisions of play. Bats meeting the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) standard may also be used in the Intermediate (50-70) Division and Junior League divisions. Additional information is available at LittleLeague.org/batinfo.

Tee Ball:

Under the USABat standard, certified Tee Ball bats (26″ and shorter) will feature the USA Baseball mark and text which reads ONLY FOR USE WITH APPROVED TEE BALLS. All Tee Ball bats must feature the USA Baseball mark and accompanying text. Tee Ball bats that were produced and/or purchased prior to the implementation of the new standard can be certified using an Approved Tee Ball Sticker via the USA Baseball Tee Ball Sticker Program (USABaseballShop.com) beginning September 1, 2017.

NOTE: Approved Tee Ball bats may also be used for Coach Pitch/Machine Pitch Minor Divisions only with the use of approved Tee Balls.

Minor/Major Divisions:

It shall not be more than 33 inches in length; nor more than 2⅝ inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30″) at its smallest part. Wood bats taped or fitted with a sleeve may not exceed sixteen (16) inches from the small end.

NOTE 1: Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo.

NOTE 2: Approved Tee Ball bats may also be used for Coach Pitch/Machine Pitch Minor Divisions only with the use of approved Tee Balls.

Intermediate (50-70) Division and Junior League:

It shall not be more than 34″ inches in length; nor more than 2⅝ inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30″) at its smallest part. Wood bats taped or fitted with a sleeve may not exceed eighteen (18) inches from the small end.

NOTE 1: Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo.

NOTE 2: Also, permitted for the Intermediate (50-70) Division and Junior League Division are bats meeting the BBCOR performance standard, and so labeled with a silkscreen or other permanent certification mark. The certification mark shall be rectangular, a minimum of a half-inch on each side and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color. Aluminum/alloy and composite bats shall be marked as to their material makeup being aluminum/alloy or composite. This marking shall be silkscreen or other permanent certification mark, a minimum of one-half-inch on each side, and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color.

Senior League:

It shall not be more than 36 inches in length, nor more than 2⅝ inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30″) at its smallest part. Wood bats taped or fitted with a sleeve may not exceed eighteen (18) inches from the small end. The bat shall not weigh, numerically, more than three ounces less than the length of the bat (e.g., a 33-inch-long bat cannot weigh less than 30 ounces). All bats not made of a single piece of wood shall meet the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard, and such bats shall be so labeled with a silkscreen or other permanent certification mark. The certification mark shall be rectangular, a minimum of a half-inch on each side and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color. Aluminum/alloy and composite bats shall be marked as to their material makeup being aluminum/alloy or composite. This marking shall be silkscreen or other permanent certification mark, a minimum of one-half-inch on each side, and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color.

In all divisions, a non-wood bat must have a grip of cork, tape, or composition material, and must extend a minimum of 10 inches from the small end. Slippery tape or similar material is prohibited.

NOTE 1: The traditional batting donut is not permissible.

NOTE 2: Under the USABat standard, certified Tee Ball bats (26” and shorter) will feature the USA Baseball mark and text which reads ONLY FOR USE WITH APPROVED TEE BALLS. All Tee Ball bats must feature the USA Baseball mark and accompanying text. Tee Ball bats that were produced and/or purchased prior to the implementation of the new standard can be certified using an Approved Tee Ball Sticker via the USA Baseball Tee Ball Sticker Program (USABaseballShop.com) beginning September 1, 2017.

NOTE 3: Non-wood bats may develop dents from time to time. Bats that have cracks or sharp edges, or that cannot pass through the approved Little League bat ring for the appropriate division must be removed from play. The 2¼-inch bat ring must be used for bats labeled 2¼. The 2⅝-inch bat ring must be used for bats labeled for 2⅝.

NOTE 5: An illegal bat must be removed. Any bat that has been altered shall be removed from play.

Rule 1.10 – Softball

The bat must be a softball bat which meets Little League specifications and standards as noted in this rule. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick and made of wood or a material tested and proved acceptable to Little League standards. The bat shall be no more than 33 inches (34 inches for Junior/Senior League) in length, not more than two and one-quarter (2¼) inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenth (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30 inches) at its smallest part. Non-wood bats shall be printed with a BPF (bat performance factor) of 1.20. Bats may be taped or fitted with a sleeve for a distance not exceeding 16 inches from the small end. Colored bats are acceptable. A non-wood bat must have a grip of cork, tape or composition material, and must extend a minimum of 10 inches from the small end. Slippery tape or similar material is prohibited.

An illegal or altered bat must be removed.

If you have any questions regarding baseball or softball equipment, please go to the Contact Us tab on our homepage and contact our Equipment Manager

USA Bat FAQs

New bat regulations go into effect January 1, 2018. Please familiarize yourself with the new bat standards to ensure any bats you purchase can be used for St Mary’s Little League play.

What is the new rule?

ALL baseball bats used for Rookie through Juniors baseball games and practices must have be USA Baseball Certified.

What does it mean to be USA Baseball Certified?

The certification is easy to identify. Look for the USA Baseball Logo on the neck of the bat just above the grip. Below is what the logo looks like:

Who does the new rule affect?

Little League Baseball, Inc. has adopted the USA Baseball standards for baseball bats. This impacts St Mary’s Little League and all other Little Leagues throughout the country. If you are 14 years old or younger and play Little League, Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken, PONY, Dixie or AABC, you need to use a new bat marked with a new USA Baseball stamp.

The baseball divisions affected at St Mary’s Little League include Rookie, Minors, Majors, Intermediate, and Juniors baseball divisions. The regulations do not affect Tee Ball or Seniors play.

Is anyone not affected by the new rule?

USSSA youth baseball will not be making any rule changes to the bat regulations at this time. So if you are 14 years old or younger and you play on a travel or select ball team and are playing in a tournament that is under USSSA rules you can continue to use bats marked with the 1.15BPF stamp after January 1, 2018. For many St Mary’s Little League families this is not applicable, but for those that play select or tournament baseball, you do not have to sell or trade your recently purchased bats.

As noted above, Tee Ball and Seniors Little League divisions are not affected by the new bat rules.

What is the difference between the old and new bats?

Bats under the old standard generally show a marking on the barrel of the bat with a 1.15BPF stamp; these will no longer be allowed.

The look of the new bats will change. The goal is to make the bat play similar to a wood bat and it is expected that the new bats will lose approximately 10% of batted ball speed. The barrel size will increase to 2 5/8”, which will result in more contact with pitches. This is a change from the current standard of 2 1/4”. Under the new USA bat standard, both 2 1/4” and 2 5/8” barrel bats will be allowed for play.

One misconception is that new bats will not be made of composite materials. This is not true; you will see new bats made of composite, aluminum, and/or a combination of materials. The new bats will still have drop weight differences to allow youth players to swing a lighter bat without having to reduce the length.

Are wood bats allowed instead of the new bats?

Yes. Little League allows the use of wood bats. A wood bat more commonly makes for a better hitter in the long term. Many players enjoy the use of composite or aluminum bats because they are constructed to take the “sting” out of a batted ball that is not struck by the barrel. For Minor through Major play, the only current regulations required for the use of a wood bat is that bat is no longer than 33” in length and it has a barrel size of 2 ¼” inches.

Are old bats grandfathered in?

No.There is no grandfathering of old bats at the Rookie through Juniors levels. All bats used for games and practices must be USA Baseball certified.

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St. Mary's Little League

Baseball & Softball