Rule allows earlier start for baseball, softball teams

Baseball, softball teams in the area report to practice Monday.

The Springfield baseball team celebrates a 2-1 win over Kenton Ridge last March. Practice begins for area softball and baseball teams today. Staff file Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

Barbara J. Perenic The Springfield baseball team celebrates a 2-1 win over Kenton Ridge last March. Practice begins for area softball and baseball teams today. Staff file Photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By David Jablonski, Staff Writer 10:49 PM Sunday, February 19, 2012

SPRINGFIELD — For years pitchers and catchers started practice for the high school baseball and softball season two weeks earlier than everyone else. It wasn’t much of a secret that many teams got around that rule by calling everyone pitchers and catchers.

Last year, the Ohio High School Athletic Association recognized that fact and voted to allow all players to start practice on the same day this season, so the gyms will be a little fuller today — except for the teams willing to brave the cold — as practice begins for area softball and baseball teams.

“It was time for change,” Shawnee softball coach Larry Spahr said. “The state was aware that this was a more economical way to police the activity. Just make them all start on the same day.”

Under the old rules, Springfield baseball coach Rob Cassell said, pitchers and catchers would have started today, and all other players would have reported to practice March 5. Practice for track and tennis still begins March 5.

“Our first scrimmage is on the 17th,” Cassell said. “That gives them 12 days to get ready for their first scrimmage. That doesn’t give kids a lot of time to get their arms ready. It kind of puts you behind the eight ball. This will give the kids four weeks to get their arms in shape. It’s about the safety of the kids. You were throwing them out there before they were ready to throw — and it’s cold at this time of year — and now you can ease them into it.”

The change won’t affect some programs as much.

“Our gym is so small it’s hard for us to practice in there,” Catholic Central softball coach Doug Skinner said. “It was kind of nice having a week or two just to have pitchers and catchers and get them ready. But with the bigger schools, it probably works out better if your gym is a little bigger. But it won’t be a problem to get everyone in there because I won’t have the basketball girls.”

Kenton Ridge baseball coach Aaron Shaffer likes the idea of getting 10 more days of practice with his young team. It will also give the players more time to get used to the new bats.

The OHSAA is mandating the use of BBCOR (Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution) bats beginning this season. The bats will be more similar to wooden bats in that they will have less trampoline bounce in the barrel.

“What they have done is deadened the bats,” Shaffer said. “The sweet spot is a little smaller. It’s going to be an adjustment to those new bats.”

Contact this reporter at (937)  328-0351 or David.Jablonski@ coxinc.com.

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