It is tragic for the boy that got hit. I’m always a little scared that my kid will hit a pitcher.
One of the problems with this age group is that some develop faster than others, and you have a teenager hitting a child pitcher.
But I don’t know what argument they can have that the bat manufacturer was in any way responsible.
The bats are indeed responsible for the accelerated speed but that's all. If there is any party to blame then it's on the parents of all little leaguers who want their kids to be home run hitters until their own little kid gets injured like this one.
I play a lot of senior softball and the two main governing bodies are the ASA and USSSA. The ASA has a "Banned Bat List" that is 3 or 4 pages long and each year keeps growing. USSSA's list isn't as long but it still is extensive.
Softball bats today have evolved beyond the metal bats and are now called "composits" since they are made out of carbon fiber. These bats can be made really "hot"....and manufacturers are now being forced to "dumb them down" so they can be used in ASA and USSSA league play
Here's the kicker tho, nobody I know wants to use the "dumbed down" bats but are forced to. The only reason the softball agencies now have such strict rules is to protect themselves and the leagues from potential lawsuits........So the whole industry suffers.
>>It is tragic for the boy that got hit. I’m always a little scared that my kid will hit a pitcher.<<
In little league I was the “home run hitter” on whatever team I played on. For me it was easy. I could almost place where I wanted the ball to go. Then I got to Jr. High, and the pitchers could actually throw the ball. I was done. I was too afraid of being hit.
From then on it was softball for me.
Interestingly, my brother is 55 and STILL pitches in a BASEBALL league.