Houlton

One of the biggest rules issues in 2011 was determining the legality of composite bats. 2012 will prove to be more of the same for Little League majors and below. Life will get a little easier for the junior and senior baseball divisions.

The first question that everyone asks when it comes to the attention now being paid to composite barreled bats is why? Composite bats have the ability to be modified to increase performance with a process call “rolling” that compresses the material the bat is made out of and causes the bat to perform beyond safety rules in place at just about all levels of play. It only takes a couple of seconds of searching YouTube to see just how easy it is to do with the right equipment. If you’re not a do it your selfer  you can find a number of places willing to do the “rolling” for around $25 to $40. Once done there’s no visible signs that the bats been modified.  

The NCAA first started to change how bats were tested to insure that even a rolled bat would not perform beyond the safety standards. The bat is tested at its peak rather than fresh off the rack. Little League baseball followed with requiring new testing for composite bats used in majors and below.

The 2012 bat rule for majors and below

Composite barreled bats will continue to be illegal unless listed on an approved bat list. All bats must meet the BPF 1.15 and be screened on the bat.

The 2012 bat rule for Junior League baseball:

Non-composite barreled bats continue to not need any type of certification (BESR or BBCOR) and there’s no limit on weight to length. Composite barreled bats must meet BBCOR certification and have the certification screened on the bat.

The 2012 bat rule for Senior League baseball:

All bats used in Senor League baseball must be BBCOR certified and have the certification screened on the bat. Bats must not weigh more than three ounces less than the length.

Here are the Hermon Ladies having some fun at their regional in Bristol Ct.

The girls overall record was 4-2, losing in the semi finals against Connecticut. As it turns out, their only other loss was against CT earlier in the week.

They defeated Rhode Island (twice), Massachusetts & Vermont ~ Outscoring their opponents 38-30.

Great job Ladies !!

Maine District 3 would like to thank the following umpires who worked this year's Senior League World Series ~ We hope that you had a great time in Bangor

• East Region - Eric Lindbloom, Jim Haibon
• South West Region - Richerd Wagoner, Edward Zalewski
• West Region - David Moore, Dominic Boncore
• Central Region - Anthony Strepp, Richard Fronheiser
• South East Region - Harold Mabe, Floyd Harris
• Latin America - Jaime Rosario-Perez
• Canada - Denis Morin

Baseball

• 9-10 -  Bangor East - played in States
• 11-12 - Old Town - played in States
• Juniors - Bangor - played in States (won) - played in New Jersey Regional
• Seniors - Brewer - played in SLWS

Softball

• 9-10 - Hermon 
• 11-12 - Hermon - played in States (won) - played in Bristol Regional