USA Baseball, the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the U.S., in conjunction with participating national member organizations has adopted a new method for measuring bat performance in the testing of youth bats. Informed by the research of leading scientists on the USA Baseball Bat Study Committee, and supported by its National Member Organizations, USA Baseball has concluded that recent advancements in science, engineering, technology, and the materials available to fabricate non-wood bats, now allow the manufacturers to construct youth bats that can perform at a wood-like level through the entire range of lengths and weights of youth bats.

In conjunction with USA Baseball and its other participating national member organizations, PONY Baseball has adopted the new USA Baseball bat standard (USABat).

Effective January 1, 2018, with the exception of -3 (BBCOR certified), all other minus factor bats (-5, -7, -9, etc.), must be USABat certified with the USABat licensing stamp on the bat in order to be used for league and tournament play. Minus factor bats -5, -7, -9, etc. used in 2017 will be illegal to use in 2018. 

Bats manufactured specifically for use in tee ball play, shall not be used when ball is pitched by a player, coach or pitching machine, unless using a safety ball.  Coach-pitch bats will only be used in coach-pitch using a safety ball.  If using a tee ball bat manufactured prior to 2018, these bat must carry the USA Baseball mark accompanied by the following text:  “Only For Use With Approved Tee Ball Bat.”  If you already have a tee ball bat you would like to continue using, all you have to do is purchase a USA Bat sticker directly from USABB and place it on your bat.

• Wood bats are legal (no stamp needed)
• Bats used in games are required to have the USA Stamp (2018)
• $50-250 price range
• Bats range from -5 to -12
• The pop is different, attend a demo!  See below.

Cypress Youth Baseball has partnered with Earl Singer to provide demo days for our league members. The dates will be added to our calendar and emailed out to all members for attendance.  We will schedule these demos on at least 2 Sundays during the Fall Ball 2017 season.  At the demos, you will be able to:

• Try out and test the new USABat certified bats
• Purchase the new certified bats on site
• Place orders for the new certified bats
• Ask questions, consult with Earl and other members of the board