OT- fastpitch bats

[ELKAHOLIC]

Following. I too, am in need of a bat for my 11 year old.

[AXIS_KILLER]

@Heath
We are having 100% return on our xenos, one girls has been replace 4 times in 7 months. The othe 4 girls have all had theirs replaced at least once since purchased. The 1 LXT that we have has also been replaced once. Keep in mind that the girl that has had hers replaced 4 times is a freshman in high school who is committed to UT and hits 24/7 while 2 of the other 3 are Jr's and are also committed to play D1 ball. My daughter is a sophomore and has not decided where to go as of now but will likely end up D1. All these girls hit a lot more than average so these bats take a beating. I was fortunate to spend some time with one of Louiville's head reps in Colorado last summer and he was very honest about what was going on but felt they had fixed the problem with the xeno. We have not had a 2014 model snap in half but they will start to rattle inside. I spoke with a rep a few weeks back and he said they were having issues with that but were already on the way to fixing it. We haven't had problems with the De Marinis ever breaking, maybe one or two over the years but it is not a xeno. The bat doesn't make a hitter but it's hard to argue the explosion of a xeno compared to any other bat on the market. Yes they are going to break, yes they are expensive but I don't believe there's anything like them. So since my kid or the other kids she plays with don't like the cf6, the worth or anything else you put in their hand we keep using them because in the end they perform. We have 2 now in case one breaks during game. UT started using the Easton Mako this season and from what I hear they are very happy with them but they are still pretty new not sure how they will be in the long run

Really. How is she committed as a freshman? Is she committed on going to UT, like she is going there no matter what, on her own accord, or is she committed to the UT athletics program? nI only ask because I would like to see how my daughter could do this, when she gets that age.

Also, what school is this, because if they have 3-4 D-1 softball commits, I would like to keep up with them and see how they do this season. Seems like the UIL should just mail them the trophy.

[sambo73]

Following. I too, am in need of a bat for my 11 year old.

She decide to play this yr? How u been?

[chancito1]

Axis killer they play for a travel team, Taylor is verbally committed to UT as a freshman. That means UT contacted her travel coach and said they would like to offer x amount of dollars towards her scholarship. She is a stud catcher that has an overhand throw at 70mph and is a hitting machine. She has been coached by an all America/Former Olympian and pro player for the last 3 years. It's not "official" till she signs after her Jr year but that's why it's called a verbal. There are a lot of big D1 schools recruiting freshman and sophomores if they are that good.

[Heath]

Really. How is she committed as a freshman? Is she committed on going to UT, like she is going there no matter what, on her own accord, or is she committed to the UT athletics program? nI only ask because I would like to see how my daughter could do this, when she gets that age.

Also, what school is this, because if they have 3-4 D-1 softball commits, I would like to keep up with them and see how they do this season. Seems like the UIL should just mail them the trophy.

It is not uncommon for colleges to offer underclassmen scholarships. This means that the coaches at Texas has offered her a scholarship for the 2018 season (I think that's right for a freshman). This commitment is not bidding until she signs her National Letter of Intent her senior year (I think). Both the player and the school can back out of the offer until the NIL is signed. You usually don't see a school drop an offer from a school unless something major happens. Most freshmen don't get major D1 offers, but some do.

[AXIS_KILLER]

Axis killer they play for a travel team, Taylor is verbally committed to UT as a freshman. That means UT contacted her travel coach and said they would like to offer x amount of dollars towards her scholarship. She is a stud catcher that has an overhand throw at 70mph and is a hitting machine. She has been coached by an all America/Former Olympian and pro player for the last 3 years. It's not "official" till she signs after her Jr year but that's why it's called a verbal. There are a lot of big D1 schools recruiting freshman and sophomores if they are that good.

So they dont play for their high school? They strictly play travel ball. That is different? What team do they play for, if you dont mind me asking?

[chancito1]

@Heath I didn't take it as being defensive at all and appreciate your input. I may be calling you for info from now on so I don't have to sit on hold with louiville. You simply can't argue with the warranty from louiville if it breaks with in that year it's replaced. I sent one off on Friday and got it back the following Thursday. Like I said before these girls hit 100 balls a day. T work, soft toss, front toss and live. We do try not to hit outdoors in cold and only hit softballs. My daughter was on a softball visit to a college a few weeks ago the head coach was talking about their sponsors, which I believe was de marini for bats, when she finished and asked her if she had any questions she said yes mam I do, " can I still use my xeno?" You couldn't pry that thing out of her hands

[canamxmr2011]

Heath, Do you only sell womens softball bats or do you sell slowpitch also? and do you sell to individuals or just big orders to stores?

[chancito1]

Yes they still play high school ball, Georgetown High School actually has 3 D1 committed players right now. Mine plays for cedar creek high school. They all played for a travel team called the Texas Dirtbags 18u gold but org changed the name recently to THZ. Two girls moved to Texas Blaze one stayed with THZ,
mine moved to Houston power and one to sudden impact I believe.

[Heath]

@Heath I didn't take it as being defensive at all and appreciate your input. I may be calling you for info from now on so I don't have to sit on hold with louiville. You simply can't argue with the warranty from louiville if it breaks with in that year it's replaced. I sent one off on Friday and got it back the following Thursday. Like I said before these girls hit 100 balls a day. T work, soft toss, front toss and live. We do try not to hit outdoors in cold and only hit softballs. My daughter was on a softball visit to a college a few weeks ago the head coach was talking about their sponsors, which I believe was de marini for bats, when she finished and asked her if she had any questions she said yes mam I do, " can I still use my xeno?" You couldn't pry that thing out of her hands

The colleges that don't have contracts (Texas, A&M, LSU, etc) are beating down my doors to get on board with us. I have enjoyed the upswing in business.

Heath, Do you only sell womens softball bats or do you sell slowpitch also? and do you sell to individuals or just big orders to stores?

I am the Texas (top half) and Oklahoma sales rep for Louisville Slugger, so I only sell to the sporting good stores. I work with colleges, travel ball teams, and high schools, but all of those orders go through my stores. I do have samples that I sell from time to time to repay my sample bill, but generally don't sell anything to the public. I sell everything that is in our line in baseball, fastpich, and slowpitch.

[sambo73]

Thx Heath for all ur info on this subject.

[CBHunter]

So they dont play for their high school? They strictly play travel ball. That is different? What team do they play for, if you dont mind me asking?

As chancit01 and Heath can attest, most girls recruited by D1 schools are recruited based on their performance on the travel team. Yes, they play high school ball, but the college coaches don't watch that as much. With travel teams, it's usually the cream of the crop...especially when you get to the 18u level. In high school, you have girls that don't play all the time and might not even make a travel team. Are there girls that only play high school ball that are good enough for D1...yes. Are there girls playing travel ball that aren't good enough for D1...yes.

[Heath]

As chancit01 and Heath can attest, most girls recruited by D1 schools are recruited based on their performance on the travel team. Yes, they play high school ball, but the college coaches don't watch that as much. With travel teams, it's usually the cream of the crop...especially when you get to the 18u level. In high school, you have girls that don't play all the time and might not even make a travel team. Are there girls that only play high school ball that are good enough for D1...yes. Are there girls playing travel ball that aren't good enough for D1...yes.

This is correct. If you want to play college softball then travel ball is were your daughter is going to be recruited from.

Another note on buying bats......

If you purchase from Ebay make sure it is from an authorized Louisville Slugger dealer. The only bats we warranty are if they are from an authorized dealer. It doesn't matter if the bat is still brand new in the wrapper; if it don't come from an authorized dealer we don't honor the warranty. If it is from an authorized LS dealer than they will have to follow our pricing guidelines (so you might as well go buy it local for the same price). A lot of the times the local dealer can get in touch with the rep (me) and I can help you if you have any issues as well. I strongly suggest sporting your local sporting good stores.

[ELKAHOLIC]

She decide to play this yr? How u been?

Yes. She played for a travel team last year, but this year she will play in county league. Not sure if she will play for another travel team this year as she is also playing basketball on a travel team.

As for the bats. She used a xeno last year and it was great. I am all for it, but my wife is hesitant on spending $300 on a bat, knowing that the other girls will want to use it and not understand how expensive it is. It's hard to take when they are rough with it in the dug out, etc.
Not really sure what to do, but a good bat makes a world of difference.

[chancito1]

Hey Heath did you have any complaints with the black and yellow Easton's last year? They were right at $300.00. I'm asking because when Louisville was back ordered on the xeno last year we needed a stick I was told it had same performance as the xeno. I personally did not think it was even close after buying it but curious what you thought about it