Wood or Metal: As it stands, 5 NIAA schools in California would have to use wood

Five California high schools who play baseball in the NIAA - North Tahoe, South Tahoe, Coleville, Truckee and Needles - are keeping a watchful eye on California lawmakers these days.

In early May, a bill asking for a moratorium on all non-wood baseball bats for two years made it out of committee. The bill was introduced by Marin County Democrat Jared Huffman after one of the baseball players in his area, 16-year-old Gunnar Sandberg of Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield was hit in the face with a line drive back in March. The bill, according to reports, is out of committee and before the full Assembly in California.

If passed, it would take effect next spring.

So where would that leave the five aforementioned schools? Up a creek without a paddle judging by an e-mail received from Ron Nocetti of the California Interscholastic Federation.

"Since those schools are located in California, if AB-7 is passed they would have to abide by it," Nocetti said in an e-mail exchange. "I cannot speak to the impact on the schools they play as those are NIAA member schools."

If the five schools had to use wood when everybody in Nevada is using metal, it would be unfair because metal bats out-perform wood bats.

Jaime Legare, Truckee athletic director, said the proposed legislation is a big concern to her.

"When we had our 3A meetings I brought it up, but nobody seemed concerned about it," she said. "There is a parents' group (from Truckee) that has been talking to the aides (of Mr. Huffman) trying to get an exemption for our schools added (to the bill).

"If the bill goes through, we would have to go to the NIAA and see what they could do (for the five schools)."

Jay Beesemyer, assistant director of the NIAA, said it wouldn't make sense because the five schools actually belong to the NIAA and not the CIF.

Beesemyer also said the NIAA isn't likely to initiate banning metal or composite bats. He said they would follow the national federation rules and regulations.

"As big of a state as California is, I'd be amazed if something like that passes," Beesemyer said.