Team Bat for 8U Pony?

[Mur5]

My team is moving up to 8U kid pitch (Pony) this season and we need a "team bat". We will have some fund raisor money left after purchasing uniforms & catchers gear so I figured we would grab a nice bat for the kids. Some of them still have their T-ball bats or just don't have the money for a nice one. My questions is; What would be a good, well rounded bat that everyone could use? Length, weight, drop? This bat will probably be used by half the team. Most of my boys are 7 years old and on the small side. We have two big boys but they both own decent bats. The price range I'm looking at would be $200 or less.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[$tinky]

http://www.justbats.com/product/easton-s1--jbb11s1-junior-big-barrel/15316/?pa_source=justbats&pa_campaign=was&pa_medium=badges&pa_content=easton-

This is the bat we had last year. Hottest bat I've seen. We actually broke it midway though the second to last game of the season, and I went and bought another one. Kids were 7/8 and we had the 27/15. I went and got another one that is 25/13 for this year.

[AdamInNY]

If your budget is $200, I'd use that to buy several size bats including a wood bat. No reason to have a single $200 (or $150) bat at 8U.

[jbolt_2000]

http://www.justbats.com/product/east...ontent=easton-

This is the bat we had last year. Hottest bat I've seen. We actually broke it midway though the second to last game of the season, and I went and bought another one. Kids were 7/8 and we had the 27/15. I went and got another one that is 25/13 for this year.

^^This seemed to be the popular bat last year for our league and many other kids I saw at the batting cages. Most of the kids I talked to liked this one most. But....

If your budget is $200, I'd use that to buy several size bats including a wood bat. No reason to have a single $200 (or $150) bat at 8U.

^^ I agree with Adam - why buy one expensive bat when you can by 4-5 nice bats? At 8u, these kids aren't going to care what is best, just what looks cool.

[AdamInNY]

I just looked at the bat. My older son has the 1 1/4 version of that. Nice bat, but I'd never use a composite bat as a team bat, and are you allowed to use a 2 3/4 bat?

[Mur5]

Thanks for the comments guys. I wasn’t necessarily going to use the entire budget on one bat; I just wanted to set a ceiling. The idea of buying a few different sized bats is pretty good. If I were to go that direction what would you guys recommend? I could maybe go up to $250 if there is a good argument for it.

http://www.justbats.com/product/east...ontent=easton-

This is the bat we had last year. Hottest bat I've seen. We actually broke it midway though the second to last game of the season, and I went and bought another one. Kids were 7/8 and we had the 27/15. I went and got another one that is 25/13 for this year.

Thanks, I'll have to check that one out.

I just looked at the bat. My older son has the 1 1/4 version of that. Nice bat, but I'd never use a composite bat as a team bat, and are you allowed to use a 2 3/4 bat?

Yes I believe we can use 2 3/4, but I will have to verify that. And I agree with you about the composite; if I were to get only one bat it probably wouldn’t be a composite due to durability.

[$tinky]

The same site justbats also has bat packages. You can get a decent deal doing that. Also if you wanna get a little more bang for your buck check out ebay and get a few "last year's models"

[Standballdad]

The same site justbats also has bat packages. You can get a decent deal doing that. Also if you wanna get a little more bang for your buck check out ebay and get a few "last year's models"

For 200.00 you can buy 3 or 4 really good used bats off eBay and vary the sizes. When my son was that age I always bought him last years top of the line used bat for a 1/3 of the price. Did this all up until summer before HS.

[Mur5]

What size/weight would you guys recommend? $tinky referred to a 25/13 and 27/15, are there any others I should consider for 8U?

[clayadams]

I'd do a 28 and 29" bat. There are several 8yo kids that are going to be a lot bigger than others. The first bat my little one ever used was a 28/16 at 7yo. Easton has a bat recommendation on their site for height and weight and that's what I've always gone by.

[Baseball gLove]

I believe Pony no longer allows 2-3/4 barrels. Do get the 2-5/8 barrel. This last year our 8u were hitting bombs with the Easton rival. Do the kids a favor and do not use anything *lighter* than a -11. A 28-17 would be a good. My son was swinging a 29-19.5 Omaha as a 7 year old.

[MD Diamond Sports]

"Rule 8 C (3) Equipment: Effective January 1, 2012, all minus (-) 3 bats must be BBCOR certified. The bat which may be wood or non-wood product shall be not more than two and five-eights (2-5/8”) in diameter at the barrel and shall be a smooth implement, from the top of the cap to the top of the knob. All non-wood bats shall meet the Ball-Bat Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) testing protocol maintaining the length-to-weight difference of 0.50 limit regardless of length. All BBCOR approved bats shall be labeled with a silk screen or other permanent certification mark. (NOTE: 2 3/4” bats are prohibited in all PONY sanctioned leagues)."

This was the change to the Pony rule in 2012. In addition, 2013 produced no changes to this rule. Be careful when you buy a bat because there are still bats being sold stating, "Approved for play in Little League, Babe Ruth Baseball, Dixie Youth Baseball, Pony Baseball, AABC, and USSSA" even though they are not. One of these bats includes the Marruci CAT5 Big Barrel.

[kimbercarry]

Just pulled this off of Pony's web-site:

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
The BBCOR decertification process has been implemented on the following bat(s):
•Reebok Vector TLS 32-inch model
•Reebok Vector TLS 33-inch model
•Marucci CAT5 33-inch model
•Marucci CAT5 34-inch model
•Marucci Black 33-inch model
•Marucci Black 34-inch model
The BPF decertification process has been implemented on the following bat(s):
•Louisville Slugger (Hillerich & Bradsby) TPX Dynasty - 12 bat (Model - YB12D - black/red/grey)
•Mattingly Balistk (Model: BTKYB) Blue
These bats should be considered a non-compliant bat in accordance with
PONY Rule: 8-C (3) and subject to PONY Rule 18-E (6). They are ILLEGAL!

[MD Diamond Sports]

Just pulled this off of Pony's web-site:

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
The BBCOR decertification process has been implemented on the following bat(s):
•Reebok Vector TLS 32-inch model
•Reebok Vector TLS 33-inch model
•Marucci CAT5 33-inch model
•Marucci CAT5 34-inch model
•Marucci Black 33-inch model
•Marucci Black 34-inch model
The BPF decertification process has been implemented on the following bat(s):
•Louisville Slugger (Hillerich & Bradsby) TPX Dynasty - 12 bat (Model - YB12D - black/red/grey)
•Mattingly Balistk (Model: BTKYB) Blue
These bats should be considered a non-compliant bat in accordance with
PONY Rule: 8-C (3) and subject to PONY Rule 18-E (6). They are ILLEGAL!

Yes, that is correct. All of these failed their certification process. 8u will not need to worry about the BBCOR decertification. These bats are all -3 bats. Now, the two -12 bats is a good heads up.

[Mur5]

I believe Pony no longer allows 2-3/4 barrels. Do get the 2-5/8 barrel. This last year our 8u were hitting bombs with the Easton rival. Do the kids a favor and do not use anything less than a -11. A 28-17 would be a good. My son was swinging a 29-19.5 Omaha as a 7 year old.

When you say "do not use anything less tha a -11" do you mean don't use a -10, or don't use a -12?

"Rule 8 C (3) Equipment: Effective January 1, 2012, all minus (-) 3 bats must be BBCOR certified. The bat which may be wood or non-wood product shall be not more than two and five-eights (2-5/8”) in diameter at the barrel and shall be a smooth implement, from the top of the cap to the top of the knob. All non-wood bats shall meet the Ball-Bat Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) testing protocol maintaining the length-to-weight difference of 0.50 limit regardless of length. All BBCOR approved bats shall be labeled with a silk screen or other permanent certification mark. (NOTE: 2 3/4” bats are prohibited in all PONY sanctioned leagues)."

This was the change to the Pony rule in 2012. In addition, 2013 produced no changes to this rule. Be careful when you buy a bat because there are still bats being sold stating, "Approved for play in Little League, Babe Ruth Baseball, Dixie Youth Baseball, Pony Baseball, AABC, and USSSA" even though they are not. One of these bats includes the Marruci CAT5 Big Barrel.

Just pulled this off of Pony's web-site:

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
The BBCOR decertification process has been implemented on the following bat(s):
•Reebok Vector TLS 32-inch model
•Reebok Vector TLS 33-inch model
•Marucci CAT5 33-inch model
•Marucci CAT5 34-inch model
•Marucci Black 33-inch model
•Marucci Black 34-inch model
The BPF decertification process has been implemented on the following bat(s):
•Louisville Slugger (Hillerich & Bradsby) TPX Dynasty - 12 bat (Model - YB12D - black/red/grey)
•Mattingly Balistk (Model: BTKYB) Blue
These bats should be considered a non-compliant bat in accordance with
PONY Rule: 8-C (3) and subject to PONY Rule 18-E (6). They are ILLEGAL!

Thanks for all the great info guys. It helps a lot!