Collegiate Summer Wooden-bat Baseball Leagues

Dec 21, 2010
Teri Silver

Various kinds of wooden baseball bats. - Spitzgogo_ Chen (Nokia 6230i)

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Major League Baseball support wooden-bat baseball leagues for college students in the summer.

You’re sitting in the grandstand, watching a college baseball game. The batter, the kid they call “Big John,” sets his stance at the plate and stares down the pitcher. The ball is thrown, the batter swings and …. “ping!” He connects with the ball, sending it deep to the outfield and over the fence. The crowd goes wild; you move your head slightly, glancing at the baseball talent scout who is sitting behind home plate and feverishly writing something in a notebook. Clearly, the baseball scout is impressed with the batter. But how far would that baseball have traveled if it had been hit with a wooden bat? Would the angle be different? How about the velocity? These are important questions because aluminum baseball bats are not used in Major League Baseball. College players can participate in summer leagues that are geared to teach, among other things, professional baseball-hopefuls how to hit that little white ball with the old-fashioned wooden bat.

Why Aluminum Baseball Bats Are Used

First introduced in 1970, aluminum bats are, quite simply, sturdier, more durable and less expensive than most wooden bats. Thus, community “little leagues,” local school districts and most colleges and university baseball teams use aluminum bats instead of those made out of wood. While arguments remain on both sides of the coin as to whether aluminum bats are better than wooden ones for top hitting performance, safety and longevity, the cost of both types is an important consideration.

Hey College Kids, Do You Have Dreams of Playing Professional Baseball?

You do? OK, great, get started. If you have only played baseball using an aluminum bat then you must learn to hit and practice with wooden bats. Hitters, you can adjust and perfect your swing by using wooden bats, and pitchers, you can learn what differences there are (or are not) in hurling the ball toward a hitter who is swinging a wooden bat instead of an aluminum one. But one of the biggest reasons you should be playing baseball with a wooden bat is that, because these leagues are sponsored in part by Major League Baseball, talent scouts are most likely to be at these games, monitoring hitters who are swinging away with wooden baseball bats.

Summer Collegiate Wooden-Bat Baseball Leagues

Summer Collegiate Wooden-Bat Baseball Leagues are amateur organizations that operate from June to early August. Baseball players must be of amateur status as defined by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), be enrolled at an NCAA school and have at least one year of athletic eligibility. In addition to the NCAA, Major League Baseball offers its financial support to summer collegiate wooden-bat baseball leagues throughout the country.

Most Summer Collegiate Wooden-Bat Baseball teams have community support in the way of “host families” that will house the players throughout the summer league season. Jobs may be available for those who ask for them. Sponsors help to provide equipment and transportation.

The National Alliance of College Summer Baseball

The National Alliance of College Summer baseball (NACSB) consists of eight wooden-bat leagues that are sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The number of baseball teams in each league varies on the number of ballplayers participating. Players do not receive monetary compensation.

The Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League plays baseball in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League features teams playing in Maryland and Virginia.
The Cape Cod Baseball League is in Massachusetts.
The Florida Collegiate Summer League plays its schedule in different areas of Florida.
The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League has teams in Ohio and Michigan.
The New York Collegiate Baseball League has teams in New York State.
The Southern Collegiate Baseball League has 8 teams playing in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.
The Valley Baseball League plays its schedule in Virginia.

Other Wooden Bat Summer Baseball Leagues

The Clark Griffin Collegiate Baseball League is based in the Washington DC area.
The Coastal Plain League features teams in Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Formed in 2004, the KIT League originally got its name from participating teams in Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee. The team locations have since changed, eliminating those in Illinois and adding some in Missouri.
The Mountain Collegiate Baseball League is made up of teams in Wyoming and Colorado.
The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a 12-team league that plays its season in the six New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.
The Northwoods League is a league with teams in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Teams are operated like the minor leagues, where players use wooden bats and go on overnight road trips.
The Prospect League is made up of teams from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee and Missouri.
The Texas Collegiate League features teams around the state of Texas.

NCAA Rules

Summer wooden-bat leagues that are sanctioned by the NCAA adhere to the rules of the organization, so that players can retain their eligibility. Rules include how player uniforms are to be worn, the conditions of the playing field and equipment such as mitts, balls and bats.

NCAA Baseball rules: Section 12a. Wood Bat

“The bat must be a smooth, rounded stick not more than 2¾ inches in diameter at its thickest part nor more than 42 inches in length. There must be a direct line from the center of the knob to the center of the large end. Any material to improve the grip may be used for a distance not to exceed 18 inches from the end of the handle. It is mandatory that all bats have an identification mark 18 inches from the end of the handle. An indentation in the end of the bat up to 1 inch in depth is permitted (cupped bats). All bats other than one-piece solid wood must be certified in accordance with the NCAA certification program.”

NCAA rules are updated periodically, and are available to coaches, players and umpires.

Play Ball!

College baseball players, get noticed! Ask your college baseball coach about how you can join a wooden-bat summer baseball league. Summer will be here before you know it!