Many parents have asked for some more clarity on baseball uniforms and equipment in our league.
Uniforms: CUYB player registration fees include a baseball jersey and baseball cap for each player. Parents also need to purchase a “uniform package” for the child that includes baseball pants, baseball undershirt, belt and socks. We are registered with Cypress Sporting Goods at 2315 North Fremont St. in Monterey (375-0866) who sell the package for $25.50. Please be sure to tell Cypress Sports that your league is the Carmel Youth Baseball in Carmel and your child’s division and team.
With the sudden change of weather and wind in the area, we also recommend each player bring a jacket/sweatshirt to the games and practices. The newly designed Carmel Unified Youth Baseball sweatshirt can be ordered when you register. Any extra sweatshirts will be available for purchase on Opening Day. All net proceeds go to support our league.
The league requires all players in all divisions to wear an athletic supporter with a protective cup. It is often a good idea for coaches to also wear a protective cup. Metal cleats are prohibited for Shetland, Pinto, Mustang and Bronco divisions, but rubber cleats are highly recommended. Metal cleats are optional at the Pony division level.
Equipment: The league highly recommends that players at all division levels purchase their own helmets and face guards are required. We stopped using “team” helmets with the increased possibility of spreading lice among the players. Face guards should be of the same manufacturer as the helmet. Be sure that the helmet and especially the face guard are outfitted for baseball specifically. Many softball face guards look similar to baseball face guards, but their openings are slightly larger and therefore are not suitable for baseball play.
PONY baseball has also made some recent revisions to its approved baseball bats. Wooden, metal, graphite or ceramic bats manufactured for baseball play, which are round and not more than two and five eighths inches in diameter (effective for all leagues in 2012: Shetland, Pinto, Mustang, Bronco, Pony, Colt and Palomino) at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length, are acceptable. 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. Only 2-1/4” barrel non-wood bats which are manufactured to achieve a Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.15 or less through the life of the bat are approved for play in PONY Baseball divisions. Effective January 1, 2012, all newly manufactured non-wood bats must be stamped “approved for play in PONY Baseball” and stamped with “BPF 1.15” and the year manufactured. Bats manufactured specifically for use in tee-ball play, shall not be used when the ball is pitched by a player, coach or pitching machine. Coach-pitch bats will only be used in coach-pitch using a safety ball.
Players also must purchase their own baseball gloves. Parents should target the right size and go with utility gloves for numerous position changes, especially at the younger division levels.
