The following is copied from the Babe Ruth website, "As a follow up to our previous correspondence and information posted on the Babe Ruth League website, this document will clarify Babe Ruth League’s position on approved baseball bats for 2011 tournament competition. 

CAL RIPKEN BASEBALL DIVISION
All baseball bats are permitted for use in Cal Ripken Baseball with the following exceptions:  it shall not be more than 33 inches in length, nor have a bat barrel in excess of 2 ¼ inches. 

13-15 BASEBALL DIVISION
The only COMPOSITE BARREL bats that will be permitted in the 13-15 Baseball Division are those that have been BESR (Bat Exit Speed Ration) and ABI (Accelerated Break-In) tested and approved and are found listed at www.nfhs.org.  These are the only approved COMPOSITE BARREL bats, and they are all -3 bats.  Bats in the same make and model with a minus or drop greater than -3 are not allowed. 

Further, the Babe Ruth Baseball 13-15 Division will allow ALL aluminum/alloy 2 5/8 inch barrel bats and ALL COMPOSITE HANDLE (only) aluminum/alloy barrel bats in any minus or drop.  For example, if it is not a COMPOSITE BARREL bat, then -8, -9, -10, etc. bats are allowed.  ALL BBCOR -3 High School approved bats are allowed in the Babe Ruth Baseball 13-15 Division. 

16-18 BASEBALL DIVISION
The Babe Ruth Baseball 16-18 Division will allow ALL approved 2 5/8 inch aluminum/alloy barrel (-3) bats.  The only COMPOSITE BARREL bats that will be permitted in the 16-18 Baseball Division are those that have been BESR (Bat Exit Speed Ration) and ABI (Accelerated Break-In) tested and approved and are found listed at www.nfhs.org.  ALL BBCOR -3 High School approved bats are allowed in the Babe Ruth Baseball 16-18 Division. 

PENALTY

• If the illegal bat is discovered prior to a batter completing his “at bat” the bat is simply removed from play and the “at bat” continues.
• A player who uses an illegal bat or non-conforming barrel dimension and hits a fair ball will be ruled out.  No advancement on the bases will be allowed, and any outs during the play shall stand.  This is an appeal play.  The “at bat” will be considered legal once a pitch is thrown to the next batter.
• Any bat discovered prior to the game that does not conform to the above rule shall be directed to be removed immediately and not be allowed for use during the game.
• For all umpires, this rule should be covered during your pre-tournament meetings.

The International Board of Directors of Babe Ruth League, Inc. has approved a moratorium on the use of composite bats in the Babe Ruth Baseball 13-15 and 16-18 Divisions, effective immediately.  The moratorium shall be in effect until further notice by Babe Ruth Headquarters. 

The moratorium will follow the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), based on a recommendation from its Baseball Rules Committee.  The NFHS Board enacted a rule to prohibit the use of composite bats until they can produce compliance with the standards through the life of the bat.  If a composite bat is legal/approved under the NHFS rule for the 2011 season, it is legal for use in the Babe Ruth Baseball 13-15 and 16-18 Divisions for local league play and tournament competition. 

Composite bats that are certified by an approved independent testing laboratory as meeting the current Ball Exit Speed Ration (BESR) and the Accelerated Break-In (ABI) procedure will be eligible.  For a list of composite bats approved for the 2011 Babe Ruth Baseball 13-15 and 16-18 Divisions, please click here.