He shares his first name with one of the leading aluminum bat-makers in the world, but Easton Morang doesn’t feel any brand loyalty when he takes his cuts for Winthrop. He will, however, stubbornly stick with the same size bat, regardless of how he is swinging or who is pitching.

Justin Staires also isn’t partial to any particular model, but he can’t seem to settle on a size this season, either.

High school hitters today have dozens of makes, models and sizes from which to choose their weapon. But whether it’s an aluminum bat or its composite cousin, whether it’s 33 inches or 30, whether it’s made by Easton, Louisville Slugger or an ex-Yankee, hitters look for one thing in a bat – comfort.

“If they don’t feel confident with the bat they have in their hand, if it doesn’t have the right feel for them, it’s that whole psychological piece of not feeling ready for battle,” said Dave Jordan, former Poland varsity coach and current hitting coach at Bates College.

“I look for the one that fits my hands best,” Staires said. “You can have the best bat or the worst bat, but if it doesn’t fit your hands the way you like it, then it’s not going to fit for you.”

Expensive sticks

Given the cost of a single bat, which can be up to $400, finding a bat that fits like a glove can be too expensive for most high school players. Schools provide a number of bats to their players which, unless the coach can do some extra fundraising or shop for bargains, are moderately priced. A typical aluminum bat will last two to four years, depending on how much it is used.

All bats must fit the “minus-3 rule.” For safety reasons, the National Federation of State High School Associations adopted a rule in 2001 that the overall weight of a bat can be no more than three ounces below the overall length. Most high school hitters in Maine swing bats in the 30- to 33-inch range.

Aside from the length and weight, the bats used by high school hitters vary greatly. Easton, Louisville Slugger (TPX), Wilson (Demarini), Rawlings, Worth and Nike are the most popular brands. Each company has its own signature makes and models, which usually boast some special feature that they claim distinguishes it from the rest.

Louisville Slugger’s TPX Omaha is particularly popular because it is relatively cheap ($150) and boasts a special alloy that the manufacturer says gives it greater pop and durability. In 2005, former New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly started his own line of bats that feature a patented “V-Grip.” It is designed to align the knocking knuckles on a hitter’s hands, which keeps the bat handle away from the palms, forcing it into the fingers. Batting coaches argue proper grip is essential to bat speed, control and power.

Easton’s Stealth is one of the most popular composite bats used. Some Maine high schools and hitters shy away from purchasing them, however, because manufacturers recommend against using them in cold weather.

Trampoline effect

Hitters can also choose between one-piece and two-piece bats. Two-piece bats increase bat speed, give more flex to the barrel and increase the “trampoline effect” of a ball off the bat.

Morang uses a composite bat made by Louisville Slugger that is actually a three-piece bat.

“A lot of the bats they make now get bigger to a point then get smaller towards the end,” Morang said. “We have a bat called the “Triton” that just stays wide. The other ones feel kind of top heavy.”

Staires started the season using a 32-inch Wilson DeMarini Vexxum (carbon fiber handle with aluminum barrel) bat, but switched when he found himself getting ahead of too many pitches.

“I like to be on top of the plate, and at first this year I was finding myself way too ahead of the plate,” he said.

Staires switched to a 33-inch Rawlings Plasma, but that didn’t work out either. Normally one of the top sluggers in the state, he hasn’t hit for his usual power this year. He said his timing is off because so few pitchers are throwing hard this season, and finding the right size bat is only part of the solution.

It’s not unusual for a hitter to switch his bat from one at-bat to the next, depending upon the velocity of the pitcher they are going to face.

“I use a 32-inch bat (29 ounces). I always use that,” Morang said. “Some people will switch up the weight if it’s a slow pitcher, but I don’t. I stay with the same bat.”

Jordan said that while it is important for hitters to find the bat they are most comfortable with, whatever bat they choose will ultimately play only a minor role in their success at the plate.

“If you have good hitting mechanics, the weight of the bat shouldn’t affect you that much. The guys that drag their bat through the zone, weight is more of an issue,” he said.

Jordan often likes to have his hitters practice with wood bats, “then you’re training your body how to hit the ball on the sweet spot and getting good mechanics down,” he said. Maintain those good mechanics, and hitters will generate the bat speed needed to get the most out of bigger sweet spot found in aluminum and composite bats.

“Bat speed is much more important than the mass or the weight of the bat,” he said. “You really have to have good hitting mechanics to get the bat to truly work for you.”