Game Face Masks

[Dropn N]

Since January I've noticed more and more girls wearing masks in all age groups! Is it just me or is a trend developing?

[coolstuff]

Since January I've noticed more and more girls wearing masks in all age groups! Is it just me or is a trend developing?

Yesterday, the local paper had a feature article in the Sports section about the use of the masks in softball. There was a big invitational tournament this weekend at Twin Lakes, and one school's entire infield wore the masks, so the reporter picked up on it and ran with the story.

Here's the link. It will slip into the paid archive next week.

http://www.jconline.com/article/20090511/SPORTS01/905110327/1038/Masks+keep+softball+players+safe

[BonezMom]

MY 11 yo DD got hit in the face (from a thrown ball not a hit ball) 4 or 5 different times last year in Rec and AllStars. She has a mouth full of braces and 2 different times cut her lip and was bleeding. When she started in travel last Fall I insisted she wear a mask.... she is a pitcher. She fought me tooth and nail on it. But in the end mommy won. At that time in 10u there was MAYBE 3 or 4 girls total wearing them. Since then I am seeing more and more girls with them on especially pitchers and corners. I think it is starting at the younger ages and will progress. I don't see alot of older girls wearing them, in So Cal anyway.

[anonlooker]

Because we are a reactionary society, the way these safety equipment things usually work is The more kids get hurt, the more other kids will use them.

Until the media picks up a story of a pitcher being killed, or grossly disfigured, by a batted ball, it's not likely there will be a mandate from the big orgs.

[carsdad]

its the best $ 35.00 insurance you can buy !!!!!!

[sscoon]

For pitchers, 1B, 3B, these are really a good investment. Our 2b this spring was in pre-game warmups and was fielding a ball being thrown from LF, she lost the ball in the sun and it hit her in the jaw, breaking her jaw and bursting her eardrum. Her jaw was wired shut all season. I hope her family purchases one of these for her, as I think that she will have a certain fear for the ball without one. There was a video posted recently rating the fielder's masks, the rip-it received the highest marks, I think that the visibility is probably the best thing going for it.

[wasabi]

Was watching HB Breeze play Irvine Sting at Franchise TCS this weekend. Third base playing for Breeze took a low, really sharp line shot off of her face. It might have gotten her on the fleshy part of her left cheek but nevertheless, made a horrifying sound. She made her way off the field and fortunately, appeared to be OK. Can anyone confirm?

With the technology that goes into today's bats, not to mention some of the juiced bats out there, the pitcher and the corners should wear protective masks - definitely worth the $35/$40 investment.

Now, to get the girls to wear it.....

Here's another incident:

http://www.fastpitch.us/mask-crusader-w ... al-injury/

"As a result of her injury, Alisha suffered fractures which resulted in little to no solid bone remaining in the right side of her face. Her jaw was broken in two places, the bone along her eye socket had been shattered, and her cheek bone was crushed. “It pretty much shattered every bone,” Leslie Capps said. “It’s a miracle she didn’t lose any teeth.”"

[statmom]

My daughter got hit square in the nose with a pop up in center field. Now everyone of her teammates including her wear a mask. She prefers the Rip-It over the Game Face.

[Dropn N]

I was at Alicia fields on Sunday for 14u friendlies. I counted 9 girls wearing masks!

[Tucson]

I saw that Worth is making a really sturdy looking one, now.