The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- September 13, 1999

NJAC places four members on probation

The New Jersey Athletic Conference has placed four of its baseball programs on probation for one year after they violated the conference's ban on aluminum bats.

The four institutions, College of New Jersey, Montclair State University, Rowan University and William Paterson College, were sanctioned for declaring they would play in the 1999 Division III Baseball Championship, which allowed the use of aluminum bats. The four schools will receive an official letter of reprimand from the conference and be placed on one year of probation in baseball. Violation of the probation would result in a $2,500 fine and a one-year suspension from the conference's postseason tournament.

The conference had adopted bat performance standards before the season that prohibited its members from using or competing against teams that used nonconforming bats in 1999.

All four teams advanced to the Mid-Atlantic regional of the Division III Baseball Championship, where wooden bats were used exclusively.

William Paterson advanced to the finals, where aluminum bats were used, and came within one game of playing for the championship.

According to NJAC Commissioner Donna Ledwin, the decision to sanction the four schools was reached after a lengthy and exhaustive discussion.

"NJAC members are eager to move forward as they approach the new academic year challenged with developing a new organizational structure, including an extensive revision of the NJAC constitution, bylaws and operating procedures," she said. "I am confident that the baseball bat issue will provide some valuable lessons to apply as we review our philosophical approach to and conduct of future conference business."

Ledwin said the conference policy regarding the prohibition of nonwood bats will remain in effect for the fall 1999 baseball season. Later this fall, the NCAA is expected to release more definitive findings on the safety compliance standards required of all nonwood bats used by NCAA members. Ledwin said the conference will review those recommendations to determine if a change in the policy is warranted at that time.