How cold is too cold?

hb_hound said:

Just curious from those playing in the 30's and 40's
Do you use your normal bat or do you have a cold weather bat?

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Regular bats. Have never had an issue.

Double post...sorry.

Bryce said:

DD #1 (16U) had an 8:00 game yesterday in St. Louis -- 31 degrees at first pitch. It was a balmy 43 for DD#2's first game at 11:00.

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Same here. (12u) Real feel at warmup time (7am) was 22 degrees on Sunday morning. Froze my butt off and got windburn at the same time. Never know what you are gonna get this time of year. At least we didn’t get rain. The heavy dew makes for wet feet which makes it even more miserable. So glad we are done for the fall!

cnardone said:

This is my first season as a travel softball parent. She is 9 on a first year 10u team. New York area. My daughter has played fall soccer in the past. The kids run a lot and we as parents are in and out in an hour. But double headers are 4 hours of cold! It is freezing out there sitting for 4 hours at a time.

We are playing in the Spooky Nook Holloween Havoc tourney next weekend.
https://www.spookynooksports.com/sports-programs/sports/softball

Weather.com has us at 45-48 degrees all weekend. I am cold already!

On a side note, I don't know how you all do this. I have 4 children and it seems like the other 3 are getting a lot less attention. Juggling everything is hard!

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Please forgive me but I laughed when I read 45-48 degrees and you thought it was cold. We play in our area in HS ball if it is close to 40. However, I've seen my dd play in much colder. She played a game in college at U. of Wisconsin Parkside where it was 28 degrees and a 30 mph wind blowing from Lake Michigan. It is the single coldest game I have ever sat at. The AD for that school supplied all of our parents with hot chocolate and that was greatly appreciated. While we sat there freezing, the girls took the field in their typical cold clothing. I was amazed at how they could go out there and stay focused in those conditions.

Finally, I am the king of building those tarp cities that you sometimes see at fields. The difference here is that we had parents who brought the heaters and we rigged these tarps up so that we could see the game and not freeze. No one brought the tarps the weekend I mentioned above. (Note - it is easier to say, "no one" instead of just coming out and saying that I messed up.)

DD played a 10U tournament in early spring where it was low 30's and windy...I am sure it won't be the last time. I played both HS and college baseball in MA and we played plenty of games where it was in the 30's..played a few HS games where there were
flurries. I have to say it was a lot easier playing in those conditions then it is/was watching....

quincy said:

I know warranty is supposed to be done but DD uses same bat.

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As long as you don't say that to the warranty dept, it is never known

For cold tourneys I had a portable propane heater (always take backup canisters), blankets and lots of layers. Was known to wear ski pants or running pants under jeans, anything to cut the wind. Makes a noticeable difference. Large portable heater for dugout if possible. Can also be used to warm up bats.

team mom said:

Can also be used to warm up bats.

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Does that still work when it is 90 degrees and the team appears to be swing wet newspapers for bats?

team mom said:

For cold tourneys I had a portable propane heater (always take backup canisters), blankets and lots of layers. Was known to wear ski pants or running pants under jeans, anything to cut the wind. Makes a noticeable difference. Large portable heater for dugout if possible. Can also be used to warm up bats.

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Warming bats used to not be allowed. Not sure if it's changed.

Spooky nook is a blow up dome. DD played there numerous times. year or so ago tornado came thru not fun in a balloon.. lol. actually not cold in there