NEW YORK -- A judge ruled Tuesday that it was constitutional for the city to ban metal bats from high school baseball games.
U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl said the new law fits the purpose of legislative bodies like the City Council to protect the public health and safety.
"The protection of the health and safety of high school-age students is entitled to great weight," the judge said. "While the record does not include clear empirical evidence showing that more serious injuries would occur without the ordinance, it is the city's legislative assessment that the risk is too great."
The law is set to take effect Sept. 1. It had been challenged by an organization representing national high school baseball coaches and several companies that make metal bats. The law resulted from claims that today's metal bats cause balls to go farther and faster, heightening the risk of injuries.
In April, the City Council overrode a mayoral veto of the legislation, permitting the outlawing of metal bats in high school games; the goal is to protect young players who are believed to be less capable than older players of reacting to speeding baseballs. The lawsuit was then filed.
