Swing Like a Wild Man!

I first met Ray DeMarini in the early 90’s. Being that we were from the same area, I knew of Ray and I was already using his bat. I say bat, because the Ultimate Weapon was the only DeMarini made at the time. I met him at a tournament. He was half-watching one of our games as he talked with the director of the tournament. I saw him and was anxious to make an impression. I stepped to the plate with my Ultimate Weapon. The first pitch was grooved, the perfect height and just a bit inside, which matched my slightly open stance well. I turned on the ball hard and launched a high line-shot that cleared the left field wall.

Ray reacted like someone had slapped him with a cattle prod! Here was this guy jumping around, hollering and more or less, acting a maniac. Make no mistake; this was a guy who clearly loved bombs! Upon my return to the dugout, Ray walked over and said “Great shot man, but you didn’t even get all of it!” Although it sure felt like I got all or it least most of it, you always want to think that you have a little more to give, so I agreed with the man. Then from his bat bag, he pulled an unfamiliar stick out, and said “Try this one next time.”

When the order came around to me again, I carried the bat that he had handed me to the plate and after watching a couple of unsavory pitches pass by, I jumped on my pitch, flat and on the inside corner, and put a good swing on it. I heard an unfamiliar loud crack in my ear as the ball jumped from the barrel and launched into a majestic fly that carried through the top of the sixty-foot trees that rose about twenty feet beyond the left field fence. As I made my way around the bases, I reflected on how all of my prior shots had landed at the base of the same trees. Of course, Ray had resumed his jumping around and yelling and was there to meet me with an enthusiastic high five at the dugout entrance.

“You got all of that *$^#$@!&*%#@!!” Ray yelled, as the opposing team glared. This was my first experience with Ray and my first with the DeMarini Doublewall Distance! Both made a profound impression on me. From that first towering shot, to this day, I have yet to step to the plate with anything but a DeMarini in my hands!

Ray’s intense passion for the game and his bats radiated from him. His insane dedication was contagious. While he was much more demonstrative than I was, or anyone else I have ever met on the fields, for that matter, we connected through our love for the game. I really respected and admired the King of Softball and I was very sorry to see him pass away much too soon.

I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet players from all over the world. Regardless of age or ability, they have all shared a common bond a pure passion and love for the game! It is my intention to bring that same passion and love for the game to OTC Sports, everyday!