Tigers top Texas 11-4 to win title; Easton’s Stealth Speed jumpstarts offensive attack

VAN NUYS, Calif. (June 26, 2008) – Easton Sports, the industry leader in bat technology, came through in the clutch on college baseball’s biggest stage Wednesday as LSU won the 2009 College World Series®, its sixth national championship. The Tigers became the 21st champion in the last 30 years to win a title swinging Easton baseball bats exclusively and are now tied for the second-most titles in NCAA Baseball history. It also marks the second consecutive CWS title for an Easton-sponsored team.

Easton bats produced more home runs, runs and base hits than any other bat manufacturer in the industry during the 2009 CWS.

“Twenty-one champions in three decades is really a remarkable feat. We’re extremely proud of not only the Tigers but our entire roster of Easton-sponsored schools that continue to represent our brand with such character and class – their cumulative success is simply a bonus,” said Kyle Horn, vice president marketing of Easton’s baseball/softball division. “Year after year we continue to manufacture the best bats in the game. From last year’s ‘wonderdogs’ of Fresno State, to this year’s heavyweights of Louisiana State, the one common thread has been our bats.”

With Easton bats in hand, LSU won 15 of their last 16 games en route to the championship.

“They were in the zone; the zone that all great athletes know how to find in the most pressure situations. And they went out there and played the game. The will to win was incredible. Unbelievable,” said LSU Head Coach Paul Mainieri.

LSU produced yet another College World Series Most Outstanding Player, whose Stealth Speed bat launched a three-run home-run in the top of the first-inning of the deciding game to help the Tigers to a 4-0 lead. Easton’s SV12 bat, the aluminum counterpart to the Speed, also found itself shining under the bright lights of the College World Series, producing the game tying hit in the ninth inning and game winning score in the 11th of the Tigers’ electrifying victory in Game 1 of the championship series.

The Stealth Speed model features Easton’s lightest composite barrel design ever and maximizes its sweet spot while featuring Easton’s patented ConneXion Design System (CXN). The ConneXion Design System creates a true-two piece design by isolating the handle from the barrel to eliminate vibration with an elastomeric rubber cushion between the two. Easton’s focused flex handle optimizes the bat’s ‘kick point’ below the CXN joint to maximize whip through the zone and maintain the efficient transfer of energy.

The SV12 combines Easton’s patented V12 alloy barrel – with O-zone® Technology – with a composite IMX flex rated handle through the use of CXN technology. By optimizing the material levels of 12 different elements in a scandium alloy formulation, Easton has created the highest performing alloy ever known to aluminum bat technology. The SV12 maximizes the performance along the length of the barrel with the implementation of Easton’s Optimal Hitting Zone Technology (O-Zone), which thickens the barrel design at the taper and end cap to increase trampoline off of the massive hitting area.

In addition to their offensive dominance with Easton bats, the Tigers also used Easton ball gloves, catcher’s protective gear, batter’s helmets, batter’s gloves, and wristbands.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Grant Marek at (310) 578-7050 or via e-mail at marek@formulapr.com.

About Easton Sports
Easton Sports is a privately owned developer, manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of sports equipment for individuals of all ages and abilities. Easton does not solely rely on name recognition to build and maintain business, but rather focuses on its ability to innovate and create products of unmatched quality and design. Headquartered in Van Nuys, Calif., Easton employs over 1,500 worldwide and maintains facilities in Utah, California, Mexico, and Canada. For further product information, please visit the company online at www.eastonsports.com.