[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 51 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING MARUCCI SPORTS

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, entrepreneurs and small business 
owners have a unique skill of seeing what their community is missing 
and fulfilling that need. As such, these ideas are often conceived 
through personal experiences and the backyard projects we take on for 
our children, family, and friends. This week's Small Business of the 
Week, Marucci Sports of Baton Rouge, LA, was similarly inspired.
  Back in 2002, Jack Marucci and his son Gino began studying the wooden 
bats of their favorite baseball players so that Gino could pick one to 
play with in his Little League games. When Jack couldn't find the 
perfect bat for his son, he decided to craft one in his garage down in 
southeast Louisiana. Gino's homemade bat quickly became popular around 
the neighborhood, and Jack picked up orders to produce personalized 
ones for his son's friends. Shortly thereafter, a Major League first 
baseman put in an order, as well. As the former Louisiana State 
University athletic training director, Jack knew a thing or two about 
proper sports equipment, and Marucci Sports has since grown to be one 
of Louisiana's top cutting-edge companies for quality baseball and 
softball products. Today, Marucci Sports continues to provide wood bats 
to youths learning the game for the first time, as well as to over one-
third of the Major League Baseball's players.
  Due to Jack's legacy of meticulous attention to detail and quality, 
Marucci Sports is on the forefront of innovating athletic equipment. 
Most recently, the company announced the creation of a new smart fabric 
with the capability to help diagnose head injuries for athletes. In 
recent years, the long-lasting effects of head injuries, including 
concussions, have come into the limelight as a serious issue for 
athletes. In response to those concerns, Marucci Sports developed new 
BodiTrak's Head Health Network helmets, which are lined with a 
pressure-mapping fabric designed to track each contact the helmet 
receives as it happens. If there is particularly strong contact to the 
head, the helmet will notify the coach or trainer who can then make 
sure the player is alright. This technology has the potential to 
prevent generations of folks from developing damaging head injuries and 
protect future generations of athletes.
  It is innovative ideas such as these from Marucci Sports and other 
small businesses that make our country great. Congratulations again to 
Marucci Sports for being selected as Small Business of the Week. Thank 
you for your commitment to safety, creating quality products, and one 
of Louisiana's favorite past times.

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