Softball Today • December 2014
By Dave Utnik
6
All the bases and outfield are covered this season. The Wilson Sporting Goods fastpitch softball glove line is built to make every play. With revolutionary designs from glove master craftsman Shigeaki Aso and insight from Olympians Cat Osterman, Caitlin Lowe, and Lauren Lappin, the Fastpitch A2000 has been re-imagined to create an unrivaled fielding experience. “There is a reason that many of the top programs in the country use Wilson A2000 ball gloves,” said Sara Lawhead, the Fastpitch Business Manager for Wilson, DeMarini and ATEC. Noteworthy collegiate teams including Oregon, Michigan and Auburn, take the field using Wilson gloves because they provide players with the necessary ingredients for success: long lasting materials that break in but don’t break down and a design optimized for fastpitch players and the sport. The all-new Wilson Fastpitch A2000s are built for comfort as well as precision with Pro Stock leather. “Our Pro Stock leather is designed specifically for the highest end Wilson Pro Stock baseball and softball gloves. It is the highest quality of leather that is being used on gloves today. It breaks in quickly and has a long lasting shape so the glove stays formed to the way the player likes it for multiple seasons.” Lawhead said. For players who want a glove that is ready to use on day one, Wilson introduced the Onyx, which features Double Play™ leather that is already broken in and available in all the same patterns as the A2000. The fastpitch line has been enhanced to better suit the female athlete. “We got feedback from many girls as to what we can do to improve the feel and fit of our fastpitch gloves and, based on their responses, we decided to do a complete redesign of the Velcro wrist closure to make it fit more comfortably on a woman’s hand,” Lawhead said. “Now the strap is anchored to the top of the glove instead of going under and through the wrist piece. It also features DriLex on the inside of the wrist piece, which is really soft and comfortable, and wicks sweat off of your wrist.” One of the most exciting additions to the Fastpitch A2000s is the D-Fusion pad below the pocket to eliminate sting when catching hard hit balls. “The No Sting Catch Zone brings an added element of comfort and confidence for fastpitch players, as they are catching hard throws and line drives and fielding ground balls.” “The gloves fit the hand of the female players better and give more room to be able to place two fingers in the pinky stall. Using two fingers in the pinky stall of the glove gives you more leverage to close the glove,” Lawhead said. “This is especially helpful during the break-in process. Two fingers are stronger than one.” Wilson’s most popular glove remains the A2000 CAT, which was developed by Aso and Osterman. “Cat brought some great insights to the table when we were designing the glove with her. The knotless back design is ideal for pitchers who slap their legs during their delivery -- no more bruised thighs – and the closed web is great for pitchers and infielders,” Lawhead said. “Pitchers can confidently change their grip without tipping their pitch, and infielders like the solid pocket when fielding the ball. Bottom line, the glove feels great and works for multiple positions.” “Dual Welting helps the glove keep its shape while adding strength to the tips for the fingers. Outfielders want that added strength as they are tracking down those hard to reach fly balls in the gap that you need every last inch of the glove to catch with,” Lawhead said. The gloves were introduced to rave reviews at the Sparkler and Fireworks Tournament in June. “Players loved them. The colors are great. The fit is great. And the performance is unmatched” Lawhead said. With the Wilson A2000, the bases -- and outfield -- are well covered.
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