Unique batting gloves paying off for Mesquite 1B Doty

7 March 2011 No Comments Kyle Odegard

When I covered the Mesquite-Gilbert baseball championship game of the Scottsdale Quarterback Club Invitational on Saturday, it was hard not to notice the gloves Mesquite’s Lane Doty wore when he was batting.

The senior first baseman uses yellow worker’s gloves instead of traditional batting gloves at the plate. He said it’s something his dad did and passed on to him.

“My dad grew up in the country, and when I was younger I just started using those instead of paying for batting gloves that rip over and over again,” Doty said. “These last four years. Now it’s kind of my trademark.”

Doty said he has tried using regular batting gloves but doesn’t like them.

Thus far, it’s been working out. Doty is leading Mesquite offensively with a .524 average, three home runs and nine RBIs in six games. His slugging percentage is 1.095 in 23 at-bats.

“Lane’s been hitting the ball well,” Mesquite coach Jeff Holland said. “Even his outs have been hard outs.”

Holland said he had one player in the past wear gardening gloves, and doesn’t care what Doty wants to wear as long as he is hitting.

“Hey, if they work, they work,” Holland said.