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Ridgway's Bat Men Swing From The Heels: Local bat producer reaches the major leagues

By Les Winkeler, THE SOUTHERN

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 6:45 AM CDT

RIDGWAY - Randy and Kyle Drone are swinging from the heels.

The father-son duo has yet to hit the ball out of the park, but the count is definitely in their favor.

Three years ago the Drones founded Dinger Bats with the hope of getting a share of the wooden bat market. They haven't achieved the status of Louisville Slugger or Adirondack, but the Drones and Dinger have reached the big leagues.

Brad Wilkerson, the Washington Nationals' centerfielder, and Jamey Carroll, the Nationals' second baseman, both use Dinger bats. Carroll, an Evansville, Ind., native, played for the Aces.

"We're not sure, but we're hoping one of our bats is in the Hall of Fame," Randy said. "Brad hit the last home run as an Expo and got the first hit as a National. He hit for the cycle earlier in the year."

This short trip to the big leagues had modest beginnings.

While a student at Lambuth College in Jackson, Tenn., Kyle Drone served as bullpen catcher for the Diamond Jacks.

While at the ballpark, Kyle heard players frequently complain about the quality of their bats. Since his father had been a carpenter and a woodworker all his life, Kyle hit upon the idea of producing a few bats.

At that point, there was no reason not to try it.

"Kyle was living down in Jackson," Randy said. "We all love baseball and would like to stay in it. I guess we weren't smart enough to know we couldn't do it."

From that humble beginning, a business was born.

For the time being, the Drones are running the entire business themselves with the aid of a few family friends out of a couple buildings in Ridgway. They purchase ash and maple blanks from Canada and northeastern United States.

They shape and finish the blanks, etch the Dinger logo onto each bat and ship the bats themselves. The business keeps them hopping.

"We started our business plan on, 'Hey dad, let's get in the bat business,

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to doing $350,000 this year," Randy said.

Not bad for what the Drones realize is a niche business.

"It is," Randy said, "But, it's also coming back. The wooden bat marked, according to CNBC is $170 million. That is five percent of the total bat market.

"We just feel like with the resurgence of the wooden bat, with this generation it's like the newest thing in baseball. We feel like the market will grow. Personally, I think the wood bat market will double in the next five years."

Kyle's contacts in baseball paid quick dividends.

He knew Wilkerson, an Owensboro, Ky. native, from playing independent ball. He convinced Wilkerson to use a Dinger bat. In the meantime, the Drones got their product certified for use in Major League Baseball.

"Kyle used to play against Wilkerson," Randy said. "Brad is just a nice guy for one thing and he likes the bat for another."

Wilkerson's recent hitting success is well documented. He has appeared on the covers on several national baseball publications, prominently displaying a Dinger bat.

In the meantime, the Drones split up in the spring. Randy works the Cactus League in Arizona while Kyle travels to Florida for Grapefruit League action.

They feel the personal contact is starting to pay dividends.

"I think it's a thing where the more they (major leaguers) see us, the more they trust us," Randy said. "Once they see us for five years, they know we're going to be around." By the same token, the Drones have realistic expectations. "The players progressing through the minors are really our future," Randy said. "We're not going to get a Sammy Sosa. We're the official bat of the Central Illinois Collegiate League and the Southern Collegiate Baseball League. We're trying to make a deal to become the official bat for the Pioneer League.

"About 80 percent of the teams use our bats."

Until Dinger gets established in the majors, the Drones are hedging their bets by selling a line of Dinger gloves and batting gloves. In the meantime, the Drones will keep taking their hacks, hoping to go yard.

"The potential?" Randy said. "To tell you the truth, I feel we want to grab three percent of the wooden bat market over the next 10 years."

les.winkeler@thesouthern.com 618-529-5454, x 15805