Louisville Slugger unveils bats for USA Cares

LOUISVILLE — A custom bat will hit a homerun for USA Cares. Hillerich & Bradsby, maker of the Louisville Slugger, unveiled a 34-inch full-size red, white and blue bat last week with the Slugger and USA Cares logo. The bat can be ordered online at sluggergifts.com and $10 from each sale will help the Hardin County-based outreach group assist soldiers with quality-of-life issues, such as housing. The bats are part of Operation Slugger II, an ongoing partnership between the groups to help service members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan receive recreational equipment, such as bats and gloves to use during downtime.     Hillerich & Bradsby also helps with shipping costs in the partnership. The company’s history of helping troops in wartime dates back to World War I. “We believe USA Cares’ efforts to support military families is one of the noblest causes we’ve witnessed in our company’s 124 year history,” said John Hillerich, president and CEO.