Franklin baseball on the cutting edge of dugout audio communication after rule change

MILFORD – One more piece of equipment complicates Franklin catcher Mike Davide 's between-inning routine.

In addition to his leg guards, chest protector and mask, the senior has to wind an earpiece through his uniform to a power pack on his hip.

"It's been a struggle, I'm not gonna lie," Davide said after a recent game against Milford at Fino Field. "It's been a lot of tedious work putting it on, taking it off, charging the batteries, but we're fortunate to have it, so I'm grateful for it. It's really helped out a lot."

"It" is a one-way radio that allows audio communication from the dugout to the catcher. One staff member, longtime Franklin assistant Jeff Ambrosini, wears a headset and calls pitches directly to Davide. The audio only goes one way.

"The catcher understands the situation a little bit more when you're allowed to elaborate on what we're trying to do to certain hitters to get them out," Ambrosini said.

By the book

Audio communication from the dugout to the catcher was approved for this spring when the National Federation of State High School Associations changed rule 1-6-2 Section 6 on "Player Communication Equipment."

"One-way electronic communication devices are permissible from the dugout to the catcher while the team is on defense for the purpose of calling pitches," the rule reads.

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The coach with the headset cannot be outside the dugout or bench area. Coaches can only communicate with the catcher when the team is on defense. If the coach leaves the dugout or bench area, a player besides the catcher receives the communication or the device is used when the team is at bat, the coach with the headset will receive a warning then be ejected along with the head coach.

"A lot of people think we’re pretty old school in terms of our style of baseball. When technology is added and it provides value, then we’re more than excited to implement it," Franklin coach Zach Brown said. "The catcher is always a conduit to the coaching staff, but this makes it even more accessible in terms of in game adjustments and being able to talk them through situations and what we’re looking for."

Franklin debuted the technology during a scrimmage against BC High in the preseason. The transition has largely gone smoothly. It ran out of batteries one game, and the Panthers had to revert to their old school and signs. They thought it ran out during another but realized the headset just needed to be reconnected to the unit.

In those situations, Franklin reverted to its previous signs.

"In years past, this trying to call a game from the dugout every pitch, you’re running through a battery of signs, making sure the catcher sees the signs," Brown said. "You’re having to hide your signs and have decoy signs. It takes that pressure out of that aspect of the game. You’re really telling the guy, 'fastball away here.'"

Clear communication

Those moments presented a time machine. They showed the Panthers how they used to operate in sharp contrast with the present.

"The communication between the coach and the catcher and the pitchers is so much more clear," Davide said. "We can get back to the dugout, and it's like we're resuming a conversation we had during the inning."

Ambrosini and Davide speak the same language, as the former played catcher at Wheaton College and coached there with Brown.

"He has a really good feel for setting up hitters and understanding our pitching staff and understanding what their strengths and weaknesses are," Brown said. "We all have our strengths. I’m certainly the type of guy that, I feel pretty strongly about if somebody can do it better than me, there’s no egos and we’re gonna do what we think is best for the program."

That's why Franklin embraced the technology so quickly and readily. The Panthers have been one of the best teams in the state in recent memory, reaching the past two Division 1 state finals and winning the Division 1A title in 2018, and they try to exact every advantage they can from a game or at bat.

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"We're always looking for the next best thing," Davide said.

Early adopters

Franklin may be ahead of the curve, though. Of the 16 coaches that responded to the Daily News' inquiry about the new rule, only the Panthers are actively utilizing audio communication. One coach was unaware the rule changed.

Assabet purchased the equipment but hasn't implemented it into the program's daily operations.

"We have a young team learning fundamentals," Assabet coach William May said. "Once we have more experience blocking, throwing, etc, we will incorporate it in."

Lincoln-Sudbury coach Matt Wentworth was intrigued by the possibility the systems prevent, but noted that the cost may deter some programs.

"Teams feel like they are better off spending that money elsewhere at this point," he said. "If the technology comes down in price, which it typically does eventually, I could see investing in it."

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Dover-Sherborn coach Steve Ryan said the Raiders are waiting until next year to decide whether or not to use the devices.

"We will talk to those who used it and evaluate the success they had," he said. "We also will look to get feedback on which systems work the best."

Algonquin will consider the technology next season, and Medway plans to adopt it in the future.

"I think it can be a very good tool to communicate and have good pace of the game," Titans coach Ken McDonald said. "We just have confidence in our catcher calling the game."

The coaches that aren't using the technology fall into two camps. Some don't call pitches at all and rely on their catchers like Marlborough coach Jon Cruickshank and Nipmuc coach Anthony Leonelli.

"Our catcher knows what he's doing. he doesn't need us in his ear the whole game," Cruickshank said. "We trust our guys, and anything we need to relay is done so through traditional signals and verbally."

Leonelli would rather his catchers develop a feel for the game on their own.

Other coaches prefer the tried and true wristband method like Milford's Alex Dion and Hudson's Tim Reinhardt or with signs like Tri-County and Ryan Hippert.

"We are still doing it the old-fashioned way," Hippert said.

The old ways resonate with some programs better. Ashland stayed away from the one-way radios to avoid technical issues. Signs remain the method in Wellesley.

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"My personal feelings, there are certain things that should remain pure to the game.  I will most likely never use it just like I don't like the 'play cards' that are on player's belts at some college programs," Raiders coach Ted Novio said. "I feel like we're getting away from the purity of the game and relaying signs is one of them."

Staying a step ahead

But to a man, no coach faulted any program that decided to embrace technology. They all felt to each their own. A one-way radio won't decide which teams win or lose.

"It’s still players executing pitches and players competing in the game," Franklin's Brown said.

Wins and championships, ultimately, are what Franklin is after. The Panthers are willing to employ any tool that can help achieve them.

"That's our mindset trying to get better every single day. If there's a better way to do something, (Brown) is going to explore it," Ambrosini said. "If next year we find something that might even enhance that process a little bit more, we'll take advantage of that, as well."

Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk .

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Franklin baseball on the cutting edge of dugout audio communication after rule change