In a memo recently sent to companies that offer bat-altering services, Easton Sports, Inc. is threatening to sue companies that alter bats and the players who use them, VandySports.com has learned.

VandySports.com obtained a copy of the letter, dated May 13, in which Easton warns of the possibility of "aggressive legal action" against those who tamper with or use tampered bats. Specifically, Easton threatens suit to those altering and re-selling the bats, as well as those whose tampering or use of the altered bats results in injury or death.

One of Easton's bats, a blue "Stealth" model, has been the subject of much controversy. Several players have hit tape-measure home runs in recent weeks with the bat, prompting cries of tampering and concerns about safety from many coaches, including Vanderbilt's Tim Corbin.

Copies of the letter were also sent to coaches across the nation, making them aware of the situation. Several players have been under a cloud of suspicion for using bats that may have been "rolled," a process by which a bat is put through rollers and the core is compressed. The effect is such that rolled bats hit balls 10 percent or more further than an un-rolled bat.

Some companies also offer to shave the inside of the bat barrel, which also increases distances for batted balls.

"YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY CEASE TAMPERING WITH THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES OF EASTON'S BATS," says the letter, signed by Matt Arndt, senior vice president of Easton's baseball and softball division.

"It is far too easy for one of your altered bats to be intentionally or unintentionally used in a competitive game, and to the extent that your alterations do in fact enhance performance, you are putting innocent ballplayers at risk. YOUR CONDUCT IS REPREHENSIBLE."

"You are hereby advised that, should any injuries or deaths occur as a result of any use of an Easton bat altered by you, Easton will take aggressive legal action against you as well as the player who had the bat altered, regardless of any disclaimers that you may choose to make," Arndt continued later in the letter.

It appears that Easton's advice has already been heeded by many. Many Southeastern Conference players had used the Easton Stealth model this season, but several stopped doing so during the SEC's Tournament in Hoover, Ala., last week.

Corbin was recently at the center of the controversy when he asked the umpiring crew to confiscate the bat of Tennessee's Cody Hawn after Hawn's opposite-field home run in a game on Saturday, May 16. Hawn was using the Easton Stealth model that weekend, which he used to hit three home runs vs. the Commodores, including a long, lined shot just to the right of dead-center 400 feet away with dozens of feet to spare.

On the 15th, Tennessee's Blake Forsythe hit a ball off the lights in left-center. Corbin estimates that the lights are 100 feet above the ground and 400 feet from home plate.

"This isn't just Tennessee. This is an Easton composite bat that's very hot... it's an issue. Everyone's stunted. No one knows what to do. The density of the bat is changed in the circumference area. It's not flat, it just plays differently," Corbin said after the game on the 16th.

Previously, Corbin had letters of protest and concern regarding the bats to the NCAA after the April 12-13 series at Arkansas, and again after the May 8-10 series at Georgia. The Commodores went a combined 4-1 in those two series.

Corbin also asked the umpires to examine the bat of a University of California player in the Commodores 4-3 loss at Cal on Feb. 23.

Vanderbilt uses DeMarini bats; DeMarini offers composite bats that can also be rolled. Corbin has adamantly refused to allow his players to use composite bats; instead, the Commodores use a traditional aluminum model.

Composite bats of other companies can also be rolled; however, it appears that the performance of the Easton model gets a disproportionate spike after rolling as compared to other composite bats.