Senator Collins Visits Dove Tail Bat Company, Meets with Moosehead Lake Regional Economic Development Committee
Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins with Paul Lancisi at Dove Tail Bat Company
Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins with members of the Moosehead Lake Regional Economic Development Committee at the Stress Free Moose Café
Piscataquis County, ME - U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Dove Tail Bat Company in Shirley, Maine, a small business owned and operated by Paul and Theresa Lancisi. The company, which the Lancisis founded in 1996, began as a cabinetmaking business and later expanded to manufacture wooden baseball bats as well. Dove Tail Bat Company currently employs nine people who produce each bat at the Shirley manufacturing facility.
“I had a wonderful tour of Dove Tail Bat Company, which manufactures bats for Major League Baseball players right here in Maine,” said Senator Collins. “Baseball players of all age levels, from Little League to Major League Baseball, use the high-quality bats for everything from training to World Series victories! After seeing the attention to detail and craftsmanship Paul and Theresa Lancisi and their skilled employees use to manufacture each bat, it is no wonder that they are in such high demand.”
Dove Tail Bat Company expects to more than double its production of bats to 30,000 this year, up from 14,000 bats in 2016. The catalyst for this tremendous growth was a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), which allowed the Lancisis to construct a building, buy machinery, and increase inventory through the winter. Senator Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, has strongly advocated for the CDBG program, which has helped a number of Maine communities create new economic opportunities.
Dove Tail Bat Company uses ash, maple, and birch wood that is grown locally, carefully selected, and hand split at the company’s log mill. The pieces are then sawed into 16-pound blocks, dried in a kiln, and shaved down to a 5-pound cylinder. Finally, the wood is shaped into a 31- or 32-ounce bat and given a durable, clear coat finish.
Dove Tail Bat Company is one of only a few dozen Major League Baseball-approved bat makers. Their bats are used by players with the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies and teams in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system. In the 2015 World Series, 70% of the runs scored were with Dove Tail Bats.
Following her visit to Dove Tail Bats, Senator Collins had lunch with members of the Moosehead Lake Regional Economic Development Committee at the Stress Free Moose Café in Greenville. They discussed ways to support small businesses, create jobs, and grow the economy of the Moosehead Lake Region. Senator Collins also spoke with local business owners about the importance of improving health care.
