OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.— A lawsuit challenging the legal authority of the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) to adopt a revised bat performance standard for 2004 has been voluntarily dismissed, the ASA announced earlier today.

Three months ago, the ASA Board of Directors announced that bats must satisfy the new ASA 2004 Standard before they can be used in ASA Championship Play on and after January 1, 2004.  The lawsuit, filed by Worth Inc., sought to prevent the revised bat performance standard from becoming effective.  Last week, the court entered judgment dismissing the case - before ASA ever had to formally respond to the lawsuit.

With the legal challenge resolved, manufacturers are now submitting bats for testing under the same ASA 2004 Standard that was formally adopted on June 30, 2003.  As test results become available, the ASA website will be updated with two new listings of bats.  The first will list bats that are approved under the 2004 Standard.  The other will list bats that either fail the new standard or are not submitted for approval under the new standard.  ASA will periodically update both listings as manufacturers continue to submit bats for testing and as test reports become available.