Teen Sandberg eager to wear new pitchers helmet

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (AP) - Teenager Gunnar Sandberg pulled Easton-Bell's prototype of a protective pitchers helmet over his high school baseball cap and immediately deemed it comfortable. His father thinks it looks cool, too.

The Sandbergs now plan to work convincing others of the importance of such headgear. This Friday marks the one-year anniversary since Sandberg sustained a life-threatening skull injury while pitching in a scrimmage for Marin Catholic High School. He got hit by a line drive traveling at 130 mph.

The 17-year-old Sandberg is back on the field for his senior season, playing designated hitter and first base.

Easton-Bell spent most of the past year developing a lightweight, padded product to keep pitchers' heads safe - and it's a far cry from those bulky batting helmets worn by hitters.