Louisiana bat company a heavy hitter

The Baton Rouge-based Marucci Bat Company got a bit of free advertising about a month ago in ESPN The Magazine. Dan LeBatard's article about Ryan Howard, the major-league home run king, featured a photo of Howard holding one of the bats with the Marucci label clearly visible.

But Howard won't be the last Marucci client swinging the Louisiana lumber. Regardless of whomever represents the National League in the World Series, a Marucci client will be swinging away on baseball's biggest stage.

New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran is a Marucci client as is, of all people, St. Louis ace pitcher Chris Carpenter. Needless to say, Beltran would bring a little more attention with his swing than Carpenter.

Whichever team opposes Detroit in the Fall Classic, the little bat company that could in Baton Rouge is sure to be watching with a keen eye.