Walk-up music approved for baseball, softball

HELENA — It’s official: Walk-up music for softball and baseball is coming to a field near you.

The move was approved by the MHSA in its April Executive Board meeting according to a press release issued Thursday.

There are some stipulations, of course. Walk-up music can be played if approved by the school’s administration and each team may choose their own approved music.

The music should stop as soon as the batter reaches the batter’s box and officials can request the music be turned down or off if deemed inappropriate or if it is interfering with “orderly administration of the game,” according to the release.

Other changes approved in the meeting were reducing the number of preseason days of practice for eligibility from 10 to eight. The exception to this is football and golf; football will stay at 10 practices and golf at two.

Additionally, the board updated its jewelry policy, stating that jewelry may be worn if allowed by NFHS rules or the governing body of the sport, i.e. USGA or USTA.

For volleyball, the board approved going back to switching benches between sets.