While teams will not be forced to use the technology, they will now be allowed to. That means this is the start of a new era in Georgia high school baseball.
And that's good news for companies like Armilla Tech, which will serve as the official baseball coach-to-catcher electronic communication device of the GHSA and four other state high school athletic associations (New York, Colorado, Idaho and Texas).
Milton Powell is the company's Vice President, and he spoke with Connect Savannah about the product, its benefits, the cost and the partnership with the GHSA.
"One touch of a button, you can send the play to the wristband which vibrates and it's a digital text message on the wristband," he explained. "For example, fastball outside corner, they vibrate in less than one millisecond, No Bluetooth, no internet, no Wi-Fi. It's our own communication protocol on our own interface tablet. You'll never see that from anyone else."
"It also takes about an hour off of each game."
The Canadian based Armilla Technology (AT) markets its devices to football and baseball teams alike. They are the company, Powell says, which spoke in support of technology in high school athletics at the NFHS annual meeting in 2023, just before the federation's baseball rules committee moved to allow communication devices for 2024.
GHSA offices in Thomaston were closed on Monday when efforted for comment, but the association announced an agreement with Armilla Tech in a December 2023 press release.
"Armilla Tech is bringing their technology to high schools by formally announcing a three-year partnership with the Georgia High School Association," the release said. "The state-of-the-art electronic play calling technology provides the ability to take scholastic sports to a higher intelligence level."
"An affordable solution for schools to increase and promote kids’ participation in sport, this technology is simple to use with no cellular, no Wi-Fi, and no Bluetooth needed."
Some Savannah schools are still considering their options when it comes to communication devices. Savannah Country Day and Calvary Day will not be using a communication device to relay pitches to their catcher, at least for now.
Some public school programs, including Jenkins and Islands High School, will not be using Armilla Tech for a variety of reasons. At Islands, head coach Brandon Collins said that his team will be using a communication device, but not one from Armilla Technology.
Powell said the official agreement between AT and the GHSA does not mean that schools are provided the device for free. Instead, Armilla Tech paid the GHSA "a certain amount of money for exposure" in order to "get into the space" of high school athletics.
How much does it actually cost?
If a GHSA baseball program wants to buy Armilla Tech, they receive a 10 percent discount on the $989 coach-to-catcher technology.
"With the discount, including shipping, you're looking at probably something like $889," said Powell. "And then you own the device. It's yours. It's not like a lease. You own it and the subscription fee is $300, but we give the first year for free. And that's cheap. I dropped [the price] down for high school."
A question of fairness could be raised by coaches, players and fans alike this season. What if some teams have them, and some teams don't?
"We can't go get booster funds. Not for that kind of money at least," said one SCCPSS baseball coach on Monday. "At the same time, if everyone else is going down that path, we won't have any choice. We have to keep up with the times if we're expected to play with the big boys."
[TRAVIS JAUDON]
Loren Purvis (red cap looking down) speaks with WSAV's Joey Lamar after Blitz Border Bowl VI.
Team Coastal Empire beat Team Lowcountry, 26-9, in Saturday's Blitz Border Bowl VI at Memorial Stadium. It was the second consecutive win for the Georgia team over their South Carolina counterparts and the first back-to-back in border bowl history.
“Pretty cool to be part of the first back-to-back in Border Bowl history," said Loren Purvis, Coastal Empire and South Effingham head coach. "I think it just shows that Georgia has better players and better coaches [than South Carolina]. Like the SEC, in Georgia it just means more.”
As far as the future of the game goes, WSAV has not spoken to what's next, or if the game will continue. Andrew Davis served in the play-by-play role for WSAV's broadcast of the game. He had this to say when asked for his thoughts on the border bowl.
"This game proves there is so much talent in the coastal empire and low country and it’s only getting better," he said. "I can only hope more schools from both sides of the river will continue to take part in what is quickly becoming a traditional rivalry in local high school football.”
UGA sweeps at 2024 Publix Savannah Hockey Classic
The University of Georgia Ice Dawgs came to Savannah over the weekend looking to win the Ghost Pirates Cup at the 2024 Publix Savannah Hockey Classic. They did exactly that.
Georgia went 2-0 over the weekend at Enmarket Arena, crushing Georgia Tech on Friday night by a score of 7-1 before beating Florida, 4-3, in a thrilling championship game on Saturday night.
The Publix Savannah Hockey Classic and the Blitz Border Bowl can be nominated among others in the "Best Local Sports Event" category in the 2024 Best of Savannah nominations. Click here to vote for that category and many more.
