Home runs aren’t likely to be as prevalent during city slow-pitch games this spring and summer.

Bob Stanclift, adult sports supervisor of the Parks and Recreation Dept., has decided to follow the national trend and switch from a .47 core to a .44 core softball.

“It’s a little denser than the other ball,” Stanclift said. “It doesn’t go as far as the .47.”

Both the ASA and USSSA, the governing bodies of national softball, mandated the .44 ball two years ago, but Stanclift said he saw no reason to make the switch right away.

One reason was the lack of availability. Most stores in Lawrence carried only the .47 ball.

“The other reason was that I read that the .44 came off the bat with the same velocity as a .47,” Stanclift said, “so it wasn’t a safety concern.”

With the 14-week spring-summer slow-pitch season scheduled to open today, the .44 ball now is readily available in Lawrence and must be used. Each team supplies the ball it hits during city men’s, women’s and coed leagues.

In some parts of the country, a .40 core ball is used, further lessening the possibility of home runs.

“They keep making better bats, and you can’t keep building parks bigger and bigger,” Stanclift said, “so the whole battle between bats and ball is ongoing.”

City adult slow-pitch games are played on the four fields at Clinton Lake Softball Complex, on the two fields at Lyon Park and at Memorial Stadium in Hobbs Park. All seven of those fields now have improved dirt infields.

Last year, only the two Lyon Park diamonds contained material designed to promote drainage. The other five have been upgraded.

Slow-pitch is the city’s most popular adult sport, and approximately 200 teams have signed up in the three categories. That’s a slight decline from last year.

“We’re down a few in women and coed leagues,” Stanclift said, “but the men’s leagues are about the same. There’s been a nationwide trend toward a decline in adult sports because the baby boomers are aging.”

Over the years, Stanclift has provided plaques to the top three teams in each league’s standings. This year, however, there will be no plaques. Instead, each member of a league’s championship team will receive a T-shirt commemorating the 60th anniversary of the city department.