Abstract: A grading system is disclosed. The grading system may include sampling probes. The grading system may include sensors, to collect information of a material within a container, wherein the sampling probes deliver the material to the sensors. The grading system may include a support structure to position the sampling probes above the container. The grading system may include motors coupled to the sampling probes to actuate the sampling probes. The grading system may include a controller including processors to execute a set of program instructions stored in memory to cause the processors to cause the motors to actuate the sampling probes such that the sampling probes are inserted into the container at one or more locations to collect the information of the material within the container, receive the information collected by the sensors and grade the material within the container based on the information collected by the sensors.

Abstract: A sports bat article, and a method of forming the sport bat, is disclosed. The method may include shaping an elongate wood piece to have a barrel portion and a handle portion suitable to be used as a sport bat, with the wood piece having a shaped surface. The method may also include applying a substance to the shaped surface of the wood piece in which the substance may be effective to harden a surface of the wood piece. Applying the substance to the shaped surface of the wood piece may include immersing a portion of the wood piece into a pool of the substance.