bat for an 11 year old

Question
I have an eleven year old son who will play on a 12U traveling baseball team next season (he will still be eleven then, too).  His coach wants the players to use a big barrel bat.  I am looking at the Easton Stealth BST31 2 3/4" barrel (-9) or the Easton Stealth BST32 2 5/8" barrel transition bat (-10).  Which would you recommend and what size?  Or would you recommend something else?  He is a little under 5 feet tall and weighs about 110 lbs now.  He is pretty strong and his previous bat was 20.5 oz/31 inch Easton Connexion, but not a big barrel.  Next season will be his first on a travelling team so I am trying hard to make sure I get him the best bat for him.  His coach says if there is any question, go with the lighter bat.  I'm concerned that if I get him a lighter bat, it may be shorter as well because the drop is less on a big barrel bat.  Any suggestions would be much appreciated.  Thanks  

Answer
Mark,

I'm definitely not an expert on this.  Given that, I'll still have opinions I'll share.

First, make sure whatever bat you are looking at is allowed by the league.  2 3/4" barrel seems big to me, also some leagues ban certain types of bats so make sure it is within all the rules of the league.

Secondly, find out what bat your son prefers.  Let him swing multiple bats, and if he has a chance to hit with some (friend's bats or whatever) even better.

In terms of physics, get the heaviest bat your son can handle without slowing his bat speed down.  If he can swing a 2 oz heavier bat just as quickly as the lighter bat, then he will hit the ball harder.  But he needs good bat speed, so if the bat is so heavy that bat speed is affected, then a lighter bat is required.

Hope this helps!

Brian