You can calculate the thermal energy created when the ball hit the bat by using the Law of Conservation of Energy. Before the collision, the center-of-mass of the bat (mass 1kg) was moving at about 70mph (31m/s) and the ball (mass 0.15kg) was moving at about 90mph (40m/s). Now, calculate the initial kinetic energy. [Answer: 600J]
After the collision, let's estimate the speed of the bat at 50mph (22m/s) and the speed of the ball is 30mph (13m/s). Calculate the final kinetic energy. [Answer: 255J]. Now use the Law of Conservation of Energy to find the thermal energy created during this ball-bat collision. [Answer: 345J]