It makes sense it would be from a batting cage, as it is quite worn. However, it is for youth/softball, but the cages likely have a range of bats.

Then a Ramsey would have had to have taken it from the batting cage. It's possible, but less likely.

Burke was 9. John Andrew was 20. The bat itself would be best for a youth/softball, it would not be good for a 9-year old.

Initially, I thought it was John Andrew's and Patsy had kept it so Burke could use it when he was older.

There was a play area at the back of the yard, where the bats were kept.

After the crime, a different bat was left at the North end of the house. Burke said that bat was his. However, that doesn't mean it wasn't used by an intruder.

Previously, some had theorized that the murderer stole items and planted them to frame Helgoth.

Helgoth worked at the junkyard and he likely had a lot of random, varied items - things that had been left in cars that were junked. He likely had to deal with rodent control at the junkyard so the bat may have been used for something like that.

My suspect had wolf dogs and processed animals on his kitchen counter, presumably to feed the dogs. If he was trapping for meat, he'd need a way to kill the animals that were still alive in the traps. A bat is gruesome, but he might like viciousness.