Pitching rules--Part 2

Just when I came out with a post on high school pitching rules, because it seems like everybody asks me all the time, the National Federation of High School athletics (of which the Iowa High School Athletic Association is a member, has come out with a new rule regarding pitchers. Starting in 2017, high school pitchers will be on a pitch count, and not an inning count.

So what's the new count? We don't know yet. They are leaving it up to each member state to determine their own pitch count rules. That will certainly be interesting to administer. Will they put the game pitch count in Quikstats? I think they will need to. Will there be 1/2 inning pitch comparisons between opposing teams? I suppose so.

Little League has been doing it for awhile. Some mom or dad volunteers to keep pitch count, and then each half inning, they go find the other team's pitch count mom or dad, and make sure all is well. Will it become some sophomore sitting on the bench? I imagine so.

I'm guessing Iowa will come up with a number around 120 pitches a day. In Little League, 9-10 years olds can pitch a max of 75 a day. 11-12 year olds can pitch a max of 85, 13-14s can go 95, 15-16s can go 105, and I don't remember their 17-18 division. (Currently North Story Little League doesn't have any 15-18 year old teams, but they are chartered under Little League. So if the age increase is the same, the 17-18s would be 115, and that's why I'm guessing they will up it to 120 a day--with rest periods at different pitch counts.

Fun stuff. If you want to read the press release, it is RIGHT HERE.