Pitch Count Coming to High School Next Year

The National Federation of State High School Associations of which Maine is a participant, has announced that beginning in the 2016-17 season, high school pitchers will be subject to a pitch count, rather than an innings limit, as is the current case.

In a report at centralmaine.com the Maine Principal's Association will be responsible for determining how many pitches a pitcher can throw in a game, and rest time before he can throw again in a game.

Phi St. Onge, who is the Assistant Principal at Nokomis High School is the chair of the MPA's Baseball Committee. He is slated to attend the next MPA Sport's Medicine Committee meeting in August. The Baseball Committee will meet in October and recommend the new pitch count to the full committee for adoption.

USA Baseball's Pitch Smart program recommends the following
A 15-16 pitcher should throw no more than 95 pitches and if they throw between 75-95 pitches they must rest 4 days.
If a 15-16 pitcher throws between 61-75 pitches they must rest 3 days
If a 15-16 pitcher throws between 46-60 pitches they must rest 2 days
If a 15-16 pitcher throws between 31-45 pitches they must rest 1 day
If a 15-16 pitcher throws 30 pitches or less they may pitch the next day.

A 17-18 pitcher should throw no more than 105 pitches and if they throw between 75-105 pitches they must rest 4 days.
If a 17-18 pitcher throws between 61-75 pitches they must rest 3 days
If a 17-18 pitcher throws between 46-60 pitches they must rest 2 days
If a 17-18 pitcher throws between 31-45 pitches they must rest 1 day
If a 17-18 pitcher throws 30 pitches or less they may pitch the next day.