I'm sharing my son's and family's story in the hope that it will prevent an injury and not cut short a player's baseball playing time/"career".
When my son was 11 and 12 he pitched on a travel team. I didn't know that much about pitch counts. To be honest, I didn't give pitch counts a second thought. I should have.
In any event, my son pitched alot. A really lot. He would pitch on a Saturday and pitch on a Sunday. At 11, he pitched in a lot of games at Disney and at 12, he pitched in a lot of games at Cooperstown.
The team disbanded after the 12 yo season, and at 13 and 14 my son went to pitch for another team, which has placed several players at D1 schools. That team and the coach did not overpitch him, but the damage was done before he joined the team.
When he was 14, something popped in his elbow when he was pitching. His pitch sailed over the back stop and he felt a tightness in his elbow. Bottom line is that a bone pulled away from his elbow and the bone had to be screwed back in.
Fast forward 4 years. My son's elbow bothered him off and on for four years and he had to go through several regimens of physical therapy. He pitched in JV without issue his Freshman and Sophomore years. His junior year he was scheduled to start a few games but his arm bothered him.
This year, his senior, he started the first three games at first base and did well. He pitched against a team for one inning and walked one and struck out three without giving up a run.
However, after the third game, his arm started hurting him again. He waited to see if it would get better. It didn't and he went to the doctor. By then it was too late; the doctor said pt could only get him ready by the time the season was over.
My son loved being a part of a team and overall the seaon was a positive for him because of the comaraderie, but I wonder how much better it would have been if he had been physically able to play. I am proud that for the past six or so weeks he went to every practice and stuck with it. He didn't quit.
I'll never forget what one of my friends said. he told me that he didn't want his son to be the best pitcher at 11, 12, 13 or 14, but wanted him to be the best pitcher at 18. His son will be playing at a D1 school next year. My son's baseball playing time is over. I wonder what might have been if I protected him better.
With all of that being said, my son did get into a great college with a competitive program. He is excited about that, and new challenges await him. His baseball playing time and dealing with his injury will only make him stronger in life,
Original Post
