Old rules stand:
Limit of 30 outs and 3 appearances in a calendar week, beginning Monday. Re-entry into the same game after throwing a pitch counts as an appearance.
New rules added:
1-30 pitches: 0 days rest required
31-50 pitches: 1 days rest required
51-75 pitches: 2 days rest required
76+ pitches: 3 days rest required
Freshman, F/S, J/V: 90 pitches max per contest
Varsity: 110 pitches max per contest
A. A pitcher may finish the current batter if the Maximum Contest Pitch Limit is reached during that at-bat.
B. Pitches thrown and appearances made in a no game (i.e., rainout, power failure, etc.) shall count toward the totals.
C. At the end of each half inning, the head coaches will confirm and both team books will record the pitch count for all pitchers who threw a pitch in that half inning. In the case of a discrepancy, the home book is considered the official book.
D. Each school must keep a record of all pitches thrown by each of their players in each game and make this available to their respective Section Office upon request.
E. Any violation constitutes a forfeit of the contest.
Questions & Answers:
Q: If a pitch count mechanism is used that is visible to both teams, do the coaches still need to confirm the pitch count every half inning?
A: No. If the mechanism (i.e. scoreboard add-on, flip chart behind home plate, etc.) can be seen by both teams, the coaches may use that as verification of the pitch count.
Q: How is a day of rest defined?
A: A day of rest is defined as a calendar day. For example, if a pitcher throws 76 or more pitches in a Monday game thus requiring three-days rest before being allowed to pitch again, those days of rest would be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday allowing that pitcher to pitch again on Friday.
Q: If a pitcher exceeds the maximum number of allowable pitches with respect to the required days of rest while finishing a batter, how are the required number of rest days calculated?
A: The required days of rest is determined by the actual number of pitches thrown. For example, if a pitcher starts a batter with 48 pitches, finishes the batter with 53 pitches and is then removed from the game, that pitcher would be required to rest for two days before making another appearance.
Q: What, if any role, do the umpires play in the confirmation and recording of the pitch count after each half inning?
A: The umpires are asked to ensure that the teams are exchanging the required information but the actual recording of the pitch count is up to the head coach from each school.
Q: If an intentional walk is issued to the batter and no pitches are delivered to home plate, are those pitches counted towards the pitcher’s total number?
A: No. Those pitches would not count towards the pitcher’s total number
Q: In the case of balk, when does a pitch count towards the pitcher’s total number?
A: A pitch would only count if the ball is delivered to the batter.
Q: If a batter is awarded timeout by the umpire but the pitcher still delivers the ball to the batter, does that pitch count towards the pitcher’s total number?
A: No. That pitch would not count towards the pitcher’s total number.
Q: Does the Pitch Count reset each Monday like the 30 Out Rule?
A: No. While the 30 Out Rule will reset each Monday, the Pitch Count Rule will not. For example, if a pitcher throws 76+ pitches in a game on Saturday, they would have to rest on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before being eligible to pitch again on Wednesday.
Q: May the same pitcher appear in two different games on the same day?
A: Yes. However, they may only do so if they threw 30 pitches or less in the first game and are not required to rest. Also, they may not throw more than 110 pitches total for the day.
