Opinions invited - Overpitching?

Rob,
The way I see it (what you used for your team) is actually 2 games in 5 days. The two innings would be in place of a bull pen. The third start, if it was a perfect world should not exceed perhaps 80 pitches. The other schedule seems a bit much, but can be managed with low pitch counts.
Is it overuse? The only thing I can say is this is why I am so opposed to high pitch counts early in the season, save it for playoffs when the arm is better conditioned (if he hasn't been abused for the season).

By the way, son spoke to MC, he is doing well.

Rob I definitely believe this type of format leads itself to pitchers being overused.

Rob, I agree. And there are other states, or at least school programs within states, that deal with the same issues.

Take my son's former high school, for instance. A perennial state powerhouse, it competed in a best-of-3 series in Texas' 5A regional state semifinals on Friday and Saturday. Here are a few comments from a local message board that illustrate the overuse of various arms:

"Reagan over pitched Selsor last year in the playoffs too which had to be a siginificant reason why they didn't make it to state. Some people don't get it."

"In the Express-News today it stated Harrell has pitched in five of Reagan's six playoff games. The paper went on to say Harrell only lasted 1 1/3 innings versus Sharyland in game one giving up an incredible four walks and three hit batsman. Do you have to give free passes to seven batters and mutiple runs before you figure out your pitcher doesn't have it that day? Harrell to his credit covered for his boss claiming he wasn't tired and felt great. Harrell put another forty five pitches on his arm in his brief against Sharyland."

"Pick up another ball, Harrell and Hahn are pitching on Monday. They both are pitching in the team's intersquad game because (Coach) Chapman is getting advice from Nolan Ryan. I only thought that last years use of Selsor was the worst, but this ranks right up there with that. Hahn throws almost 100 pitches and then comes back in game 3, hour and half later! When are the parents of these players going to start questioning this "lack of concern" for these players?"

"Sharyland used their pitcher from last night, who got the win in game 1 and he came in and gave up the grandslam to Notterbrok. They then brought in the pitcher who started game 3 and re-inserted him to finish the game."

Following is a post made last week after the regional quarterfinals:

"You might lose some sleep when Harrell's arm falls off. There is no justification for an 18 year old pitcher, with a D1 scholarship, pitch 125+ on Thursday, warm up 2 innings and throw 15+ Saturday, 115+ on Tuesday, then at least 100 on Saturday! In a 9 day span, he throws at least 360+ pitches. Are you kidding me? We are seeing a repeat of the last two years. It will be interesting to see how Harrell does in the next outing and this summer. I hope the good Lord is watching over him because the coaching staff is not."

It's definitely a problem, especially on the high school level. But it is seen even in the highest levels of Division 1 baseball as well. (See the "Longest Game in NCAA history" thread)