Pitch count mishap

The adults who keep track of our varsity pitch counts confer with the other team's pitch counter after every inning, so discrepancies are headed off long before they could result in a forfeit.  This could have easily been avoided with some foresight.  It should not have happened.  

Nope. It's usually kids on the bench doing the pitch count/ gamechanger. He obviously missed a few pitches. Here we are supposed to verify pitch counts with the other team after each inning.

Our new scoreboard has pitch counts on it.  

During our state playoffs we had to have an official pitch count guy sit with the opposing teams official pitch count guy and they had to review each other's counts together during the games. Apparently there were issues with coaches not in agreement after games with the total pitches guys threw. 

During our playoffs, the host location kept the pitch count (neutral site games) and would either announce the count or had a score board that showed the "official" pitch count so that it didn't come down to a difference of opinion or a missed pitch or two.  Sad way to lose a game.  I do think that its unfortunate that the home team didn't mention the counts (since they are official book/visitor didnt verify counts) and also sad that once the pitch count was within 5 or so, that the coaches didn't verify the counts with the official scorer.

Sorry, this one's on the coach of the team that lost.  You verify pitch counts between innings....it's been that way since my son played Little League 10 years ago.   It sucks for the kids, but the coach blew this one.  

It seems as though the coach was attempting to count pitches and obviously missed a few pitches. I would guess, if there was nobody collaborating as to the number of pitches thrown. WHO was the official in charge of counting pitches? I've seen those tracking be over and below official counts. There should be a single source for the official count. It could be determined by the official book which is supposed to be an unbiased off field official.

Strangely enough, this borders on lack of sportsmanship and doing the right thing. An adult had the opportunity to inform the Umpire(s) of the impending pitch of 100. Instead, kept the information to themselves for a biased gain/win, albeit by technicality. I can only imagine the persons jubilance  in the "gotcha" moment. Sad.

In Ohio, it's not the umpire's responsbility to keep track of pitch counts.  The two teams each have a representative responsible for their count.  At the end of each inning, they confer and if there is a discrepancy, the umpires get involved to settle it.  It's much easier to fix a count issue at the end of each inning than to try to figure it out after 97 (or 100) pitches.  It does seem surprising that in a playoff game that there isn't someone provided to keep an impartial pitch count....though we didn't have pitch counts in Ohio when my son was in HS so I don't know whether or not they provide one now...of if it's the same as the regular season where each team keeps on and they confer

An opponent early in the season in their home game violated the pitch count over 9 pitches.  It was a close game but 9 pitches is no big deal.  It wouldn't have been worth it to challenge it for an undeserved win.  But in a playoff game against a team you don't have a relationship with, you take what you can get within reason.  The coach knew his pitcher was close.  He should have at least confirmed the pitch count before the inning started.  

Backpick25 posted:

It seems as though the coach was attempting to count pitches and obviously missed a few pitches. I would guess, if there was nobody collaborating as to the number of pitches thrown. WHO was the official in charge of counting pitches? I've seen those tracking be over and below official counts. There should be a single source for the official count. It could be determined by the official book which is supposed to be an unbiased off field official.

Strangely enough, this borders on lack of sportsmanship and doing the right thing. An adult had the opportunity to inform the Umpire(s) of the impending pitch of 100. Instead, kept the information to themselves for a biased gain/win, albeit by technicality. I can only imagine the persons jubilance  in the "gotcha" moment. Sad.

I disagree on lack of sportsmanship.  It is the head coaches job to know the pitch count.  I checked it every half inning and after every batter when it got close.  I don't see where it is a coach's or scorekeeper's responsibility to call it to your attention that you are about to break a rule.  But I also know that if you do break a rule it is my responsibility to my players and fans to call you on it and yes, take a win if that is the result whether it is the first inning and you pitch a kid who is not supposed to pitch which I know happened last year in a state championship game.   The whole game lasted one pitch.  When the kid threw the first pitch the coach appealed to the state that the pitcher was ineligible and the game was called.  The coach swore he thought he was eligible but cost his team a state championship.  Many called the coach that took the win a sore loser but I don't think so.

In Colorado, both coaches sign after the game, but it's up to each team to keep track. Not sure whose count prevails. This came up in one of our game at home. My 2018 was pitching. We had him at 109 starting the last batter and their guy had him at 110. He threw to the last batter and they reused to sign the sheet after the game and filed a protest. The guy running GC for them and keeping the count was their principal and convinced the head coach that the count was 110. We and two different radio broadcast teams had 109. Luckily, I had the whole game on video. They dropped the protest when I sent it to their HC and showed him on their GC account where their guy had randomly added a ball to the count.

In playoffs, a state official keeps the official count. 

Last year during one of the Section Finals, I believe it was D4, game went extra innings and the pitcher for the home team throws a pitch and the head coach for the opposing team called time out and asked for a pitch count, the kid had just tossed his 111th pitch.  (Rule in California Southern Section is 110 finish the batter).  Coach was forced to protest game, but won it in the next inning.  When asked later about it he said, "I was the visiting team, the responsibility to track pitch count is on the home team and on top of the CIF had their own score keeper in the booth.  No one ever made any attempt to talk to me about anything."  I am sure all parties we glad they won it on the field and the CIF didn't have to rule on it the next day.