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By Jerry Shank
Maryland / Virginia Scouting Director

The MPSSAA made a big change to the 2017 season when they included a pitch count limit and required rest starting this season. The change is much more comprehensive with the safety and prevention of overuse of a pitcher being the goal.

The rule has now capped a pitch total that a pitcher may throw in a game for the season. It is separated by class, with seniors and junior being grouped together throughout and sophomores and freshmen have a few changes but overall similar limitations.

Seniors and Juniors now have a max pitch total of 105 pitches in a game. When they reach that pitch total during an at bat, they are permitted to finish against that hitter but must come out after. The rest requirements are based on pitch count and range up to a required four days of rest. If a senior or junior pitches no more than 30 pitches in a game, they are then eligible to pitch on the following day. If they throw between 31 - 45 pitches in a game, they then are required to have one day of rest before they can pitch in a game. If they throw 46 - 60 pitches in a game, they are required two days of rest. 61 - 75 pitches in a game, three days of rest. Once a pitcher goes over 75 pitches in a game, they are required the max of four days rest between their next start.

The sophomore class has the same rest day limitations as the senior and junior classes, the only difference that they have is their allowed daily pitch count. The Sophomore daily pitch count is 95 pitches. Freshmen has the same daily max as sophomores at 95, and their rest requirements are different than the other classes. Freshmen go as follows: 1-20 pitches; no days rest. 21-35 pitches; one day of rest. 36-50 pitches; two days rest. 51-65 pitches; three days of rest. Over 65 pitches; four days of rest.

How does this change the game? It could be quite a bit for some programs.  In some places pitching staffs are going to have to be deeper and more pitching changes will be made. You more than likely are going to see more relief pitchers being used, and less of the starting pitchers making relief appearances during the season. Other programs it will be less of a challenge because they have used similar  parameters anyway. Where you could see this playing a big difference in the season is when more than two games are played during the week, which in the MPSSAA can happen quite a bit with a shorter time frame for the season and weather always playing a factor in the early spring. That occurrence also happens to be the first week of the MPSSAA playoffs when most teams will play three games in a span of five days as part of the sectional championship.