In a high school baseball game, addition can cause subtraction.

Every time a pitcher throws the ball to a hitter, he adds to his count for that appearance, and if he should reach 100 pitches in a game, he must be removed from the mound.

By PIAA rule, he then must rest his pitching arm three full days before he can take to the bump again.

The rule also states that 200 pitches a week is the maximum allowed. A pitcher throwing 76 to 100 pitches in an outing cannot pitch again for three calendar days. From 51 to 75 pitches, he must rest his pitching arm two days. At the 26 to 50 count, he needs a day off, and from one to 25, he can throw again the following day. No pitcher may throw for more than two consecutive days.

In playoff competition, the maximum number increases to 105 and 210 per week. The rule also allows for a pitcher to exceed the maximum count. If he reaches his pitch limit during an at-bat, he’s allowed to finish pitching to that hitter before he must come out.

Coaches all agree that the pitch count rules were put in place to prevent injuries to arms, but some use their own instincts to determine how many pitches their players throw.

“The rule doesn’t affect us when the season starts,” said Jim Thorpe coach, Joe Marykwas. “I generally won’t let my pitchers throw more than 70 in a game because of the cold weather.”

Marian coach Tony Radocha also abides by a cold weather limitation, but he feels the current pitch count rules are too restrictive once the weather warms and the season is well under way.

“By the end of April if the weather is warmer, I feel my guys can throw 110 to 120. They are 16-, 17-, and 18 year-old kids who specifically condition their arms so they can throw more pitches without risking injury.”

Northern Lehigh head mentor Greg King would also like to see the limit increased to at least 110, but he likes the pitch count rule better than the old way of number of innings pitched.

Marykwas explained the irony of the high school pitch count rule that allows for coaches to bring back their starters sooner than what he sees in major league baseball.

“In the majors, a pitcher often throws 100 pitches in five or six innings. He comes out of the game and gets four days rest between starts,” he said. “High school kids reach 100 pitches, and they can go back on the mound after three days off.”

How many pitches relievers throw also factors in a coach’s game-by-game decision. Marian has three designated starters on its varsity staff and two relief pitchers.

“We set up our starters based upon our game schedule for each week,” said Radocha. “When a reliever comes into the game, I’d like him to get to the end of the inning with fewer than 25 pitches so I can use him again the next day. If he can’t do that, then I’d probably go get him.”

Radocha, who liked the old innings rule, stated that he never has thought the pitch count rule was based on any scientific evidence for the number of pitches thrown that would prevent overuse or injury to a pitcher’s arm.

“We used to go by innings instead of pitch counts and for the most part, coaches did not overuse their pitchers,” said Radocha. “We all knew to be careful with the arms, not just for injury sake, but we needed to let our pitchers rest up to be available for more games coming up on the schedule.”

He added that the rule might be utilized as a strategy to get an opponent’s pitcher out of the game.

“If we’re losing a tight game and their pitcher is close to the max pitch count, then I might ask my next hitter to take a few more pitches to force their pitcher out of the game,” Radocha said.

Marykwas stated that most teams do not confirm pitch counts between innings, and the rule does not enforce that procedure. Umpires do not keep counts, and if a discrepancy of the total count arises, the home team total number is official.

King stated that the Colonial League asks that teams exchange pitch count numbers between every inning, but it’s not always reliable.

“I would favor we do it like basketball, where they pay an official to keep the official count so there would be no issues,” he explained.

King added that the number of pitches thrown does not factor in what he calls “pressure pitches.”

“It’s not too often that you get a complete game pitched,” he said. “And there’s a huge difference between a pitcher who throws 70 pitches with runners always on base versus one who is cruising along and getting out after out.”

The enforcement of the pitch count rule can become a contention for controversy. Imagine this scenario. The visiting team is down 2-1 with one out in the top of the last inning. They have the tying run on third and the go-ahead run on second. The home team’s pitcher strikes out the next hitter with what the visiting team has counted as his 100th pitch. They call to the umpire for his removal.

But what if the home team count is 99? The pitcher stays in and wins the game. Any coach will agree that the counts can be inaccurate because designated pitch counters get distracted during games and may miss a pitch or two. That’s why there will be an official PIAA pitch counter during district playoff games.

Inaccurate regular season pitch counts can affect game strategy and scoring results. And in high school baseball, anything can happen — and it usually does.

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JOINING THE PARTY ... More area teams have punched their ticket to the district playoffs by reaching the 10-win mark.

Panther Valley, Pleasant Valley and Palmerton’s baseball squads all have secured their berths. The Panthers are 10-5 and will play in the 2A field. The Bears, who also sport a 10-5 mark, will participate in the 6A class. The Blue Bombers own a 10-6 record and are part of the 3A rankings.

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NO-NO ... Palmerton’s Zach Silfies and Eric Nothstein combined on a five-inning no-hitter in an 11-0 Colonial League win over Pen Argyl this past Saturday. Silfies tossed three innings, striking out four, to earn the victory, while Nothstein finished the gem with two hitless frames. Palmerton also clinched a District 11 playoff berth with a 10-0 Colonial League victory over Salisbury on Monday.

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ROLLING ... The Northwestern baseball team has won seven in a row since a 7-2 loss to powerhouse Blue Mountain (13-1) on April 11. The Tigers have outscored their opponents 56-12 during that stretch. allowing only one run three times and posting one shutout. A 10-0 win over Wilson last Saturday also clinched the Colonial League West Division title for Northwestern, giving the team a bye into the league semifinals. Northwestern will look to keep the momentum going Thursday against Northern Lehigh in a game that will be played at Reading’s First Energy Stadium.

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WIDE MARGIN ... The Palmerton baseball team has been firing on all cylinders recently. The Blue Bombers have won three in a row, and outscored their last two opponents by a combined score of 21-0. Palmerton returns to the field Thursday at home against Bangor (9-6).

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BOUNCE BACK ... Since a 4-2 loss to Northwestern on April 17, the Palmerton softball team has won five straight games, and posted three shutouts during that time. The Bombers have outscored their opponents 47-4 during their hot streak. Palmerton is currently 15-2, and second in the Class 3A rankings behind Pine Grove (16-0).

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WHAT A RUN ... A 3-2 start likely wasn’t the way the Northwestern softball team was looking to begin the season. The Tigers have flipped the script since, going 11-1 to vault to the top of the Class 4A rankings. Their only loss during that stretch was an 8-3 setback to Southern Lehigh, which at 13-4 is atop the Class 5A standings.

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LOOKING AHEAD ... The Colonial League, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and Schuylkill League track and field championship meets will be held next week. The Colonial League and EPC events will be held together next Tuesday and Wednesday at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex. The Schuylkill League meet will also be held Tuesday and Wednesday at Tamaqua Area High School.

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LEHIGH GAP RIVALRY GAME

... The Northern Lehigh and Palmerton baseball programs are teaming up to strike out cancer. Not only will these two teams be honoring their seniors at Berlinsville on Wednesday, May 8, they will also be raising money to help fight pediatric cancer. Both teams sold T-shirts, which they will be wearing pregame. There will be a 50-50, as well as a basket raffle. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Four Diamonds Foundation, which benefits children and their families battling pediatric cancer. This is an event which is near and dear to both the Northern Lehigh and Palmerton baseball families. Zach Long, a 2018 Northern Lehigh graduate, was diagnosed with acute leukemia during his freshman year in college. The Four Diamonds Foundation has been very helpful to the Long family. Zach’s brother, Tyler, is a junior on the Bulldogs’ baseball team. The contest will also be a special one for Northern Lehigh head coach Greg King, whose son, Ryan, is a senior at Palmerton.

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CORRECTION

... Tuesday’s Times News incorrectly stated that the Marian boys track and field team is undefeated, when it is the girls’ program that is currently 6-0 in the Schuylkill League Division 2 standings.