NFHS approves baseball pitch count

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

A revised pitching policy approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations will result in a pitch-count limit in high school baseball.

That was one of six and the most significant baseball changes approved by the NFHS Board of Directors during its June meeting at Indianapolis. The changes were announced on Tuesday.

Each state association and NFHS member, including the Ohio High School Athletic Association, will be required to “develop its own pitching restriction policy based on the number of pitches thrown during a game to afford pitchers a required rest period between pitching appearances,” according to the release.

The NFHS did not cite a start date for the new rule, although it likely will begin in the 2017 season. Messages and email requests to contact the OHSAA were not returned.

The NFHS is the governing body that oversees each state’s membership, including the OHSAA. The NFHS often sets guidelines for state associations to implement and amend to their own specifications according to various sports.

High school softball pitchers do not adhere to a pitch count.

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