It may not look like spring out there. It may not feel like spring out there. But the high school boys and girls of spring begin throwing today for the upcoming spring season.

The MPA allows teams to work with pitchers and catchers this week to work on arm conditioning. The hope is to reduce arm injuries. There is no limit to the number of players who can participate in conditioning but all activities must be throwing related.

The first practice for high school teams is March 27th. The first countable games begin on April 13th.

Getting pitching arms in shape may be important than ever this year as Maine adopts the new 'pitch count rules' for baseball this spring. The number of pitches thrown in a game is directly related to the number of days rest a pitcher must get.

Here's a breakdown of pitches/rest days...

The limits for HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY pitchers  require:

  • no calendar days of rest for one to 20 pitches in a day
  • one day of rest for 21-39 pitches
  • two days of rest for 40-65 pitches
  • three days of rest for 66-95 pitches
  • four days of rest for 96 or more pitches with a maximum of 110 pitches in a day.

For HIGH SCHOOL SUB-VARSITY pitchers:

  • no calendar days of rest required for one to 15 pitches in a day
  • one day of rest for 16-35 pitches
  • two days of rest for 36-55 pitches
  • three days of rest for 56 to 74 pitches
  • four days of rest for 75 or more pitches with a maximum of 90 pitches in a day.

Should pitchers reach the 110-pitch varsity limit or 90-pitch sub-varsity limit in the middle of an at-bat, they may finish pitching to that batter before being replaced.

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