Julian Welling and his fellow CHS hurlers will be working under a pitch count this spring. (John Fisken photo)
When you talk about what are arguably the two greatest pitching performances in Coupeville High School history, one fact is crystal clear today — no one is matching them in 2017.
I’m talking about Bob Rea going 16 innings and whiffing 27 Darrington batters in a 2-1 win and Ray Cook taking down 21 sluggers in a 13-inning playoff game in ’76.
And why could they not be duplicated this season?
It has nothing to do with the talent of current Wolf hurlers like Hunter Smith or Julian Welling, and all to do with a brand-new rule instituted by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.
Effective immediately, no high school baseball pitcher in our state will be allowed to throw more than 105 pitches in a calendar day.
And, if they do hit that limit, or come within 29 pitches of it, they can’t pitch for the next three calendar days.
Seriously.
The days of making a run behind a true ace are gone.
Better to have a deep staff of halfway decent pitchers than one fireball-blazing stud in the “touchy-feely, can-I-encase-that-arm-in-bubble-wrap” age we’re entering.
Warm-ups pitches don’t count, but anything in the flow of the game does.
Score-book keepers will be expected to track pitch counts, with the home book the official final word, and both teams are supposed to confer after every inning to check the counts.
Umpires have no control over pitch counts.
And yes, a pitcher would have to leave in the middle of facing a hitter if he tops out.
Cue every batter in the world trying to perfect the 20-pitch at-bat, nicking foul ball after foul ball.
Violate the pitch count limits and get caught? You’re going to be smacked the same as if you got caught using an ineligible player.
Forfeit city, baby.
The limits:
76-105 pitches = 3 rest days
51-75 pitches = 2 rest days
31-50 pitches = 1 rest day
1-30 pitches = 0 rest days
So, if Smith throws 76 pitches on Mar. 15 against Chimacum, CHS can’t use him on the mound in its next two games — Mar. 17 vs. Sequim or Mar. 18 vs. South Whidbey — because he’s not eligible to pitch again until Mar. 19.
He could play in the infield, but step near the mound and the WIAA enforcement police will take him down with a dart gun.
Allegedly.
Coupeville Sports 
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