Expert: Andrew Mullins - 7/27/2011

Question
We play by High School Rules except we have a continuous batting order.  Can a kid pitch the eighth inning and then get moved to
a different position in the ninth then when the kid that is pitching in the ninth is having trouble bring back the kid that pitched in the eighth inning?  I thought you could only bring back the starting pitcher to pitch later on in the game.

Thanks for your help

Answer
Thanks for the question....

In NFHS baseball rules any starting pitcher may return to the mound as many times as needed without penalty provided he never leaves the game defensively.

So he can pitch innings then be moved to another position & come back to pitch.  Conversely if he were taken out of the game let's say in the 7th inning & replaces in the 9th, then he could come back in one time since he was a starter but he cannot go to the mound, he could play any other position.

Keep in mind the whole time though that he can never change batting order, he must always remain in the same spot order wise, no matter what...

Great question...

Thanks, Andy

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