When the IHSAA’s executive committee and board of directors met earlier this week, they voted on some proposed rule changes in specific sports.
The sport that drew the most attention was baseball.
The Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association proposed five amendments to the board. Four were approved, and one failed.
The approval that will have the most impact deals with conditioning. Players now can throw a baseball when conditioning sessions take place on school facilities.
“Quite frankly, it was probably our biggest (proposal),” Columbus North coach Ben McDaniel said. “As a head coach, No. 1, and as vice president of the coaches association, we’re very pleased that the IHSAA has allowed this change to happen. When we implemented the pitch-count rule three years ago, it really put an emphasis on developing more pitchers. The fact that we’re now able to play catch as part of conditioning is huge for players and arm health at the high school level.”
Previously, players had been limited to mainly running and lifting, along with other possible agility drills, during conditioning sessions.
“I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction,” Columbus East coach Jon Gratz said. “With the new rules that have been implemented in the past couple years having to do with arm health, coaches around the states have the same concern. I think it will definitely be a positive in terms of arm health. Throwing really is conditioning in baseball, so it’s nice they’ll be able to do it on school property.”
The new rule allows players to throw only on flat ground and without a batter in place during the conditioning sessions. A proposal to allow bullpen sessions and throwing off a mound for the five weeks prior to the start of the season was voted down.
The board of directors did approve 10 “Baseball Activity Days” days during the summer, including four “Baseball Competition Days,” where schools can compete or practice with another school.
The board of directors also approved a proposal that called for the forfeiture of a game when a team “intentionally” violates the pitch-count rule.
IHSAA waives moratorium week
The IHSAA announced on Wednesday that with schools shut down through the end of June, it is suspending all school-sponsored activities, including open-facility workouts through June 30.
But while the week including July 4 as a moratorium week, the IHSAA is waiving that rule this year, “In light of the amount of time students have been restricted from school and contact with their teammates and coaches.”
So as long as there are no adjustments to plans for Gov. Eric Holcomb’s plan to reopen Indiana, school-sponsored summer activities may resume on July 1.
Trinkle headed to junior college
Columbus North senior player Grant Trinkle, who signed in November to play baseball at Kentucky, has decommitted and will go the junior college route.
On Wednesday, Trinkle committed to John A. Logan College in Illinois. That’s the same JUCO where Trinkle’s older brother Cooper, who now is at Indiana University, played last year.
Grant Trinkle batted .412 with two home runs and 16 RBIs and led the Bull Dogs with 20 stolen bases and 44 runs scored last season in earning team MVP honors. In March, he was named to the National High School Baseball Coaches Association 2020 Indiana Preseason All-State team.
