High school rules.
How many times may a pitcher re enter as the pitcher?
Any difference between starter and any others?
IF the starter can re enter more than once when did this change occur?

The pitcher may re-enter the game once just like any starter but they can't return to the mound. However if you just move him to another position he may return to the mound once an inning.

rule 3 section 1 art 3 covers re-entry of starting players.in art 3 it states"the pitcheris governed by the provisions of art 2."
underNOTE:"a player may be removed as pitcher and returned as pitcher only once per inning provided the return as pitcher does not violate either the pitching,substitution,or charged conference rule.the starters may be withdrawn and re-entered only once.

Michael can the relief pitcher(s) also be switched from F1 to say F3 and then back to F1 once an inning?
There is an oft stated "only the starter can return to the mound" around HS ballfields but I cant find this in the HS rulebook.

yes he may.

Situation-
Visiting team is a bat in the 4th inning.
Team pinch hits for the starting pitcher.
Starting pitcher takes the mound in the bottom of the 4th.
Comments?

the starting pitcher must take over the pitching duties from someone other than himself if you consider him reentering the game. rule 3 article 2(nfhs) if a pitcher is replaced while on defense, the substitute pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at bat etc. i say someone else must pitch to at least one batter ,then the starter can reenter

In PF's sitch the pither has left the line-up so he can't return to the mound. He can re-enter and play defense, just not pitch. As in the F1 to F3 then he can. This is also allowed in pro rules.
The only rule set that I know of that allows the pitcher to be pinch hit and return is LL. There in tournament rules only if both have met MPR then he can return.

The situation I described was a heated discussion, a protest, and several ejections, but the final ruling is this is a legal move.

This is based upon the fact the pitcher was not removed defensively and the pitching, substitution or charged conference rules were not violated.

man with all that you really have to hope the pinchhitter at least put the ball in play

quote:

Originally posted by Pirate Fan:
The situation I described [involved] a heated discussion, a protest, and several ejections.

Ya always gotta love a game where there were "multiple ejections"! If you're gonna get one guy you might as well get a few, since you have to write a report anyway. lol

In rereading the book I am wrong. The pitcher can be PH for and return. It says if you PH in the top of the first he is governed by the "Have to pitch to one batter" rule. For that to be true it must be legal to return.

pirate fan: the situation you cited has been really working on my brain. since the pitcher reentered the game on defense, should it not apply that the pitcher he replaced would have had to had faced 1 batter so that the substitution rule would not have been violated? is this would be true, and knowing our pitcher could not have replaced himself, another person would have had to pitch to one batter before the reeentry could have been allowed?

The pitcher was PH for so he was subbed for on offense. He may return and pitch. No one has to pitch to a batter to meet any retristion. The only place that applies is if you PH for him in the top of the first. the starter must return and pitch to one batter or he is done as a pitcher for the day. He could re-enter but not pitch. This rule is how I figured out I was wrong in the first place.