Bonneville High School head baseball coach Ryan Shaffer has been suspended for the team’s next two games due to violations of the UHSAA’s pitch count rules, according to BHS athletic director Rick Corbridge.

According to box scores posted on MaxPreps, Bonneville junior pitcher Andrew Hansen threw 57 pitches in a March 10 game against Moapa Valley (Nevada). The next day, March 11, Hansen threw 92 pitches against San Juan.

According to UHSAA pitch count rules that have been in effect since the 2017 baseball season, players who throw between 36-60 pitches are required to have one day of rest. By rule, Hansen wasn’t eligible to pitch on March 11.

Additionally, sophomore pitcher Hudson Taylor threw 52 pitches against Moapa Valley (Nevada) on March 10, then threw 19 pitches the next day against San Juan when he should have had one day of rest.

The suspension, handed down by Region 5, will take place for Bonneville’s next two scheduled games, which are scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday against Region 5 opponent Viewmont.

Any subsequent violations of the pitching count limits would result in Bonneville forfeiting games.

The situation appears to be a misunderstanding, to some degree.

Between March 9-11, the first weekend of the high school baseball season, Bonneville played in a four-game tournament in Mesquite, Nevada.

According to Corbridge, tournament officials gave Shaffer the impression that each player’s pitch count limit for the tournament was 145 pitches, though Nevada’s baseball pitch count limits stipulate pitchers can throw no more than 140 pitches over four consecutive days.

Utah high school baseball teams are governed by UHSAA pitch count limits in out-of-state games, unless the tournament’s pitching limits are stricter, according to UHSAA assistant director Jeff Cluff.

Connect with reporter Patrick Carr via email at pcarr@standard.net, Twitter @patrickcarr_ and Instagram @standardexaminersports.