If you are ever around Little League — or baseball in general, for that matter — for any length of time, you will hear the word “pitch count” used ad nauseam.

The premise behind having a pitch count is to preserve the pitcher’s arm so as not to get injured or fatigued.

This notion applies to every level, but especially in Little League.

I must say that I am not a huge fan of the idea — though in Little League, I am at least amenable to the idea.

When you buy a hat at the store, you can buy “one size fits all” — but with pitch counts, I am of the mind that one specific number definitely does not apply across the board.

I am not one to grovel about how much better things were back in the day, when pitchers used to throw 150 pitches over nine innings.

However, at the professional ranks, it seems like I have seen more pitchers have arm trouble than not since pitch counts have been heavily emphasized.

The reason I tend to not be a fan of pitch counts is that some pitchers are bigger and stronger than others, and have more wherewithal to throw more pitches than their smaller counterparts.

Complete games over nine innings at the Major League level are definitely a lost art.

In Little League, parents and coaches are almost vigilant when it comes to pitch counts and realizing the importance of protecting arms.

I can somewhat understand the importance of pitch counts at this level, because even though we can logically reason that all coaches should realize that no game is worth risking injury, not every coach has been around the game long enough to realize that point.

Plus, throwing overhand — as opposed to underhand in softball — causes more strain.

As a result, a 12-year-old pitcher is likely to have more stamina to pitch longer than, say, a 10-year-old.

Pitch counts can also affect the strategy of the game.

If the opponents’ best pitcher is on the mound, the question becomes, can we keep the game close until he reaches his maximum pitch count?

Cub football sign-ups aplenty

Talk about how things can rapidly turn around — remember four years ago, how the future of local football looked incredibly bleak?

Cub football disappeared for two years, and the high school season was abbreviated in 2005 amid turmoil that led to Dan Connor’s resignation as head coach.

Then in 2006, it was like the light went on.

Mike Ervin was named the high school head coach, and Calistoga High graduate Laura Wilson spearheaded the revival of the Cub program with her recruiting efforts as president.

Wilson gave way to Paul Harrell — who sings an awesome national anthem, I must say — last year.

According to various sources, including Ervin and Calistoga Recreation Department Superintendent Frank DiFede, there are over 75 youngsters signed up for football this fall.

Maybe all 75 kids will not stick it out, but it is a transparent sign that football is indeed relevant in Calistoga again.

Contact Vince D’Adamo at sports@weeklycalistogan.com or 967-6805.

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