Are Berks baseball teams ready to move into the digital era?

High school baseball games could be a little shorter next season; more expensive, too.

The NFHS has approved the use of electronic communications devices, similar to those used in college and at the Major League level, and the PIAA is expected to rubber stamp the move, possibly as soon as next week.

“The sport’s evolving,” said Muhlenberg coach Brian Kopetsky. “This is just another one of those steps where the technology fits the situation. I’m looking forward to it; I’m curious to see how it plays out.”

The National Federation of High School sports earlier this week approved the use of a one-way communication device between a coach in the dugout and the catcher for the purpose of calling pitches.

Unlike the big leagues, where the pitcher also wears a receiving device, or the college game, where multiple players receive signals, the catcher will be the only player on the field in the high school game who receives a signal.

Berks coaches believe the move will speed up the game and cut down on sign-stealing.

Currently, the head coach or pitching coach signals in pitches, pitch locations, pickoffs and pitchouts. On most teams the catcher peeks into the dugout before every pitch to receive a hand signal.

That takes time and the signals can – and often are – stolen by the opposing team.

“This takes 50 percent of that (threat) out of the equation,” said Kopetsky.

“You go to great lengths to make sure your signs are protected,” said Chris Hole, coach of Berks champ Gov. Mifflin. “(This) might make that more seamless.”

Kopetsky said he or one of his assistants use hand signals to call pitches, and the method is generally effective. He said the method was 99 percent successful. This could improve that percentage.

“With this, you’ll get exactly what you want, where you want and how you want it,” Kopetsky said. “This will leave no doubt.”

Tim Mertz, coach of District 3 Class 2A champ Kutztown, likes the idea. He’s so wary of having signs stolen that he generally has his catcher, not a coach, call the game.

“With a coach calling pitches from the dugout, (your opponent) can pick up what’s going to be called,” Mertz said. “It can be very easy to pick stuff up. You can tip off hitters.”

Mertz saw electronic communication devices being used in the College World Series and would like to utilize the same technology.

“It seems so much easier to communicate with your catcher and call pitches,” he said.

Wilson coach Bill Underwood is less excited about the potential change. In fact, he’s not sure the Bulldogs would utilize the device, at least not right away.

He’s happy with the system Wilson has used for over a decade: The catcher wears a coded wristband and a coach calls out a number that correlates with a pitch listed on the wristband.

“We’ve used that successfully for a long time,” he said.

An NFHS memo released earlier this week did not address the potential cost of electronic devices.

A story in the Vicksburg Post indicated it would cost Mississippi teams about $600; a story in the Los Angeles Times reported the cost at $1,000 or more.

That, Underwood said, could be an issue.

“Is that something you want to (add to) your budget?” he said. “That’s a luxury item.”

The NFHS news release stated that the addition of electronic communication devices was aimed at creating a “level playing field.”

“The change is consistent with the growth of the game,” according to the release. “(We have) made these changes to maintain the balance between offense and defense; increase the pace of play; and (to) responsibly manage technology so there is no advantage gained by schools that have more available resources than some of their contemporaries.”

The Los Angeles Times reported that a local coach who used the communication devices during fall and summer ball said games are “about 22 minutes” shorter.

Last season Major League teams started using PitchCom, which allows catchers to transmit calls to other players as a way to replace hand signals.

Other changes adopted at the big league level, such as larger bases and limiting throws to first base, might be considered at the high school level down the line, some Berks coaches believe.

It’s unlikely, however, that Berks baseball games will ever see a pitch clock – at least not until the technology can be implemented much more economically.

That’s been the major stumbling block in adding a shot clock to high school basketball: Economics. The addition of a shot clock would require the addition of another person at the scoring table, and that could cost each school $1,500 or more per season. It could cost several thousand dollars for the equipment.