Number of Warm-up pitches?

[jumpmaster]

Over a pitcher of suds the other day, a couple of us HS guys were talking with a buddy that calls NCAA ball. He enforces the pitch limit like this...

F2 is 3rd out of a 1/2 inning. Back-up catcher comes out and takes warm-up pitches from the pitcher. After the 4th pitch, PU says, "save the last one for your catcher, go to the dugout."

My buddy said, that NCAA coaches, players and catchers are conditioned to that way of thinking.

My partner and I decide to give it a shot at the next game. F2 makes the 3rd out and is lolly-gagging in the dugout. Sure enough, back-up catcher comes out and takes 4 pitches. "Hey bud, save the last pitch for your catcher." A confused look hit his face and then a light-bulb goes off. He gets up and starts hollerin' at the catcher, hurry up and get up here, we are waitin' on you. Coach jumps in catcher's butt, catcher gets going. No more drag-butt from either team between innings...even in the JV game.