THREE THINGS TO WATCH

New pitch count rule: For the first time, pitchers will not be allowed to throw more than 100 pitches in a game – although he can finish the at-bat if he reached that limit. If a pitcher throws at least 76 pitches, he has to rest three days. Two days of rest is required for throwing 50-75 pitches, and one day is needed for 31-49 pitches. The WIAA Board of Control approved Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association’s recommended pitch count restrictions, and a pitch count game log must be kept as well. A first for Burlington: The Demons will see what it is like to play as a defending state champion after they won their first title last season by scoring four times in the top of the seventh to defeat Arrowhead, 6-4, in Division 1. Burlington began its state-winning run by snapping Waterford’s 14-game winning streak May 17 and did it again two days later to win the Southern Lakes Conference crown ahead of the Wolverines. The Demons also knocked off reigning state champion Janesville Craig in the state quarterfinals and finished 25-5 after going 13-12 the previous year. So long, Wisconsin Little Ten: It is believed to be the oldest conference in the state, but the Wisconsin Little Ten will disband after this season because of realignment. Next year for baseball, however, the Classic 8 will not only keep its summer-league format, current Little Ten teams Catholic Memorial, Arrowhead, Oconomowoc, Hartford, Slinger, Milwaukee Lutheran and Wisconsin Lutheran will play in the conference in the spring season, according to Memorial coach Tim Gotzler. “They welcomed us with open arms when Memorial and Arrowhead defected from summer baseball,” said Gotzler, who enters his third year in the Little Ten. “There’s a lot of tradition and pride in that conference for decade upon decade. To just get a taste of that was really powerful and special to be a part of.”