Monica Glomb is becoming a dinosaur.

The former Mars softball star chucked virtually every fastball and changeup, every rise ball and drop ball, for the Planets for four seasons.

Glomb, who is now at Kutztown University, ended her career with 732 strikeouts and almost as many innings pitched.

But the days of a team riding a star pitcher exclusively appear to be coming to an end.

"I think the reason is two-fold," said third-year Butler softball coach Lyndsay Millea. "What is happening with girls fast-pitch softball is people are realizing the pitching motion is not as healthy as we once thought it was.

"Secondly, fast-pitch softball has grown so much over the years that more girls are starting younger and learning how to pitch well."

That has rendered the one-pitcher softball model almost obsolete.

Of the nine high school softball programs in Butler County, eight plan to use more than one pitcher this season.

That's in stark contrast to past seasons, when pitchers like Glomb were the norm.

"Doing what Monica Glomb was able to do — it's a killer. It's tough," Millea said. "Coaches are realizing having as many pitchers as you can is not a bad thing."

That's because an increasing number of fast-pitch softball hurlers are finding more pain in their arms than outs these days.

Shouldering responsibility

Knoch coach Scott Docherty has been screaming to the heavens about pitching limits in high school softball for years.

So far, no one has listened.

"It should be mandatory," said Docherty, who is entering his fourth season as the Knights coach. "Baseball has limits. Why not softball? It would help the strategy of the game. It would make it more exciting and it would be safer. Everyone preaches safety. Hey, make it safer."

Docherty has seen his fair share of injuries caused by overuse.

He said the problem has two parts: poor mechanics and work load.

"I know five pitchers who have scars on their shoulder above their rotator cuff," Docherty said. "Don't tell me it doesn't hurt the arm. It does. When I'm teaching pitches, my arm hurts."

The data seems to back up Docherty's claims.

According to a study conducted by Dr. Sherry Werner of the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine, the windmill motion of the softball pitcher puts nearly as much stress on the shoulder joint as that of a baseball pitcher.

That's because a softball pitcher rarely throws a straight fastball — it's too easy to hit. The drop ball, rise ball and a breaking pitch of some sort are pitchers' bread and butter.

And throwing them comes with a price, especially when weather forces games to pile up in one week.

"I've always liked to have more than one pitcher," said Seneca Valley coach George Trew. "When we have four or five games in a week, that's tough on any one pitcher. I think, someday, there will be limits on innings."

Werner recommends a 120-pitch limit for games or workouts.

Glomb was a workhorse for Mars last season. She once threw 11 innings against Knoch on a Friday and came back the following Monday to throw eight innings.

A week later, she struck out 27 batters in a 14-inning marathon outing.

She emerged unscathed, but others aren't so lucky.

"I know coaches who have pitchers pitch in a game, then pitch all of batting practice the next day," Docherty said. "It's bad for these young ladies."

Docherty always has cultivated more than one pitcher. For the last two seasons, he's been able to go with either Stephanie Fincher or Chelsea Martin.

Fincher has graduated, but Martin returns and figures to split time in the circle again.

"On my varsity squad, I have five pitchers," Docherty said. "Are they all as good as ChelseaMartin? No. Can they all throw strikes? You bet."

While Docherty might have to wait a little longer for pitching limits to be imposed in high school softball, his coaching counterparts might be making that moot with their proactive approach.

Beyond the health concerns, coaches are realizing a change of pace can be a good thing.Grove City coachShawnee Denbow is back after a three-year absence. She's always seen the strategic value of having a second pitcher to confound the opponent."It's like baseball," Denbow said. "Sometimes teams catch up to a pitcher after three innings, or zero in on her after they have seen her a lot."Denbow will go with two pitchers this season, even though she has one of the best around in junior Chelsea Filer.When Denbow started coaching softball, she rarely had that luxury.But as the sport has grown, so has the talent level."I used to have to make pitchers," Denbow said. "Now they come to me already made."Karns City coach Mike Simpson wished he would have had three pitchers last season.His No. 1 thrower, Ashton Pakutz, went down with a broken wrist. When his No. 2 pitcher, Brandi Dunkle also also was lost to injury, he was left in a quandary."When both of pitchers went down within a week, it really put us in a bind," Simpson said. "You can never have enough pitchers."But not every coach is buying into the two-pitcher theory.Moniteau coach Danny Hindman has used multiple pitchers before: he had hard throwingSara Vinca teaming with control artist Martina Burk.But he believes a dominant pitcher should be the horse."I think if you have a dominant pitcher, you ride her," Hindman said. "As a coach, I would unless both pitchers were equally talented. I'm throwing my best pitcher."Where's Monica Glomb when you need her?