Everyone who has attended a Little League baseball game has seen it.

A youngster takes the mound, and his peers can't touch his assortment of nasty pitches.

He's a natural. He's the ace. He'll be counted on many more times over the course of the season.

He also could be headed for an arm injury.

According to an Associated Press story, the number of Tommy John surgeries, which repairs the ulnar-collateral ligament in the elbow, are on the rise among youth pitchers.

Renown orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews performed 119 Tommy John surgeries from 1995 through '98, including nine (8 percent) for high schoolers.

From 2003 to 2006, he performed the operation 619 times with 148 (24 percent) for high schoolers.

In the story, Dr. Andrews says, "my sports medicine peers around the country are all experiencing the same situation."

In an effort to prevent overuse and potential arm injuries, Little League stepped up to the plate last August and became the first U.S. youth league to impose pitch limits for each age division.

The pitch limits are as follows:

Ages 10-younger: 74 pitches per day.

Majors (ages 11-12): 85 pitches per day.

Juniors (ages 13-14) and Seniors (ages 14-16): 95 pitches per day.

Big League (ages 17-18): 105 pitches per day.

Pitchers in all divisions also are required to rest up to three days between appearances, depending on the number of pitches thrown.

"I think the root of it is they want to save arms, which is good," said Timo Donahue, coach of the Waipi'o Majors team this year.

In previous years, Little League had an innings-pitched limit for its divisions, but the rules didn't regulate individuals from throwing a high number of pitches while struggling through long innings.

High pitch totals, the use of breaking balls, and improper mechanics have been cited for causing arm injuries among youth pitchers.

The new rules will help limit the high pitch totals. As far as what pitches are thrown and proper mechanics, that will depend on the coaches.

"I don't think it'll affect the pitcher," Donahue said of the pitch limits. "It depends on the (type of) pitches being thrown."

Donahue also said he's heard the term "growth plate" quite a bit over the past few years in reference to arm injuries to youth pitchers.

Growth plates are located at each end of long bones. Youth pitchers are often vulnerable to growth plate injuries to their elbow or shoulder while trying to perfect the curveball.

Once young people finish growing, the growth plates close and are replaced by solid bone.

In an effort to put less stress on his pitchers' arms, Donahue and his staff aren't teaching a full-bore curveball. He said his pitchers are "not really cranking the wrist which puts torque and stress on the elbow."

Mitch Yamato, who coaches the Pearl City Juniors team, said improper mechanics when throwing a curveball include "having the elbow too low, and the follow through not being right."

Yamato said he'd recommend kids not throwing curveballs until age 13, but conceded, "if they (younger kids) know how to throw it right, it's not that bad."

'AIEA PONY TEAM HOLDING FUND-RAISER

'Aiea's PONY team, which will be represent Hawai'i in the Bronco West Zone Region in Olympia, Wash., will hold a car wash to help raise funds to cover its expenses.

The car wash will be Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Alvah Scott Elementary School, at 98-1230 Moanalua Road.

For tickets or donations to the team, contact Shannon Sakurai at 216-0312 or Kim Higa at 392-7950.

'Aiea defeated Mililani, 8-3, to win the state title.

Keenan Lum was the winning pitcher. Troy Barboza Scanlan batted 3 for 4 with a double. Tyler Meditz batted 2 for 5 with a double, while Lum and Austyn Nagamine each batted 2 for 4.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.