Casey hits, pitches Maroons past Payton

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Mike Casey helped his own cause.

The U-High senior pitcher had two hits and drove in three runs as the Maroons rapped out 15 hits off four Payton pitchers in their 16-8 Class 3A sectional semifinal victory Thursday at Brooks.

U-High advances to the sectional final against Jones on Saturday afternoon.

Casey struck out two and walked seven in five innings. His team's hitting and defense helped keep the Grizzlies at bay.

"I don't throw overly hard or fast, so I just wanted to keep the ball in play and have my teammates make the plays behind me," he said.

U-High (12-5) scored two runs apiece in the first three innings to run out to a 6-0 lead. Senior Morgan Murphy (2-for-5) blasted a three-run triple to key a four-run fifth inning that propelled the Maroons to a 10-2 lead.

Payton narrowed the deficit to 10-5 on a two-run single by Dominick Scarpulla. The Maroons responded with a sixth-run sixth, aided by three Payton errors. Payton committed eight errors in the game.

At the start of the sixth, Casey surrendered two runs. Mark Woerne relieved him and struck out consecutive Payton batters to end the threat.

Senior Tim Parsons was 5-for-5 with a run batted in for the Maroons.

First baseman Hector Chapa drove in two runs for the Grizzlies (14-12).