Mustangs' Payton heading to Texas

Updated: March 23, 2011 12:34PM

Mark Payton, who graduated as one of St. Rita's most decorated baseball players, has signed a National Letter of Intent with college powerhouse Texas.

"Texas is a great place, and they told him he would be able to compete for a starting job," said Dave Payton, Mark's father. "It's just a great academic and athletic fit."

Payton, a left-handed-hitting and throwing center fielder, originally had signed with Arizona State. But when Sun Devils coach Pat Murphy resigned abruptly under a cloud of NCAA rules violations in November 2009, Payton grew uncomfortable, fearing serious sanctions against the program.

Fortunately, the SouthtownStar's 2009 Player of the Year kept his options open and the new ASU coaching staff released him of his letter of intent.

"ASU treated Mark so well and allowed him to get out of his letter of intent," the elder Payton said. "But Mark and myself were never comfortable with the pending NCAA sanctions and the uncertainty of the new staff, which didn't recruit Mark. We still love ASU. But Texas is a great fit for Mark."

Payton, who was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 31st round of the June Amateur Draft, hit .441, with 12 doubles, 10 homers, 59 runs and 43 RBI this season. The Orland Park resident spent his entire St. Rita career on the varsity and led the Mustangs to consecutive runner-up finishes in the Class 4A state finals the past two seasons.

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