The stars aligned for the Maroons on Saturday, as they defeated Leo Catholic High School 13-0 in six innings for the first regional title in school history. With the victory, U-High (15) improved to 10-5 on the season and will advance to Thursday’s sectional semifinal at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep.

From the first pitch to the last, senior Mike Casey was dominant, hurling a perfect game and adding seven strikeouts. Mike’s gem was undoubtedly one of the best performances ever by a U-High pitcher, and cemented the team’s place on the walls of Kovler Gymnasium. The perfect game was Mike’s second win of the postseason, and was enabled by great team defense including a stretching pick by senior first baseman Max “Scoops” Wagner.

At the plate the Maroons continued their tear, posting thirteen runs on the Lions. Mike Casey backed up his pitching effort with two hits, including a big double to left-center field. Senior left fielder Alex Zimmer stayed hot with a two-run double to left that opened up the scoring. Junior center fielder Mark “Weenie” Woerner ripped two doubles, Max Wagner added three hits and 2 RBI’s, and Senior second baseman Tim Parsons had two hits as well.

Fifteenth-seeded U-High, with their upsets of Kenwood (2) and Leo (10), hoisted the Kenwood Regional plaque and will move on to the four-team Brooks College Prep Sectional as one of 32 schools remaining in the Class 3A state tournament. The Maroons face fifth-seeded Walter Payton College Prep, winners of the Harlan Regional, on Thursday at 6:00 PM. Brooks is located at 250 East 111th Street, where the Maroons will continue their great season and Cinderella run as the lowest seed remaining in Class 3A. Show your support for University High and witness history in the making!

Posted on May 30th, 2009 by jwoo
Filed under: HS Baseball