Highlights from Wednesday, April 22, in high school sports:
Kyle Casey delivered a big-game performance in the city rivalry for the second straight season as the Simi Valley High baseball team handed rival Royal its first loss in Coastal Canyon League play on Wednesday.
The senior left-hander allowed three hits, striking out seven, to lift the Pioneers to an 8-3 win over visiting Royal and into a first-place tie atop the league standings with three games to play.
“He’s been doing this thing since he was a freshman for us,” Simi Valley head coach Scott Vermette said.
Casey, who improved to 6-0 with a 0.81 ERA, also delivered a big rivalry win a year ago as a junior, when Simi Valley came from behind to edge Royal in an unforgettable league race.
“I had all the confidence in the world, based on last year,” Casey said. “Everything was really working well.”
Casey picked off the first two batters who reached base against him as Simi Valley (14-9, 8-1) jumped out to a 6-0 lead along the way to its sixth win in seven games.
“We’re getting hot at the right time,” Vermette said. “We have nothing to lose. It’s a great feeling.”
Ryan Whitson was 3 for 3 with two runs scored and an RBI and Andrew Nicklaus went 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Payton Visage doubled and scored to spark a three-run fourth inning and Matthew Stout had a triple and two RBIs for the Highlanders (18-3, 8-1).
Simi Valley visits Royal in the rubber match of their three-game season series Friday.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Casey’s pitching helps Simi Valley hand Royal its first league loss
Reporting by From staff reports, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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