Auburn Mountainview comes up short to Puyallup | Baseball

Published 10:09 pm Sunday, April 20, 2014

Joey Cassano on the hill at Safeco field.
Joey Cassano on the hill at Safeco field.

Reporter staff

Eighth-ranked 3A Auburn Mountainview fell shy of toppling undefeated Puyallup, the top-ranked 4A powerhouse, in the High School Baseball Classic, 9-8, Saturday at Safeco Field.

The defending state champion Lions (10-5 overall) held a 7-5 lead going into the fifth inning, but gave up four runs to the Vikings (15-0).

Levi Jordan’s two-run hit tied the game. Brendan Illies’ suicide squeeze and an error put Puyallup ahead, 9-7, entering the seventh.

Auburn Mountainview threatened in the top of the seventh. The Lions loaded the bases before Josh Swanson drew a walk to cut the deficit to 9-8. A groundout to Jordan ended the game.

Lions junior Jared Gray was tagged with the loss, giving up four runs – three earned – in one inning of relief. Joey Cassano started.

Junior Mason Cerillo led the Lions at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Jeff Morgan and Justin Marsden each added two RBIs.

Senior Tyler Friis was 3-for-3 hitting and scored a run.

Swanson and Ikaika Nahaku both added an RBI.

Auburn Mountainview gets back to work at 7 p.m. Tuesday when it hosts Peninsula in a South Puget Sound League game.