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RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Saint Louis' Cody Barrett tagged out Punahou's Kyle Fujimoto at second base yesterday.

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Buffanblu bail out Pate

Yesterday's ILH showdown between Punahou and Saint Louis was a good news, bad news type ballgame for the two top-ranked teams in the latest Star-Bulletin State Prep Baseball Poll.

For No. 1 Punahou, the good news was the 9-6 win, which helped the defending state champions run through the league's first of three rounds with an unbeaten record. The Buffanblu's only blemish thus far is a tie against Iolani in the first week of the season.

The good news also covers the seven-run first inning Punahou was able to capitalize on, as three Saint Louis hurlers were needed to escape the opening frame, issuing five walks to fuel the Buffanblu explosion.

"We hit the ball and scored some runs against a good Saint Louis team," Punahou head coach Eric Kadooka said. "To get a win like this against a quality team is a big win for us. We're still growing as a program as far as what we're trying to do."

Jared Pate provided the bad news for Punahou after his 12-inning scoreless streak was snapped in the bottom of the first as the Crusaders posted three runs in response to their early deficit. The 2004 player of the year opened his senior campaign with a no-hitter against Kamehameha and a five-hit shutout of Mid-Pacific before coming into yesterday's start.

"Jared was making good pitches, but they were hitting the ball," Kadooka said. "It feels really good to end the first round like this. We've had to beat everybody and they're all coming at us."

Pate surrendered six runs -- five earned -- on 11 hits, but gave Punahou more good news, proving he can win with less than his best stuff. The lanky right-hander didn't look as sharp as his two earlier appearances, but showed an ability to pitch out of jams, as all of his seven strikeouts came with runners in scoring position.

With Saint Louis registering at least one hit in each of his six innings, Pate was often surrounded by Crusaders, but was able to slither away, finishing four scoring threats with strikeouts.

Reliever Carl Graves struck out the side in a scoreless seventh to record the save.

"I started off a little shaky," Pate said. "I didn't really feel it today. Nothing was really working for me, so I just tried to calm down a little. I knew it was a big game being the last of the first round, so I just tried to stay within myself and hit more spots."

The obvious bad news for Saint Louis was another hard-fought loss, adding yesterday's defeat to close losses to Mid-Pacific and Kamehameha. During the week, the Crusaders faced each team's top starter.

The good news was the Crusaders never wilted despite the early deficit, with Kelii Zablan's 3-for-4, four-RBI performance lifting Saint Louis along with a strong relief effort from ace Cameron Bayne, who gave up two runs over the last five innings.

Bayne came back on three days' rest from his Tuesday start at Mid-Pacific to buoy the Crusaders.

"It's been a rough week," Crusader coach Scot Paiva said. "But we'll take the positive out of this. We were an inch fair or foul from Mid-Pac, and were in the game in the last inning against Kamehameha. Today, we spotted the state champs seven runs and battled. I like where we stand."

Pate, who improved to 3-0 for the young season, credited the efforts of his team.

"Our hitters came through for us today," Pate said. "This was their win. I just didn't have my best stuff today, but our guys made plays. Maika Murashige, that was an excellent play. Our guys always seem to make the big plays, and that boosts the confidence of our pitching staff."

At Ala Wai Field

Punahou (6-0-1)	700	110	0	--	9	9	3
Saint Louis (4-3-0)	320	100	0	--	6	11	1

Jared Pate, Carl Graves (7) and Michael Chock. Kaniau Johnson, Gavin Mendez (1), Kalei Perreira (1), Cameron Bayne (3) and Sheldon Santiago. W--Pate. L--Johnson. SV--Graves.
Leading Hitters--Pun: Kyle Fujimoto 2-4, 2b, 4 RBIs; Chock 2-4, 2 RBIs; Maika Murashige 2-3. StL: Kelii Zablan 3-4, 2b, 4 RBIs; Ryan Sasaki 2-3, 2 2b's, 3 runs; Santiago 2-3, 2 RBIs; Chester Wilson 2b.

MORE ILH
No. 5 Mid-Pacific 3, No. 10 Iolani 2

Adam Tamashiro drove in Seob Yoon for the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning as the Owls scored three runs to rally past the Raiders.

Reece Uyeno led off the inning with a walk and later scored on Nathan Rice's groundout. One batter later, Aaron Fujiki scored the game-tying run on Alan Sunada's single to right field. Chad Takabuki then advanced Yoon to third on a fielder's choice, setting up Tamashiro's game-winner.

Iolani led 2-0 for six innings. Marc Factora hit a solo homer for the Raiders.

At Iolani H.S. field

Mid-Pacific (4-3)	000	000	3	--	3	7	1
Iolani (3-3-1)	001	001	0	--	2	3	2

Jayson Kramer and Kip Masuda. Wally Marciel, Ian Mopas (7) and Riley Yamamoto. W--Kramer. L--Mopas.
Leading hitters--MPI: Adam Tamashiro, 2-3, RBI; Nathan Rice, RBI; Alan Sunada, RBI. Iol: Marc Factora, HR, RBI; Brett Hasegawa, 2-3.

No. 4 Kamehameha 13, Maryknoll 2

The Warriors scored in every inning, including eight in the first, to blow out the Spartans in five innings.

Kamu Freitas went the distance in picking up the win, giving up just two runs on a double by Matt Fukumoto.

At Ala Wai Field

Maryknoll (1-6-0)	000	20	--	2	3	0
Kamehameha (6-1-0)	811	3x	--	13	13	0

Spencer Kim, Peter Kirst (6) and Brian Tabata. Kamu Freitas and Stuart Kam. W--Freitas. L--Kim.
Leading hitters--Mryk: Matt Fukumoto 2b, 2 RBIs. Kam: Aaron Nichols 2 runs; Makana Kitamura 2-3, 3b, RBI; Kam 2b; Ryson Maurico 2b; Jamie Smeigh 2-3, 2 runs; Eli Chee 2-3, RBI; Freitas 2-3, 2b, RBI; Jayson Rego 2b.

Damien 6, Pac-Five 1

Scotty Taleasea smacked a two-run homer and Evander Ledward gave up just three hits in seven innings to pick up the win for the Monarchs.

At Ala Wai Field

Damien (2-5-0)	110	002	2	--	6	8	3
Pac-Five (1-6-0)	010	000	0	--	1	3	3

Evander Ledward and Kai Higa. Samson Aina, Travis Ogimi (7) and Aaron Chilcote. W--Ledward. L--Aina.
Leading hitters--Dam: Scotty Taleasea 2-4, 3b, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Travis Derby 2b.