In a rematch of last year's state baseball championship game, Punahou staved off a relentless offensive barrage from Interscholastic League of Honolulu rival Saint Louis to claim a 6-5 victory yesterday afternoon at Ala Wai Community Park.

Despite being out-hit 12-6, the five-time defending state champion Buffanblu squad fended off a late Crusaders comeback during which Saint Louis plated four runs in the final two innings—including three in the last frame—but held on for the victory.

Saint Louis (1-1), No. 2 in the Star-Bulletin Baseball Top 10, received a game-high four hits and three runs from Kini Enos, but could not convert on an abundance of scoring opportunities. The Crusaders stranded 12 runners, seven of which were in scoring position, and left the bases loaded in the fourth and sixth innings.

“;We out-hit them, but we left too many guys on base,”; said Saint Louis coach Duane Fraticelli. “;Leaving 12 guys on and just getting five runs hurts us. The team is young, and they're going to bounce back. We have to keep reminding them that we play in the best league in the state.”;

Punahou (2-0), ranked fifth, broke a 1-1 tie in the home half of the third inning with a five-run outburst, and made Crusaders starter Noah Siegfried pay for a crucial two-out walk.

After retiring the first two batters of the third frame on eight pitches, Siegfried walked Buffanblu catcher Tyler Young. Punahou's next six batters proceeded to reach base on five hits and a walk, and the squad posted a 6-1 lead thanks to an RBI double from Kainoa Crowell, and two-run singles from both Alaka'i Aglipay and Dylan Leong.

“;Two-out walks are crucial. They were able to score five runs after (Siegfried's) two-out walk,”; Fraticelli said. “;That's what we preach to them all season: Two-out walks are what's going to start a big inning.”;

Punahou starter Evan Lim picked up the victory, surrendering a run on six hits and striking out a batter through five innings. Despite walking four, Lim managed to strand nine of the 10 runners allowed on base.

“;Evan did a good job of taking a little bit off, and putting a little bit on and was able to get out of critical jams,”; said Punahou coach Eric Kadooka of his hurler's ability to change speeds and hit the glove on both corners of the plate. “;One little crack and they're coming at you again. This was a good game, early in the season, it was a test for our young team.”;

Saint Louis indeed tested the Buffanblu bullpen, scoring its final four runs off reliever Jacob Ellis.

Enos pulled the Crusaders to within four runs of the lead, 6-2, after leading off the sixth inning with a double and eventually scoring on a passed ball off the glove of Young. Saint Louis singled three times and took advantage of two Punahou errors in the ensuing inning as it posted three more runs to narrow the deficit to one.

But Kadooka brought in left-handed reliever Marcus Yoshii, who retired Kaeo Aliviado and Lucas Gonsalves on a grounder to second and flyout to center field to earn the save and nail down the win for Lim.

“;We were real fortunate today,”; Kadooka said. “;They constantly put pressure on you and have a lot of great hitters throughout the lineup. We were lucky to get out of a lot of critical situations. We beat a good team, so we're going to take that. Saint Louis, they can score up and down that lineup, and we were just trying to keep scoring because no lead is safe with them.”;

'Iolani 10, Pac-Five 2

Despite the Wolfpack's pitching substitutions to halt the Raiders, 'Iolani manhandled the Wolfpack, scoring 10 runs in the first four innings.

JR Bunda went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and a homer to lead 'Iolani.

Mid-Pacific 7, Damien 0

The Owls scored eight runs in the fifth and sixth innings and Lawrence Chew shut out the Monarchs.

Wade Tamaru hit 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs and a double to lead MPI. Michael Arakaki hit the lone homer of the night.

OIA RED WEST

Mililani 4, Leilehua 1

The Trojans got off to a slow start, trailing 1-0 through the first four innings, but managed to score two runs in both the fifth and seventh innings to defeat the Mules.

Preston Tacolba picked up the win, pitching all seven innings and allowing only two hits. Mililani's Tanner Nakasone hit 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.