After striking out in his first two at bats, Kamehameha left fielder Arlie Johnson started his third go-around with a huge cut, and touched nothing but air.

With one out in the home half of the sixth inning and pinch runner Mike Tokunaga on second base, Warriors coach Vern Ramie called time from the third base coach's box, and attempted to calm the senior hitter down.

The move worked to perfection. On the next pitch, Johnson laced a double to left-center field that scored Tokunaga, and sparked a four-run rally to vault third-ranked Kamehameha over top-ranked 'Iolani, 6-3, yesterday afternoon at Ala Wai Community Park. The Warriors and previously undefeated Raiders are now tied for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu lead at 10-1.

“;I just wanted him to gather his thoughts and get himself together before he got back in the box,”; said Ramie of his message to Johnson. “;The previous at-bat he didn't have a really good at-bat, and you could tell he was still carrying that around with him. So I just wanted to calm him down, get him refocused, and he did a great job of that and came up with a big hit for us today.”;

The Warriors broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning on Johnson's hit, and scored three more runs with two outs as Jacob Meyer drew a bases loaded walk and Kalei Hanawahine added a two-run single. Kamehameha first baseman Kewby Meyer was 3-for-3 with a double to help the Warriors avenge a 9-6 loss to 'Iolani in the ILH season-opener for both squads on March 17.

“;Every game is important, and we still have a long way to go, but this is a big win for us; 'Iolani is a very good ball club,”; Ramie said. “;They fought us tooth and nail today, and we happened to get a few big hits that ended up being the difference.”;

Kamehameha starting pitcher Alika Pruett tossed his third consecutive complete game, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and striking out six. Pruett faced 'Iolani as a reliever in Kamehameha's previous meeting against the Raiders and allowed two runs on five hits through four innings.

Ramie said that the decision to start Pruett over Chris Pascual was made after the coaches determined that Pascual, a left-hander who took the loss in the first game with 'Iolani, matched up better against Punahou - the team Kamehameha defeated 2-1 on Tuesday.

“;What can you say, it was another gutsy performance from Alika,”; Ramie said. “;He was in trouble in a couple of spots, but he worked his way through it, and we played stellar defense behind him.”;

The Raiders received three hits and an RBI from designated hitter Jarrett Arakawa, and Kela Marciel whacked a two-run double to buoy the 'Iolani offensive attack.

Arakawa came in to pitch the sixth inning, and was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs - a byproduct of three walks. Raiders' starter Sheldon Lee threw five innings, allowing two runs on four hits en route to the no-decision.

“;We said going into (the game) that we can't walk guys against Kamehameha,”; said 'Iolani coach Dean Yonamine of his pitching staff's five walks surrendered, and the fact that three of those runners eventually scored. “;They're too good of a team where you can't give them anything for free.

“;But, to be 10-1 at this point of the season, I'll take that.”;

Both teams have three regular-season games remaining before the ILH postseason tournament kicks off April 17.

“;Three more big ones to go,”; Ramie said. “;We're happy we came away with this one, but like we tell the kids after every game, we'll enjoy the win, get on the bus and start thinking about the next one.”;

ILH

No. 9 Punahou 4, Saint Louis 0

Alaka'i Aglipay doubled in two runs to trigger a three-run fourth inning to lead the Buffanblu over the Crusaders.

Jeremy Fujimoto pitched a complete-game shutout for Punahou, holding Saint Louis to two singles.

No. 4 Mid-Pacific 11, Damien 4

The Owls scored five runs in the top of the first inning and cruised to a win over the Monarchs.

Maryknoll 4, Pac-Five 2

The Spartans plated two runs in each of the first two innings to keep the Wolfpack winless.

OIA RED WEST

Aiea 7, Waianae 5

Na Alii scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally past the Seariders.

Kamalu Kamoku went six innings and struck out three to earn the win for Aiea, which defeated Waianae, 5-1, on the road yesterday.