In coach Dunn Muramaru's recipe book for success, there are no tags.

There's no “;small ball.”; But there's a formula that works in every circumstance: solid defense, quality pitching and the skill of reaping extra bases.

Without an extra-base hit, Muramaru's Mid-Pacific squad edged 'Iolani 4-2 yesterday in a key Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball matchup at the Raiders' field.

“;The kids played well. They executed,”; Muramaru said. “;When they put their effort into practice, that's a tribute to them.”;

The key was the fourth inning when the visiting Owls scored three runs with two outs. That was enough to give starting pitcher Ryan Muraoka a two-run cushion.

“;Dane (Fujinaka) had a good game calling (pitches),”; Muraoka said.

“;He mixes it up pretty good,”; 'Iolani senior Jarrett Arakawa said of Muraoka, who relied on his fastball and change-up, and kept his slider and curve in the dirt.

Lawrence Chew allowed just one run on one hit in the final 2 2/3 innings for a save. His appearance came just three days after a clutch performance—six innings of work—in a win over Kamehameha.

“;We weren't expecting him. He made some pretty clutch pitches,”; Ararkawa said.

'Iolani starter Michael Diebold took the loss. The southpaw allowed just three hits in four innings, striking out three and walking two.

Mid-Pacific improved to 4-1 in the ILH and inched closer to a potential first-round playoff battle with other one-loss teams.

The loss set 'Iolani back. The Raiders are now 5-2 in league play and would need all three front-runners—Saint Louis, Punahou and MPI—to lose . That unlikely scenario would give 'Iolani a shot at the first-round title, which comes with an automatic state-tournament berth.

With two rounds of play and no league tournament, each regular-season ILH game carries much more weight now.

“;That's the ILH. It's such a tough league,”; 'Iolani coach Jason Arakaki said. “;Every game is a big game. (Mid-Pacific) had the hits when they needed them.”;

'Iolani entered the contest ranked No. 4 in the Star-Bulletin Top 10. MPI is No. 8.

The Owls' three-run fourth began with consecutive strikeouts. Diebold whiffed Justin Protacio and Nikolas Alarcio, but walked Muraoka. Courtesy runner Jordan Doi stole second and came home on a single to center by freshman Marcus Doi, who promptly stole second, as well.

Dane Fujinaka followed with a line-drive single to left, scoring Doi from second for a 2-0 Owls' lead. A misfired throw home by the cutoff man, third baseman Kila Zuttermeister, allowed Fujinaka to advance to second base.

Another courtesy runner, Jordan Obata, raced home after Cy Higashi drilled a first-pitch fastball to right for a single.

It was a stunning turn of events, particularly for Diebold, who hadn't surrendered a hit until the fourth.

The Raiders finally ended the scoring drought in the fifth. After 'Iolani's Dylan Goto walked, Zuttermeister got a measure of redemption, socking a double to right-center to set up Jarrett Arakawa's run-scoring groundout to second. However, 'Iolani stranded Zuttermeister at third.

The Owls loaded the bases in the top of the sixth against 'Iolani reliever Sheldon Lee, but Lee induced Higashi into an inning-ending double play.

MPI tacked on one more run in the seventh with the help of 'Iolani shortstop Kevin Barayuga's two errors. Harrison Kam, who had singled and stolen second base, came home on an errant throw by Barayuga on Alarcio's dribbler behind the mound.

Down 4-1, the Raiders scored in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying run in scoring position. Ty Koon's double off the right-field fence brought Zuttermeister home with two outs. With Arakawa at third and courtesy runner Andrew Skalman at second, Tanner Nishioka popped out to end the game.

“;They're pretty resilient,”; Arakaki said of his team. “;It hurts, but there's no time to hang our heads.”;

Mid-Pacific 4, 'Iolani 2

Ryan Muraoka, Lawrence Chew (4) and Dane Fujinaka. Michael Diebold, Sheldon Lee (5) and Ty Koon. W—Muraoka. L—Diebold.

Leading hitters—MPI: Marcus Doi 2-3. 'Iol: Kila Zuttermeister 2-4, Jarrett Arakawa 2-4.

Punahou 6, Pac-Five 2

Jordan Kumasaka, Royce Fujii (4), Micah Ganiron (6) and Bryson Kihara. Alakai Aglipay, Jacob Ellis (4) and Reece Toma. W—Aglipay. L—Kumasaka.

Leading hitters—Pun: Crowell 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Ioane 2-2, RBI, run. P5: Shigematsu 2b.

Saint Louis 13, Maryknoll 3

Noa Siegfried, Kekona Mauricio (4), Tre Haliburton-Goeas (7) and Dallas Correa. Gavin Oyadomari, Jarren Chun (4), Matthew Hara (5), Brandon Hinck (7) and David Nishiki, Spencer Young. W—Siegfried. L—Oyadomari.

Leading hitters—StL: Jordan Fukumoto 2-2, RBI, 2 runs; Moses Samia 2-3, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, 2 runs; Kaeo Aliviado 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Ka'ai Tom 2-3, 2b, RBI; Dallas Tuumalo 2-2, 2 RBIs, run; Travis Shaw 2b. Mryk: Kyle Hirata 3-3, RBI, run.

SOFTBALL

OIA RED

Campbell 9, Kapolei 0

W. Pauline, K. Higa (6) and Kaity Willis. Katie Manuma and Summer Palipti. W—Manuma. L—Pauline.

Leading hitters—Kapo: Alyssa Aipa 2b; Kulana Cristobal 2-3. Camp: Sharae Esprecion 3-4, 3 RBIs, 3 runs; Manuma 3-4, 2b, HR, 3 RBIs; Kamalani Fujiyama RBI.

OIA WHITE

Kalani 16, Nanakuli 4

K. Gilman, B. Woosey (4) and K. Ako-Pall. Raymey Awaya, Jade Teruya (3) and Kristi Belshe. W—Teruya. L—Gilman.

Leading hitters—Nan: Gilman 2-2, RBI; A. Kalamikahi 1-3, 2 RBIs. Kaln: Belshe 2-3, 2b, 2 RBIs; Kristiann Endow 2-3, 3 runs; Hikaru Kumagai 3 RBIs; Janiece Taira 2-3.

Waialua 8, Anuenue 3

Karina Bayudan and Jessica Temblor. Nalani Kamano, Keala Kimball-Aikau (6) and Wewehi Ganeau. W—Bayudan. L—Kamano.

Leading hitters—Wail: Altia Bicion 2-5, RBI; Alyssiah Hernandez 2-4, 2b, RBI; Tiana Canaday 2-4, 3b, 3 runs; Pua Naki 3b, RBI. Anu: Ganeau 2-3; Kuulei Luke 2-3, RBI.

VOLLEYBALL

ILH

Boys

Yesterday

Damien def. University 25-18, 25-18

Punahou def. Hanalani 25-12, 25-13

Hawaii Baptist def. Mid-Pacific 25-18, 25-19

'Iolani def. Le Jardin 25-13, 25-10

Saint Louis def. Academy of the Pacific 25-14, 26-24

Maryknoll def. Hawaiian Mission Academy 25-14, 25-13