WAILUKU » If there's a special recipe for winning 25 consecutive games at the state baseball tournament over a seven-year span, Eric Kadooka isn't telling.

The Punahou Buffanblu have fielded flat-out dominant teams before, but the past two titles came with a mix of youth and experience, as well as the X factor of injuries.

Still, Kadooka and his unmatched staff found ways to develop the team, and again, they peaked in the postseason.

Saturday's 13-2 win over Baldwin in the Division I final of the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Baseball Championships was breathtaking, even as the Buffanblu extended their dynasty with the seventh crown in as many seasons.

“;We played with confidence. We told each other to believe in ourselves,”; pitcher/designated hitter Alaka'i Aglipay said.

The brunt of the pitching came from Aglipay, a senior right-hander, and sophomore Zachery Muenster, who was superb in three appearances. Without Muenster, Punahou scraped by with a third-place finish in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, rallying past Kamehameha in a tiebreaker game for the final state berth.

With the 6-foot Muenster, Punahou was unmatched: a 12-0 rout of Mililani, a 4-2 win over Kailua and a 4-1 victory over Mid-Pacific before the final.

All through the week, they were loose, energetic and almost on vacation mode in the scenic setting of Iron Maehara Stadium.

Muenster won two games, while Aglipay posted the other two wins. Aglipay was sharp despite a relatively slow second round in league play. His workload diminished as injured pitchers returned and younger pitchers got innings.

“;We were constantly throwing,”; assistant coach Derek Tatsuno said.

With a staff that includes Tatsuno, the former UH great, and Kyle Shimabukuro, Aglipay never lost his edge.

“;He's definitely helped me,”; Aglipay said of Tatsuno. “;I've fed off him and his attitude. He taught me to bring it every day,”; he said. “;He'll challenge you in the 'pen every day to throw strikes.”;

Kainoa Crowell, a senior, was dismayed about an 0-for-4 game in the quarterfinals against Pearl City. He bounced back to go 4-for-8 with a homer and double against Mid-Pacific and Baldwin.

“;I was trying to do too much,”; he said. “;So I tried to stay within myself,”; said Crowell, who happens to wear No. 7.

One factor that was a plus came in preseason, when Punahou lost to Baldwin 1-0 in Maui's tournament. Though the Buffanblu went 23-7-1 overall, having that familiarity with traveling to the Valley Isle—with a clear sense of purpose—didn't require any preaching.

Along the way, though, Kadooka found ways to remind his team what was at stake when the struggle seemed endless. The ILH was a gauntlet of powerhouses this season, and without a postseason league tourney, all weight was shifted to the regular season.

“;There was adversity. At midseason, things were said at practice that were direct,”; Kadooka said of one of his team's losses to eventual league champion Saint Louis. “;We talked about playing the game the right way and respecting your opponent.”;

There was more, he noted, that he and his staff studied about their team.

“;We needed to start hitting the other way. We got Marcus (Yoshii) and Zach back,”; Kadooka added. “;And Ryan Yamane has been the unsung hero.”;

Yamane was one of seven Buffanblu voted to the all-tournament team, providing timely hitting to go with impeccable range and skill at shortstop. He did it despite an injury to his oblique muscle a week ago.

“;His bat won some games for us this year,”; Kadooka said.

Before the pitching staff developed, Punahou's defense and hitting were productive. With Crowell, Michael Suiter and Jeremy Ioane manning the outfield, Punahou had plenty of range. Catcher Kaiana Eldredge added experience and speed on the basepaths. Sophomore third baseman Rick Nomura hit the ball better than most seniors, spraying hits from one line to the other.

In the end, though, Punahou arrived on Maui with a swagger that comes with dynastic feats.

“;It's definitely a great day,”; Suiter said. “;We've come a long way from being underdogs.”;

“;We've been here the last four years,”; Aglipay said of the outgoing seniors. “;It's momentum for us. We've just been relaxed and our coaches trust us.”;

If Kadooka seemed much calmer this season, there's good reason.

“;The dynamics of this team, they've been together so long,”; he said.

The postgame Gatorade shower was as enjoyable as ever.

“;I took one there, knowing it was coming,”; he said of the shower, which momentarily interrupted an on-air TV interview.

“;It feels great. This may not happen again, so I'm completely enjoying it,”; Kadooka said. “;I've known most of them since they were in seventh grade. I'm sad and happy. We won't be on the same team again, but I'm happy they're going to college and move on in life.”;