Five-time defending baseball state champion Punahou showed yesterday it still has plenty of firepower left over from its senior-laden team last year, holding off Saint Louis, 6-5, at Ala Wai Field.

The Buffanblu improved to 2-0 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu by winning the rematch of the 2008 state title game.

"We knew this would be a different team this year, but we just have to play our game," said senior pitcher/first baseman Evan Lim, who allowed just one run in five innings yesterday. "The coaching staff has been very supportive of us, and every game is a learning experience. I just had to stick to my game plan and try to make good pitches."

Lim moved to first base in the top of the sixth inning with a 6-1 lead, thanks to a five-run third.

But the Crusaders (1-1) cut it to 6-2 in the sixth after Kini Enos doubled and later scored on a passed ball, then got three more runs in the seventh on three hits and two errors.

But Punahou reliever Marcus Yoshii got the final out on a fly ball to center.

Saint Louis had stranded 12 runners through the first six innings, including bases-loaded situations in the fourth and sixth.

"We couldn't get enough two-out hits, and (Punahou) made the plays," Crusaders coach Duane Fraticelli said. "But our team is young, and this still was a good learning experience. We did come back with some clutch hits."

The Buffanblu took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Michael Suiter led off with a walk, moved to second on Brent Fukushima's walk, advanced to third on Tyler Young's flyout to right and slid home just ahead of the tag on a delayed steal when Fukushima drew a throw to second from the catcher.

Saint Louis tied it in the second after Enos had a two-out single to left, moved to second on Zach Markwith's walk and scored on Kaeo Aliviado's single to left.

But Punahou exploded for five runs in the third — all after two outs — highlighted by two-run singles by Alaka'i Aglipay and Dylan Leong and an RBI double from Kainoa Crowell.

The Buffanblu were helped by a pair of two-out walks.

"Those were costly," Fraticelli said. "We gotta finish the inning, because everything starts with those two-out walks."

For his part, the right-handed Lim gave up six hits through the first five innings, but managed to strand nine runners.

"Give (the Crusaders) credit, because they put pressure on us," Buffanblu coach Eric Kadooka said. "But Evan was able to wiggle his way out, against some good hitters. You can't let up with Saint Louis."

SAINT LOUIS (1-1) 010 001 3 — 5 12 0

PUNAHOU (2-0) 105 000 X — 6 6 3

Noah Siegfried, Derek Nakasato (3) and Jordan Fukumoto. Evan Lim, Jacob Ellis (6), Marcus Yoshii (7) and Tyler Young. W — Lim. L — Siegfried. S — Yoshii.

Leading hitters — Saint Louis: Lucas Gonsalves 2-5; Fukumoto 2-4; Kini Enos 4-4, double; Zach Markwith 2-3. Punahou: Kainoa Crowell double.

MID-PACIFIC 7, DAMIEN 0

Lawrence Chew and Rob Dittrick combined on a one-hitter and Wade Tamaru went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs as the Owls blanked the visiting Monarchs.

DAMIEN (0-2) 000 000 0—0 1 2

MID-PACIFIC (2-0) 010 042 X—7 10 0

Jeremy Dela Cruz, Joey DeMello (5), Derrick Dudoit (6) and Aalona Amimoto. Lawrence Chew, Rob Dittrick (5) and Dane Fujinaka. W — Chrew. L — Cruz.

Leading hitters — Damien: Jordan Murai double. Mid-Pacific: Todd Nagamine 2-3; Mattheew McDaniel 2-4, 3 RBIs; Wade Tamaru 2-3, double, 3 RBIs; Michael Arakaki homer.

Reported by Nick Bradley

'IOLANI 10, PAC-FIVE 2

JR Bunda singled, homered and drove in four runs, Jensen Park went 3-for-4, and Buen Hatanaka had two RBIs as the visiting Raiders beat the Wolfpack.

PAC-FIVE (0-2) 101 000 0— 2 4 0

'IOLANI (2-0) 421 300 X—10 14 1

Reid Morihara, Jordan Kumasaka (3), Christian Morimoto (5), Adam Oshiro (6) and Keenan Shigematsu. Trent Miyashiro, Brett Watanabe (5), Kela Marciel (7) and Grant Iwamoto. W — Miyashiro. L — Morihara.

Leading hitters — Pac-Five: Aaron Nagamine double. 'Iolani: Jensen Park 3-4; Buen Hatanaka 2-4, double, 2 RBIs; JR Bunda 2-3, homer, 4 RBIs; Kevin Barayuga double; Kela Marciel double.

Reported by Nick Bradley

OIA RED WEST

MILILANI 4, LEILEHUA 1

Preston Pacolba allowed a run on two hits and Tanner Nakasone drove in two runs for the visiting Trojans in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference Western Division victory over the Mules.

MILILANI (2-3) 000 020 2—4 6 0

LEILEHUA (0-3) 100 000 0—1 2 0

Preston Pacolba and Jacob Matsukawa. Lawrence Paas, Kenan Sadanaga (5), Desmond Ontai (6), Sean McCaulley (7) and Jeremy Suguitan. W — Pacolba. L — Paas.

Leading hitters — Mililani: Tanner Nakasone 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Matsukawa 2-3.

Reported by Lawrence Tantero

SOFTBALL

OIA WHITE

RADFORD 14, 'ANUENUE 4

Raia Salanoa and Melanie Alofaituli each had three hits to lead the Rams past Na Koa in OIA White Conference action on Thursday.

'ANUENUE (0-3) 121 000 — 4 3 4

RADFORD (2-3) 330 413 — 14 8 6

Nalani Kamano, Kala Lewis (4) and Wewehi Ganeau. Erin Laurent and Lei Esclito. W — Laurent. L — Kamano.

Leading hitters — 'Anuenue: Wewehi Ganeau double. Radford: Raia Salanoa 3 for 3; Melanie Alofaituli 3-3, 2 triples.

Reported by June Salanoa

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