With seven new names compared to last year's starting lineup, Punahou is now just one step away from a once-unfathomable sixth straight Wally Yonamine Foundation Baseball State Championship.

The Buffanblu squeaked past Kamehameha, 2-0, in last night's semifinals after nine intense innings at Les Murakami Stadium.

Punahou, which finished third in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, improved to 14-8 in regular and postseason and will face O'ahu Interscholastic Association runner-up Kailua (14-4) in tonight's title game at 7.

The game will be televised live statewide on OC16.

"This feels awesome," said sophomore center fielder Michael Suiter, whose brother Matt played the same position on the Buffanblu's past three state championship teams. "Everybody was doubting us. But (Matt) said, 'Give it your all and go get it.' "

An unusual hit-by-pitch call with Suiter at the plate in the top of the ninth inning proved crucial, leading to Punahou's two-out, two-run rally.

With Jordan Honjiyo at first base after a single to right field, Alika Pruett fired a 1-1 inside fastball as Honjiyo took off for second. Catcher Keanu Carmichael caught the pitch and gunned it to second to apparently nab Honjiyo, who was called out after the tag.

But as the Warriors celebrated and started to run for their dugout, home plate umpire Nelson Valdez walked out to the mound and waved everybody back onto the field, signaling a hit-by-pitch.

"It nicked my (left) elbow," said Suiter, showing a reporter a red spot on his arm. "I didn't think the ump saw it, because I've been hit there before and they didn't call it."

Kamehameha coach Vern Ramie said neither he nor Carmichael or Pruett saw the ball graze Suiter.

"None of us saw it," Ramie said. "It's part of the game ... but we didn't get the breaks tonight."

The call left Honjiyo safe at second and put Suiter aboard, and Evan Lim followed with a single to right to score Honjiyo. Tyler Young then singled to center to bring home Suiter and make it 2-0.

Pruett got a flyout to right to end the rally, but Buffanblu reliever Jeremy Fujimoto struck out the side in the bottom of the frame to close out the game.

Lim, Marcus Yoshii and Fujimoto combined on a four-hitter, with nine strikeouts.

"It's amazing," Punahou coach Eric Kadooka said. "(The Warriors) had runners on third base four times, but Evan, Marcus and Jeremy just made timely pitches to get us out of it."

PUNAHOU (14-8) 000 000 002—2 11 2

KAMEHAMEHA (18-6) 000 000 000—0 4 0

Evan Lim, Marcus Yoshii (5), Jeremy Fujimoto (8) and Tyler Young. Chris Pascual, Alike Pruett (9) and Keanu Carmichael. W — Fujimoto. L — Pruett.

Leading hitters — Punahou: Michael Suiter double; Young 3-4; Alakai Aglipay 2-4; Kainoa Crowell double; Jordan Honjiyo 2-4. Kamehameha: Jacob Meyer double; Makana Ramie triple.

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