Capitalizing on a two-out, two-strike, bases-empty walk in the top of the fourth inning, Mid-Pacific broke a scoreless tie with three runs and eventually held off 'Iolani, 4-2, yesterday in Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball action.

The visiting and eighth-ranked Owls moved to 5-1 in the ILH and into a first-place tie with Saint Louis (5-1). Third-ranked 'Iolani fell to 5-2 and dropped from first place to fourth, behind second-ranked Punahou (4-1-1).

The league's first round wraps up Saturday, with the winner securing a state tournament berth and at least a shot at the overall ILH championship. Unlike past years, there will be no league tournament after the double-round robin regular season.

"Both rounds are important," said MPI junior Lawrence Chew, who pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief to earn the save yesterday. "So if we have a shot now, we have to take advantage."

Raiders starter Mike Diebold and Owls starter Ryan Muraoka were locked in a scoreless duel for the first three innings, and Diebold struck out the first two MPI batters in the top of the fourth. But he ran the count to 3-2 on Muraoka before issuing the walk.

Courtesy runner Jordan Doi then stole second base and the Owls followed with consecutive RBI singles by Marcus Doi, Dane Fujinaka and Cy Higashi to take a 3-0 lead.

"To Mid-Pac's credit, they made adjustments at the plate," said Jason Arakaki, 'Iolani's first-year coach. "They always have plenty of heart, and they're gonna battle."

The Raiders closed to 3-1 in the fifth on Jarrett Arakawa's RBI groundout to second, but the Owls stretched the lead to 4-2 in the seventh after Harrison Kam led off with a single, stole second and scored after two errors.

'Iolani threatened in the bottom of the seventh, making it 4-2 on Tiras Koon's two-out, RBI double to right-center field and placing runners at second and third.

But Chew induced a popout to second to close out the game.

"It was a first-pitch change-up," said Chew, who was the starting/winning pitcher in Saturday's victory over Kamehameha. "I didn't have my best stuff, but you just gotta find a way ..."

MID-PACIFIC (5-1) 000 300 1—4 8 1

'IOLANI (5-2) 000 010 1—2 6 3

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

Leading hitters — Mid-Pacific: Marcus Doi 2-3. 'Iolani: Kila Zuttermeister 2-4, double; Jarrett Arakawa 2-4; Koon double; Tanner Nishioka double.

PUNAHOU 6, PAC-FIVE 2

Kainoa Crowell singled, doubled and drove in two runs, and Jeremy Ioane went 2 for 2 and scored twice as the No. 2-ranked Buffanblu beat the Wolfpack in an ILH game at Ala Wai field. Alakai Aglipay and Jacob Ellis combined to scatter four hits with Aglipay earning the victory.

PAC-FIVE (2-4) 000 200 0—2 4 2

PUNAHOU (4-1) 031 011 X—6 9 3

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

Leading hitters — Pac-Five: Aaron Nagamine double; Keenan Shigematsu double. Punahou: Kainoa Crowell 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Jeremy Ioane 2-2, 2 runs.

SAINT LOUIS 13, MARYKNOLL 3

Moses Samia hit two solo homers, and Jordan Fukumoto, Kaeo Aliviado, Kaai Tom and Dallas Tuumalo each had two hits, with Tuumalo adding a solo homer as the No. 4-ranked Crusaders routed the Spartans at Mid-Pacific's field.

SAINT LOUIS (5-1) 030 521 2—13 13 1

MARYKNOLL (1-6) 101 001 0—3 5 7

Noa Siegfried, Kekona Mauricio (4), Tre Haliburton-Goeas (7) and Dallas Correa, Kekoa Peltier (6). Gavin Oyadomari, Jarren Chun (4), Matthew Hara (5), Brandon Hinck (7) and David Nishiki, Spencer Young (7). W — Siegfried. L — Oyadomari.

Leading hitters — Saint Louis: Jordan Fukumoto 2-2, 2 runs; Moses Samia 2-3, 2 homers, 2 runs; Travis Shaw double; Kaeo Aliviado 2-4, double, 2 runs; Ka'ai Tom 2-3, double; Dallas Tuumalo 2-2, homer. Maryknoll: Kyle Hirata 3-3.

DAMIEN 10, PAC-WEST 0

Issac Ventura pitched a three-hitter and Stanton Pilialoha, Jordan Murai, Aalona Amimoto, Jeremy Dela Cruz and Ventura each had two hits, with Pilialoha driving in two runs, as the Monarchs rolled to a five-inning victory at CORP.

PAC-WEST (1-5) 000 00— 0 3 3

DAMIEN (2-4) 121 51—10 11 0

Kellen Abe, Shawne Hampton (4), Evan Fujimoto (5) and Shayne Nakagawa. Issac Ventura and Alan Mohika. W — Ventura. L — Abe.

Leading hitters — Pac-West: Corey Nakamura double. Damien: Jordan Murai 2-3; Aalona Amimoto 2-3, 2 runs; Jeremy Dela Cruz 2 RBIs; Stanton Pilialoha 2-2, 2 RBIs; Ventura 2-3, triple.

OIA SOFTBALL

CAMPBELL 9, KAPOLEI 0

Katie Manuma tossed a three-hitter, singled, doubled, homered and drove in three runs to lead the No. 9-ranked and host Sabers past the Hurricanes in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West game.

KAPOLEI (1-2) 000 000 0—0 3 2

CAMPBELL (5-0) 003 024 0—9 11 1

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

Leading hitters — Kapolei: Alyssa Aipa double; Kulana Cristobal 2-3. Campbell: Sharae Esprecion 3-4, 3 runs, 3 RBIs; Manuma 3-4, double, homer, 3 RBIs.

Reported by David Perreira

WAIALUA 8, 'ĀNUENUE 3

Althia Dicion, Alyssiah Hernandez and Tiana Canaday each had two hits, helping the visiting Bulldogs beat the Rainbow Wahine in an OIA White Division game.

WAIALUA (3-2) 0004310—8 9 3

'ĀNUENUE (2-1) 0200010—3 9 4

Karina Bayudan and Jessica Temblor. Nalani Kamano, Keala Kimball-Aikau (7) and Wewehi Ganeau. W — Bayudan. L — Kamano.

Leading hitters — Waialua: Althia Dicion 2-5, double; Alyssiah Hernandez 2-4, double, 1 RBI; Tiana Canaday 2-4, triple, 3 runs; Pua Naki triple, RBI. 'Ānuenue: Ganeau 2-3; Kuulei Luke 2-3, RBI.

Reported by Rodney Dicion

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com