The Punahou School baseball team is two victories away from winning its second Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship in three years.

'Iolani is one victory away from forcing a winner-take-all game for the title.

That's the situation after Jeremy Fujimoto, Evan Yamamoto and Evan Lim combined on a three-hitter and Josh Bninski went 2 for 3 with a double and three runs scored yesterday to help Punahou defeat Mid-Pacific, 7-2, in an ILH postseason tournament elimination game at Ala Wai Field.

The regular-season champion Buffanblu, ranked No. 1 in The Advertiser's statewide poll of coaches and media, improved to 14-1 in the ILH and will face No. 3 'Iolani (12-3) at 3:45 p.m. tomorrow at Ala Wai. The Raiders are unbeaten (3-0) in the tournament and can win the tournament crown with a victory, which would force a winner-take-all game for the overall title on Saturday.

If Punahou (2-1 tournament) wins tomorrow, the teams will meet again on Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. at Ala Wai for the tournament championship.

The Buffanblu would win the overall title by winning the tournament.

Only the ILH champion will advance to the state tournament.

"No matter who wins, the league will have a good team representing it," Punahou coach Eric Kadooka said. "It's a good rivalry, and the kids are good about it on the field. It's good baseball; I'm looking forward to it."

After a tough 3-1 loss to 'Iolani on Thursday, the Buffanblu rebounded impressively yesterday, scoring single runs in the first, third, fourth and fifth innings for a 4-0 lead. The Owls (11-6) closed it to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth after a run-scoring single by Aaron Fujiki and Easton Torigoe's RBI groundout.

But Punahou answered with Evan Bisho's run-scoring single to left field in the fifth and then added two more runs in the seventh on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and Geoffrey Kunita's RBI pinch single to right.

PUNAHOU (14-1) 101 111 2 — 7 10 3

MID-PACIFIC (11-6) 000 020 0 — 2 3 1

Jeremy Fujimoto, Evan Yamamoto (5), Evan Lim (5) and Zach Kometani. Jeffrey Khan, Matthew McDaniel (5), Michael Nagamine (7) and Aaron Fujiki. W — Fujimoto. L — Khan.

Leading hitters — Punahou: Josh Bninski 2-3, double, 3 runs; Kometani 2-3, triple, 2 RBIs; Jeeter Ishida RBI, single; Reece Kiriu RBI; Evan Bisho RBI, single. Mid-Pacific: Fujiki RBI, single; Easton Torigoe RBI.

Reported by Gail Juan

CORRECTIONS

The leading hitters for Friday's game between Mid-Pacific and Saint Louis were listed under the wrong schools. The corrected summary is below.

Also, Jarrett Arakawa earned the save in 'Iolani's victory over Punahou on Thursday. Another player was credited.

Leading hitters — Mid-Pacific: Russell Doi RBI; Wade Tamaru 2-5, RBI; Aaron Fujiki double, RBI; Derek Tan 2 runs; Easton Torigoe 2-4, double, 3 RBIs; Robert Dittrick 2-3, RBI, 2 runs; Todd Nagamine RBI. Saint Louis: Gonzaga 2-4, triple, RBI; Cole Shidaki RBI, 2 runs; Moses Samia double, RBI; Haina RBI.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.