With eight new starters this season, the odds were against the Kaiser High School baseball team making a return appearance in the Wally Yonamine Foundation State Championship quarterfinals, or even qualifying for the tournament.

But thanks in large part to another clutch pitching performance from senior right-hander Toby Inouye yesterday, the Cougars are back in the elite eight after a tense 2-1 first-round victory over upstart Kaua'i.

Kaiser improved to 10-5 in the regular and postseason and will play Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion and No. 3 seed Waiakea in today's 9 a.m. quarterfinal at Les Murakami Stadium.

"Before the season, we would have been happy just making the (O'ahu Interscholastic Association) playoffs," said Inouye, who pitched a six-hitter with six strikeouts and two walks. "But since we did, we've played well."

Kaiser took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Inouye's run-scoring double to left-center field, but the Red Raiders (11-2) tied it in the bottom half on Aaron Soong's RBI single to center.

The Cougars went up, 2-1, in the sixth after Bryce Marcouiller led off with a single, Devin Dela Pena sacrificed courtesy runner Mason Masaki to second and Masaki scored after a throwing error on an infield grounder.

Kaua'i pinch-hitter Braden Balocan led off the bottom of the seventh with a ground-rule double over the wall in the left and advanced to third on a groundout, but Inouye got a grounder to second to end the game.

"He's tough, a good pitcher," Red Raiders coach Hank Ibia said.

Kaiser coach Peter Ho said it was yet another clutch performance from his ace.

"When he's on the mound like that, it doesn't pressure the other kids," Ho said. "They said, 'No worry, no problem.' "

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.