Nationally ranked Punahou will play for an unprecedented fourth consecutive state title when it takes on Pearl City at 7 o'clock tonight at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Buffanblu (16-1), ranked 26th by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Top 30, advanced to the championship game with a resounding 14-4 win against Kamehameha-Hawai'i in last night's semifinal. It was called after the sixth inning because of the 10-run differential mercy rule.

Paul Sneider overcame a shaky first inning, as his offense supported him with a seven-run third to cushion his early 4-3 lead. Sneider went six innings, allowing four runs (two earned), six hits and two walks while striking out three to pick up the win. Jeremy Fujimoto pitched the last inning.

Kamehameha-Hawai'i starter Keli'i Kimi was charged with five runs, three hits and five walks in two-plus innings in taking the loss for the Warriors (13-4), who will play Kaiser for third place today at 4 p.m.

Tyler Young's three-run double in the first ignited a four-run first. He led with four RBIs.

Visiting Punahou stormed out in front by sending eight batters to the plate in a four-run first against Kimi, starting on one day's rest after giving up three runs in five innings in the Warriors' 5-3 opening-round win against Kailua on Thursday.

Matt Suiter led off with a walk before Josh Bninski flied out to center. Suiter took second on Zach Kometani's single to center and Sneider walked to load the bases. Reece Kiriu popped out to the catcher, but Young cleared the bases with a double to center. Young scored on Evan Lim's double to right-center to make it 4-0 before Kimo Makaula struck out.

But the Warriors got three back in the bottom of the first. Reece Alnas led off with a walk and took second on a wild pitch. Tyson Goo then struck out swinging on a ball in the dirt, but made it safely to first when catcher Kometani missed tagging the batter. Kolten Wong walked to load the bases. Blake Amaral's single to center scored Alnas and reloaded the bases. Trysen Cosier hit a comebacker to the pitcher for a force at the plate to keep the bases loaded. Russell Kackley then hit a grounder to first for a force at second, scoring Wong, but shortstop Bninski tried to nail the runner at third, but the throw was wild, allowing Amaral to score and Kackley to go to third. Andrew Love struck out to end the inning.

The Buffanblu threatened in the second when Kimi loaded the bases with three walks, the third intentional with runners at second and third. But Kimi got Kiriu on a check-swing one-hopper to the pitcher for the third out, leaving the bases full.

Punahou widened its lead by sending 11 batters to the plate in a seven-run third. Young was hit by a Kimi pitch to start the inning. Kimi was pulled for Kawika Cazimero, who threw a wild pitch to send Young to second before walking Lim. Makaula loaded the bases with a bunt single to third. Evan Bisho walked to force across a run and reload the bases. Suiter then grounded to short for a double play, scoring another run. Makaula scored on Bninski's single. Bninski stole second and scored on Kometani's triple and he scored on Sneider's double. Kiriu then doubled home a run to make it 10-3. Young's single to right scored Kiriu to make it 11-3. Lim fouled out to right to mercifully end the inning.

The Warriors got a run in the fourth. Kackley led off with a single, but was forced at second on Love's grounder to short. Second baseman Kiriu's throwing error to first allowed Love to take second. After Kawika Cazimero struck out, Makana Cazimero beat out an infield single that scored Love from second. Makana Cazimero took second on the throw home.

Punahou continued its onslaught in the fifth. Bninski reached on an error and scored on Kometani's double. Kawika Cazimero switched positions with right fielder Goo, who came in to pitch from right field. Sneider's single put runners at the corners. Kiriu reached on a fielder's choice when the runner on third was caught in a rundown between third and home, again putting runners at the corners. Young was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lim struck out to keep the bases full to set up Makaula's RBI walk to make it 13-4.

The Buffanblu added their 14th run in the sixth on an RBI single by Kiriu.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.