Four-time defending baseball state champion Punahou is not ready to have its dynasty end just yet.

The Buffanblu made that statement loud and clear yesterday by rallying past and then holding off Mid-Pacific, 5-3, in the winner's bracket of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu double-elimination tournament.

Punahou, ranked No. 5 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 10-5-1 in the ILH and will face No. 1 Saint Louis (16-1) on Saturday at a time and place to be announced.

Both teams are 2-0 in tournament play.

MPI, ranked No. 2, fell to 14-3 and will play 'Iolani (9-7) on Friday at a time and place to be announced today.

A victory on Saturday would vault the Buffanblu into the tournament championship game, with a chance to secure its fifth straight state tourney berth. It's a sturdy position to be in, considering their surprising up-and-down regular season.

"We're just trying to start fresh," said senior pitcher Reece Kiriu, who fought through a five-hitter yesterday.

MPI definitely made Punahou earn its position.

The Owls jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on bases-loaded walks by Mikey Nagamine and Derek Tan, then made it 3-0 in the third when Wade Tamaru was hit by a pitch leading off, advanced to second after another hit batter, to third on Easton Torigoe's sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch.

But the Buffanblu capitalized on similar opportunities in the top of the fourth. Matt Suiter and Josh Bninski were hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then Paul Snieder brought Suiter home with a single to center field.

Another hit batsman, Zach Kometani, loaded the bases for Jeeter Ishida, who stroked a run-scoring single to center. After the runners advanced on a balk, Tyler Young followed with another RBI single to make it 4-3.

Kiriu, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound right-hander, then held the lead for Punahou by fighting through tight situations in each of the next three innings.

In the fourth, Mid-Pacific had runners on first and second with one out before Kiriu got a pop-up to short and a fly ball to center. In the fifth, the Owls advanced a runner to third with two outs but Kiriu got a groundout to second to escape the jam.

And in the sixth, Derek Tan hit a two-out line single to left that looked like it might score Russell Doi from second base, but left fielder Shane Yoshiyama fired the ball to catcher Kometani, who caught the ball a bit up the line and turned 180 degrees to sweep the tag on Doi before he crossed the plate.

Bninski's single to left scored Cameron Lee for an insurance run in the seventh.

PUNAHOU (10-5-1) 000 400 1 — 5 6 1

MID-PACIFIC (14-3) 201 000 0 — 3 5 1

Reece Kiriu and Zach Kometani. Rob Dittrick, Gavin Kinoshita (4) and Aaron Fujiki. W — Kiriu. L — Kinoshita.

Leading hitters — Punahou: Tyler Young 1-2, RBI; Josh Bninski 1-2, RBI; Jeeter Ishida 1-3, RBI; Paul Snieder 1-3, RBI. Mid-Pacific: Russell Doi 2-3.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. Read his blog on prep sports at preptalk.honadvblogs.com.

NO. 1 SAINT LOUIS 2, KAMEHAMEHA 1

Chris Chung pitched five scoreless innings in relief of Noah Siegfried to complete a two-hitter and Keoki Lopez scored two runs as the top-ranked Crusaders (16-1) turned back the Warriors (7-8-1) at Hans L'Orange Park.

Cole Shidaki and Kaden Kamoe each drove in a run, catcher Moses Samia threw out three potential base stealers and Chung picked off a runner at second base for Saint Louis.

KAMEHAMEHA (7-8-1) 100 000 0—1 2 0

SAINT LOUIS (16-1) 010 100 X—2 5 1

Alika Pruett and Keanu Carmichael. Noah Siegfried, Chris Chung (3) and Moses Samia. W — Chung. L — Pruett.

Leading hitters — Kamehameha: Carmichael double; Kalei Hanawahine RBI. Saint Louis: Samia triple; Keoki Lopez 2 runs; Cole Shidaki 2-3, RBI; Kaden Kamoe RBI.

Reported by Gail Juan

'IOLANI 12, MARYKNOLL 0

Five pitchers combined on a three-hitter, Lionel Fujioka and Breland Almadova each had two hits, with Almadova driving in three runs as the host Raiders (9-7) eliminated the Spartans (0-16) in a game called after five innings due to the mercy rule.

Brennan Nacario and Kela Marciel each drove in two runs for 'Iolani.

MARYKNOLL (0-16) 000 00— 0 3 4

'IOLANI (9-7) 270 3X—12 12 1

Craig Shoji, Matt Guzman (3) and David Nishiki. Dustin Shitanishi, Sheldon Lee (2), Ronnie Hirokawa (3), Trent Miyashiro (4), Breland Almadova (5) and Grant Iwamoto, Buen Hatanaka (5). W — Lee. L — Shoji.

Leading hitters — 'Iolani: Lionel Fujioka 2-2; Almadova 2-4, double, 3 RBIs; Brennan Nacario double, 2 RBIs; Kela Marciel 2 RBIs.

Reported by Dean Yonamine

DAMIEN 4, PAC-FIVE 0

Jonathan Awa tossed a six-hitter and DJ Andrade drove in two runs to help the Monarchs (5-11) eliminate the Wolfpack (3-13) at Mid-Pacific's field.

Michael Memea went 2 for 3 for Damien.

PAC-FIVE (3-13) 000 000 0—0 6 1

DAMIEN (5-11) 000 031 X—4 8 1

Tyler Moon, Joey Maekawa (5), Tyler Simao (5) and Reid Morihara. Jonathan Awa and Darby Ventura. W — Awa. L — Moon.

Leading hitters — Pac-Five: Ian Padeken 2-4; Kama Moises 3-4. Damien: DJ Andrade double, 2 RBIs; Ventura double, RBI; Michael Memea 2-3; Travis Derby double.

Reported by Donnie Martin