Saint Louis held on despite a furious six-run, sixth-inning rally by six-time defending state champion Punahou to win, 8-7, last night in wild Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball action at Ala Wai Field.

The Crusaders improved to 4-1 in ILH play — tied for first place with 'Iolani (4-1) — while the Buffanblu fell to 2-1-1.

Punahou rallied for six runs on seven hits in the bottom of the sixth to cut an 8-1 deficit to 8-7. But reliever Joshua Nakamura set it down in order in the seventh to earn the save.

"I was just trying to throw strikes, and hopefully make them miss," said Nakamura, a senior right-hander.

The game was played under protest by Punahou from the bottom of the third inning, with Saint Louis leading 7-1 and the Buffanblu batting with two outs and a runner on first base. Play was delayed for nearly 20 minutes while each head coach debated with the home plate umpire about a rule regarding the need for a courtesy runner when a catcher reaches base with two outs.

But Punahou coach Eric Kadooka said after the game he was doubtful about the protest's chances for success.

"That wasn't the difference in this game, the difference was Chris Chung," Kadooka said, referring to the Saint Louis starter who had limited the Buffanblu to one run on two hits through the first five innings. "We've been facing him for four years, and he's always done well against us."

Saint Louis took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first after loading the bases with no outs, with Kalei Contrades' single bringing home Jordan Fukumoto and Kaeo Aliviado's sacrifice fly to left field scoring Derek Nakasato.

Punahou cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning, after Michael Suiter led off with a single to center, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out error.

But the Crusaders made it 5-1 in the second without getting a hit. Kini Enos led off with a walk, advanced to second on Kyle Watase's sacrifice bunt and scored when Nakasato reached on a two-base error. Fukumoto, who had walked with one out, later scored on Moses Samia's sac fly to right and Nakasato came home on a wild pitch.

Saint Louis extended the lead to 7-1 in the third, on two hits and an error, then made it 8-1 in the fifth after Ka'ai Tom led off with a single to left and eventually scored on a throwing error.

SAINT LOUIS (4-1) 232 010 0 — 8 6 1

PUNAHOU (2-1-1) 100 006 0 — 7 8 5

Chris Chung, Joshua Nakamura (6) and Moses Samia. Alaka'i Aglipay, Ty Tirpak (3) and Kaiana Eldredge, Michael Barrett-Wright (4). W — Chung. L — Aglipay. S — Nakamura.

Leading hitters — Saint Louis: Jordan Fukumoto 1-2, 2 runs; Ka'ai Tom 1-3, 2 runs; Kyle Watase triple, RBI. Punahou: Michael Suiter 2-4, 2 RBIs; Reece Toma 1-3, 2 RBIs.

'Iolani 8, Pac-Five 1: Sheldon Lee and Tyson Tsutsumi combined on a three-hitter, and Jarrett Arakawa and Jensen Park had three hits apiece to lead the Raiders over the Wolfpack.

PAC-FIVE (1-3) 100 000 0—1 3 1

'IOLANI (4-1) 001 331 X—8 15 0

Landry Kiyabu, Royce Fujii (5), Jordan Kumasaka (5) and Bryson Kihara, Daniel Baba (7). Sheldon Lee, Tyson Tsutsumi (7) and Tiras Koon. W — Lee. L — Kiyabu.

Leading hitters — Pac-Five: None. 'Iolani: Jarrett Arakawa 3-4, 2 runs; Jensen Park 3-4; Tanner Nishioka double; Sean Odo triple, 2 RBIs; Kevin Barayuga double.

Reported by Nick Bradley

Pac-West 10, Maryknoll 9: Evan Fujimoto drove in three runs, and Kellen Abe and Colin Schmidt added two RBIs apiece as Pac-West rallied for six runs in the seventh inning to beat the Spartans at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

MRYKNLL (1-4) 011 002 5— 9 10 4

PC-WEST (1-3) 000 103 6—10 11 5

Craig Shoji, Tyler Todd (6), Gavin Oyadomari (7) and David Nishiki. W. Micah Whitty, Shayne Nakagawa (7) and Nakagawa, Frank Perkins (7). W — Nakagawa. L — Oyadomari.

Leading hitters — Maryknoll: Trevor Saiki 2-3; Jarren Chun 2-2, 2 doubles, 2 runs; Kaelen Hirashiki 2-4, 2 RBIs. Pac-West: Kellen Abe 2-4, double, 2 RBIs; Evan Fujimoto 2-3, 3 RBIs; Colin Schmidt 2 RBIs; Shawne Hampton 2-5, double; Nakagawa 2-3, 2 runs.

Reported by Nick Bradley

OIA SOFTBALL

Kapolei 9, Leilehua 7: Winona Pauline hit a home run and Mikela Manewa went 3 for 4 with two RBIs as the Hurricanes rallied with three runs in the seventh inning to beat the host Mules in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West.

KAPOLEI (1-1) 000 150 3—9150

LEILEHUA (1-3) 300 310 0—7 10 3

Tanisha Aniya, Winona Pauline (1) and Aimee Aipa. Maegan Tupinio, Kaylen Ynigues (7) and Kelina Nakai. W — Pauline. L — Tupinio.

Leading hitters — Kapolei: Dorian Acierto 2-5; Ashalyn Umiamaka 2-4; Mikela Manewa 3-4, double, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Alyssa Aipa 2-4, double, triple, 2 runs; Kulana Cristobal 2-4, double; Kahana Higa 2-4, double; Pauline homer. Leilehua: Brittney Lani 2-3; Dana Cariaga double, 2 RBIs; Jasmine Villegas homer; Tupinio 2-3, 2 RBIs.

Reported by Berdina Kubo

'Ānuenue 16, Radford 5: Nalani Kamano drove in five runs, Kaui Kim went 4 for 5 with four RBIs, and Wewehi Ganeau had three hits to lead the Rainbow Wahine over the visiting Rams in an OIA White game.

RADFORD (0-4) 203 000—5 10 1

'ĀNUENUE (2-0) 301 507—16 12 3

Amanda Nicholas and Tuiai Elisava. Kala Lewis and Wewehi Ganeau. W — Lewis. L — Nicholas.

Leading hitters — Radford: Nicholas 2-4; Ilona Peterson 2-3; Samandra Sevao 2-3. 'Ānuenue: Kaui Kim 4-5, 4 RBIs; Lewis 2-4, double; Nalani Kamano 2-4, double, 5 RBIs; Ganeau 3-4; Kuulei Luke 2-4.

Reported by Lapule Schultz