It's rarer still to see an opposing pitcher toss a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts at MPI.

But in this wildest of Interscholastic League of Honolulu seasons, that's what happened yesterday as visiting Saint Louis stunned the first-place Owls, 12-0.

Crusaders senior right-hander Marc Nobriga walked two and allowed only a bloop double by Kip Masuda, and batterymate Jowen Murray-Thornton went 3 for 4 with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs to power the Saints.

More significant than the score, the win tightened the ILH title race and closed Mid-Pacific's lead to just a half game over Saint Louis and Punahou. MPI is 9-2, while the Crusaders and Buffanblu are 9-3.

"We were practicing hard the past week and staying focused," Nobriga said.

Nobriga and the Saints were nearly flawless from the beginning. Nobriga had a perfect game until two outs in the fourth, when Harry Kuroda drew a walk after a full count. Masuda followed with his blooper to center that got past a diving Johnny Gentry.

But left fielder Kaulana Kauleinamoku covered and threw to Nobriga, who relayed it home to Murray-Thornton just in time to tag out a sliding courtesy runner.

"I thought that was a big play," said first-year Saint Louis coach Scott Paiva, noting that the score was only 2-0 at the time. "It brought the momentum our way. But we came to play today; that's the best I've seen Marc pitch, and we hit the ball and made the stops on defense."

Nobriga allowed only one base runner the rest of the way, helped by an errorless defense. He had five strikeouts in the final three innings, and got a spectacular dive and throw from third baseman Danny Lee to end the fifth.

The Crusaders scored in the first inning on three hits and an error, and in the second on Murray-Thornton's double and an error.

Saint Louis added six runs in the fifth, highlighted by Murray-Thornton's three-run homer and RBI singles by Lee and Gentry.

Murray-Thornton's bases-clearing double was the big hit in a four-run seventh.

"The past couple games, I haven't been hitting," said catcher Murray-Thornton, who is known more for his strong arm. "I almost wanted to quit, but then I said, 'I can't quit now.' "

The Owls are hoping to regroup quickly to hang on to a first-place lead that has proved to be tenuous in the past. They already suffered tough losses even before yesterday's rout, as Kuroda's grandfather passed away a few days ago and starting second baseman Adam Tamashiro (hitting .450) was lost for the season after surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb.

"It's tough, but we can't make excuses," MPI coach Dunn Muramaru said.

• SAINT LOUIS (9-3) 110 060 4 — 12 12 0
• MID-PACIFIC (9-2) 000 000 0 — 0 1 5

Marc Nobriga and Jowen Murray-Thornton; Harry Kuroda, Conan Young, Jared Hara and Kip Masuda. W — Nobriga. L — Kuroda.

Leading hitters: SL — Murray-Thornton 3-4, two doubles, home run, 6 RBIs; Chester Wilson 3-3; Danny Lee 2-4, RBI; Johnny Gentry 2-4, RBI; Kaulana Kauleinamoku double. MPI — Masuda double.

• KAMEHAMEHA 9, MARYKNOLL 3: Stuart Kam went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, and Travis Young and Brandon Ogimi each added two hits as the Warriors overcame two rain delays to beat the Spartans.

The game was shortened to six innings as the lights at the Ala Wai Field were set to turn off at 9:35 p.m.

• Kamehameha (8-4) 100 161—9 10 1
• Maryknoll (1-9-1) 000 030—3 5 5

Kanekoa Texeira, Jacob Cockett (6) and Stuart Kam. Peter Kirst, Spencer Kim (6) and Brian Tabata. W—Texeira. L— Kirst.

Leading hitters: Kamehameha—Kam 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Travis Young 2-3, RBI; Brandon Ogimi 2-2, RBI; Keola Kaluhiokalani double, RBI. Maryknoll—David McCoy 2-3, RBI; Brett Ikei double.

• PUNAHOU 4, IOLANI 2: Jared Pate pitched a five-hitter and Noah Phillips had two hits for the Buffanblu, who won it with a three-run rally in the eighth inning.

• Iolani (5-7) 100 001 0—2 5 1
• Punahou (9-3) 000 103 0—4 5 0

Eric Muraoka, Wally Marciel (6) and Bert Mitsunaga. Jared Pate and Robert Kurisu. W—Pate. L— Muraoka.

Leading hitters: Iol— Travis Nishioka 2-3. Pun—Noah Phillips 2-3, RBI.