Weather permitting, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball season opens today with the past three state champions facing off.

Two-time defending champion Punahou will play 2003 champion Kamehameha at 3:45 p.m. today at Ala Wai Field.

The others in the seven-team league start their games either Friday or Saturday.

The league has gone to a two-round format with a tournament seeding based on regular-season standings. The regular-season champion, or the top seed, would get a bye in the tournament opener. With Maryknoll dropping the sport, the league's state tournament representation is in limbo, at least for today. Depending on how many teams the Big Island Interscholastic Federation declares, the ILH will get either one or two berths. The BIIF is expected to know this week whether it will have 11 or 12 teams. If it has 11, the ILH will get two state berths.

Before teams can think of the state tournament, they have their own issues to deal with in a league that might more balanced than ever before. Some teams are blending their few veteran returnees with sophomores in the starting lineup. And already competitive Pac-Five got stronger with the five Maryknoll players it added.

"There's a lot of parity," Iolani coach Dean Yonamine said. "There will be a lot more strategy involved than in any other year."

Defending league champion Punahou lost four all-state players, including Player of the Year in pitcher Jared Pate (UC Irvine), yet it is the only team to return two all-state first-team picks in first baseman Bucky Aona (designated hitter last year) and third baseman Steven Dannaway. But coach Eric Kadooka has five promising sophomores in the starting lineup.

"Our strength is our pitching (with returnees left-hander Carl Graves and right-hander Scott Hiramoto)," he said. "We have a few key hitters back. As long as the younger guys can contribute, we'll be there (in contention) at the end. That's our main goal."

Kamehameha is strong up the middle with returnees Makana Kitamura in center field, Aaron Nichols at shortstop and Stuart Kam catching. But the Warriors are young in pitching with the graduation of left-hander David Parrow (Southern California).

"Our defense is better than last year," Warriors coach Vern Ramie said. "But we still have a lot of holes to fill."

Iolani might have the best pitching in the league with left-handers Wally Marciel and C.J. Johnson.

"Playing three times a week, you need that pitching," said Yonamine, whose team went 9-2 in preseason.

Both players also provide productive bats.

Looking promising is Pac-Five, which went 8-0 in preseason, including winning the Hilo tournament. Coach Todd Koishigawa returns all his starters, plus those from Maryknoll, including right-hander Peter Kirst.

"Kirst is an ace on any staff," Koishigawa said.

Mid-Pacific is still finding players to settle into positions because of a shortage of outfielders. Four freshmen will get likely get some playing time.

"We're so young, so untested," coach Dunn Muramaru said. "Our pitching is super untested."

Damien put its young players through the grinder last season with hopes of paying dividends soon. But it's still a young team with one senior.

"We'll be all right, as long as we don't give up extra outs," coach John Matias said.

Damien also has two reliable left-handed pitchers in Robert Cuizon and Evander Ledward. Both are juniors.

Saint Louis is working around three seniors in shortstop Ryan Sasaki, outfielder/right-hander Cameron Bayne and catcher/first baseman Justin Doane. New coach Duane Fraticelli said at least four sophomores will be starting.

"We might surprise some people," Fraticelli said. "We have a good, young team. The seniors and juniors have shown some leadership."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.