By letting a big lead slip away in its victory yesterday, Punahou also saw its chances of advancing slip away in the Babe Ruth World Series for 13- to 15-year-olds.

Punahou, which led 7-0 through five innings, defeated Mobile (Ala.), 8-7, on the final day of pool play in the tournament at Andalusia, Ala.

Mobile scored seven runs in the top of the sixth to tie it, but Punahou scored the go-ahead run in the bottom half on an RBI groundout by Brent Fukushima.

Punahou finished pool play with a 2-2 record, tied for second with Nederland (Texas) and Mobile. Kelso (Wash.) finished first at 3-1.

But because the tiebreaker was fewest total runs allowed, Punahou finished fourth and was left out of the single-elimination playoff round that determines the World Series champion.

Punahou allowed 24 runs in its four games. Mobile allowed 21 and Nederland 19.

The top three teams in each pool advanced to the playoffs.

Punahou was in a pool called the American Division with teams from Alabama, Maine, Texas and Washington.

The National Division had teams from Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota and New York.

Against Mobile yesterday, Fukushima had three RBIs, including a two-run single in the fourth, and Jeremy Ioane had a pair of run-scoring singles.