Even with two "lifelines" in the bank, the Punahou School baseball team wanted to complete its mission yesterday and did, holding off 'Iolani, 6-3, to win the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship at Ala Wai Field.

The Buffanblu (16-1) won both the ILH's regular season and yesterday's postseason tournament final to clinch the league's only berth in next week's state tournament. If 'Iolani (12-5) had won yesterday, the teams would have met again in a special playoff tomorrow and possibly Saturday (if Punahou lost tomorrow) for the overall title.

"We definitely wanted to win today, so all of our pitchers can take a rest this weekend," said Buffanblu junior third baseman/pitcher Jeeter Ishida, who went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs and also earned the save. "'Iolani has been ranked No. 2 in the state for almost the whole season, so anybody could have won (the special playoff). You can never let up against them."

That was true yesterday, even after Punahou went up 4-0 in the top of the fifth inning. The Raiders answered with a run in the bottom of the inning and two more in the sixth to cut it to 4-3.

But the Buffanblu scored a run on an error with two outs in the seventh and added another on Evan Bisho's run-scoring dribbler that straddled the third base foul line before veering into fair territory.

Ishida then relieved starter Paul Snieder and got two strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh to earn the save with a runner on second base.

"We had our chances and we were in it until the end," 'Iolani coach Dean Yonamine said. "At least we battled. But (the Buffanblu) have a lot of tough guys; even their pinch hitters came through."

Punahou jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Zach Kometani hit an inside-the-park solo home run and Snieder followed with a double and scored after an error.

The Raiders threatened in the bottom of the third when they put runners on first and second with no outs. The next batter, Rylan Morihara, then was hit on a two-strike pitch after he had squared to bunt.

Morihara initially was called out, but then was awarded first base after a conference among the three umpires. After Buffanblu coach Eric Kadooka went out to dispute the reversal, the umpires gathered for another conference, after which they ruled Morihara was out.

'Iolani's coaches then went out to dispute that reversal, but the call stood and the Raiders were left with runners on first and second with one out instead of the bases loaded with no outs and No. 2 hitter Case Miyahira at the plate.

Kadooka said that the initial call was that Morihara made an attempt at the ball, so it should be a strikeout regardless of if he was hit by the pitch.

'Iolani ended up stranding three runners without scoring.

"That was a big call, it totally took their momentum away in that inning," Kadooka said.

The Raiders finally scored in the fifth after Daniel Takami singled and eventually scored on a freak error between pitches.

'Iolani closed to 4-3 an inning later on a run-scoring groundout by Darren Sonobe and Morihara's RBI single to right field.

But Punahou answered with two runs in the seventh after courtesy runner Shane Yoshiyama scored on a two-out error and Bisho later drove in a run with the infield single.

"'Iolani is definitely a tough team and they are tough to beat," Kometani said. "It was big to take (the title) today."

Kadooka said his team treated it as a must-win situation, even if it really wasn't.

"Every game is a must-win game in this league," he said. "They're such a good team, anything could have happened."

PUNAHOU (16-1) 200 020 2 — 6 8 1

'IOLANI (12-5) 000 012 0 — 3 9 3

Paul Snieder, Jeeter Ishida (7) and Zach Kometani; JR Bunda, Jon Okada (5), Sheldon Lee (6), Jarrett Arakawa (7) and Grant Iwamoto. W — Snieder. L — Bunda. S — Ishida.

Leading hitters — Punahou: Kometani 2-3, home run; Ishida 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Kimo Makaula 2-2. 'Iolani: Rylan Morihara 2-4, RBI; Lionel Fujioka 2-3; Arakawa 2-4; Brennan Nacario double.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.