Many of the faces have changed, but two-time defending state champion Punahou looked like its same old efficient self yesterday in a 10-1 victory over Kamehameha in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball opener at Ala Wai Field.

Scott Hiramoto pitched a five-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks and Bucky Aona went 2 for 4 with a double and four RBIs to propel the Buffanblu, who lost four Advertiser All-State first-team selections to graduation.

"Everybody's been talking about how we lost a lot of players from last year, but we also have a lot of guys coming back," said Hiramoto, a senior right-hander. "And the new guys played good today."

Punahou also got some help from Kamehameha, which committed three untimely errors and threw two wild pitches that led to a combined five runs.

"We extended the inning a couple of times, and even with those guys graduated they're still a good ball club, so when you give them extra outs and extend the inning like that they're going to hurt you," Warriors coach Vern Ramie said. "They did a good job of putting hits together and they clutched up with two outs."

The Buffanblu took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Matt Suiter reached on an error, took second on Aona's groundout and scored on Hiramoto's slow infield ground single with two outs. Suiter scored again in the third inning when he reached on an infield single, took second on a wild pitch and came home on Aona's line single to left, again with two outs.

Kamehameha closed to 2-1 in the bottom of the third when Parker McCready led off with a single, advanced to second on Pi'ikea Kitamura's single, moved to third on Parker Paredes' sacrifice bunt and scored on Makana Kitamura's ground single to first.

Punahou answered with two runs in the fourth, after Zachary Kometani led off with a walk and scored on Paul Snieder's double to center, then Snieder scored on a two-out throwing error to first.

Aona broke it open with no outs in the sixth, slamming a bases-clearing double into the right-center gap to make it 7-1. Reece Kiriu led off the seventh with a double to left and scored on Snieder's triple into the right field corner, then Snieder scored on a wild pitch. Suiter's two-out double to center scored the final run.

Meanwhile, Hiramoto stayed in control by throwing strikes and managing to escape the few jams he got into.

Hiramoto retired the first six batters, and after the third-inning run, allowed only two runners past second base.

"I was a little nervous, but once the game started I felt comfortable," Hiramoto said. "I just tried not to walk anybody and not make big mistakes."

Buffanblu coach Eric Kadooka said Hiramoto's and Aona's senior leadership has proved valuable.

"We need that because we're a young team," Kadooka said. "We're throwing them into the frying pan, but it's a credit to them that we were able to beat a good team today."

PUNAHOU (1-0) 101 203 3—10 11 1

KAMEHAMEHA (0-1) 001 000 0— 1 5 3

Scott Hiramoto and Zachary Kometani. Ashkon Kuhaulua, Chris Pascual (5) and Stuart Kam. W — Hiramoto. L — Kuhaulua.

Leading hitters: Punahou — Bucky Aona 2-4, double, 4 RBIs; Paul Snider 2-4, double, triple, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Hiramoto 2-4, double, RBI; Maika Murashige 2-4; Matt Suiter double, 3 runs; Reece Kiriu double.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.