In the first week of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball season, Kamehameha lost to Punahou, 10-1, then lost to Pac-Five three days later. The Warriors then finished the regular season 5-7, in fourth place.

Now, Kamehameha (10-8) is one victory away from winning the ILH postseason tournament and a state tournament berth, and two victories away from winning the ILH championship. The Warriors denied defending champ Punahou, 11-5, last night at Aloha Stadium to force another game tomorrow for the tournament title.

That game is set for 5 p.m. at Central O'ahu Regional Park. If Kamehameha wins, the teams will play a third time on Friday for the ILH's overall championship (the Buffanblu won the regular-season title). If Punahou (13-3) wins tomorrow, it clinches the overall title and the Warriors will play regular season runner-up Iolani on Friday for the league's second state tournament berth.

"We're still alive; we get to live another day," said Kamehameha coach Vern Ramie. "We were struggling earlier this season, but I'm glad we've been able to show that we're a lot better team than we were back then. We knew we were capable and could play a lot better; we just had to eliminate the mental mistakes — which we've done — and we've also gotten some breaks."

The Warriors needed few breaks last night, although the Buffanblu did help with an uncharacteristic five errors. Kamehameha pounded out 12 hits off five pitchers and scored in each of the final five innings, taking leads of 1-0, 3-0, 5-1, 7-1 and 11-3.

Leadoff batter Aaron Nichols led the way by going 3 for 3 with a double, three runs and two RBIs, and Waylen Sing Chow and Stuart Kam each added two RBIs.

Nichols also walked twice, scoring the Warriors' first run on an error in the third inning after walking on four pitches.

"He's always a threat to steal, so walking him is like giving him a double," Buffanblu coach Eric Kadooka said. "(Kamehameha) forced us into bad situations like that and put pressure on us the whole game."

The Warriors made it 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning after Parker McCready's run-scoring double to right field and Keahi Pi'iohea's RBI single to left. Punahou closed to 3-1 in the bottom of the frame on Scott Hiramoto's run-scoring groundout, but Kamehameha answered with two runs in the fifth after three Buffanblu errors.

Kam had a sacrifice fly and the Warriors scored on another Punahou error in the sixth to make it 7-1. The Buffanblu closed to 7-3 in the bottom of the frame on another RBI groundout by Hiramoto and a wild pitch, but Kamehameha answered with four runs in the seventh, highlighted by Nichols' RBI double.

Meanwhile, pitchers John Worthington, Kawika Omoto and Alika Pruett helped limit the Buffanblu to four hits, and they were backed by a defense that committed only one error.

"We always knew we could hit, but now we're peaking at the right time," said Nichols, who also made key plays at shortstop. "Now is the time we need to step up in the clutch."

KAMEHAMEHA (10-8) 001 222 4 — 11 12 1

PUNAHOU (13-3) 000 102 2 — 5 4 5

John Worthington, Kawika Omoto (4), Alika Pruett (6) and Stuart Kam; Scott Hiramoto, Paul Snieder (5), Reece Kiriu (6), Justin Ingalls (7), Cheyne Okawa (7) and Zach Kometani, Travis Tanaka (7). W — Omoto. L — Hiramoto.

Leading hitters — Kamehameha: Aaron Nichols 3-3, double, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Waylen Sing Chow 2-4, 2 RBIs; Stuart Kam 2 RBIs; Keahi Pi'iohea 2-4, RBI; Pi'ikea Kitamura 2-4. Punahou: Bucky Aona home run, 2 RBIs; Hiramoto 2 RBIs; Paul Snieder 2-3, double.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.