Staying on pace in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball title chase, Kamehameha squeezed out a 2-1 victory over five-time defending state champ Punahou yesterday at Ala Wai Field.

The victory improved the Warriors — ranked No. 3 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media — to 9-1 in ILH play entering tomorrow's showdown with first-place 'Iolani (10-0). The Buffanblu fell to 4-6 after a 2-0 start.

Punahou put the tying run on first base with no outs in the top of the seventh inning, but the runner was picked off by catcher Keanu Carmichael and — after Jeremy Ioane's bloop single to right — starter Chris Pascual induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

It was the third double play for Kamehameha, which also got a key assist from right fielder Kalei Hanawahine with two outs in the fifth inning when he threw out a runner at home after a single by Michael Suiter.

"The bottom line is they made more plays than we did," Buffanblu coach Eric Kadooka said. "Kamehameha deserved it, they look tournament-ready and are finding ways to win."

The Warriors' Jacob Meyer led off the first inning with a triple and scored on Hanawahine's single to right one at-bat later. Punahou tied it in the third after Jordan Honjiro singled to left with one out, advanced on an error and scored on Evan Lim's single to right.

Kamehameha took the lead for good in the bottom half when Hanawahine singled to right with one out, advanced to third on Pi'ikea Kitamura's single to center and scored on Kewby Meyer's grounder to second.

The lead held, as Pascual allowed five hits but no runs over the final four innings.

"I didn't really have command of any pitches, but our defense came through with key plays," said Pascual, a senior left-hander. "We didn't score as many runs as usual, but we made up for it with defense."

That was particularly important in the fifth, when Carmichael picked a runner off first base, and then Hanawahine threw a one-hop strike to Carmichael after Suiter's single to nab the runner at home and end the inning.

"Like I told our guys, in this league every play can turn the tide of the game," Warriors coach Vern Ramie said. "Those double plays and Kalei's throw — that was the difference today."

PUNAHOU (4-6) 001 000 0 — 1 8 0

KAMEHAMEHA (9-1) 101 000 X — 2 6 2

Marcus Yoshii and Tyler Young. Chris Pascual and Keanu Carmichael. W — Pascual. L — Yoshii.

Leading hitters — Punahou: Jordan Honjiyo 2-2; Michael Suiter 2-3. Kamehameha: Jacob Meyer triple; Kalei Hanawahine 2-3.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. Read his blog on high school sports at www.preptalk.honadvblogs.com

NO. 1 'IOLANI 18, PAC-FIVE 0:

Breland Almadova, JR Bunda and Grant Iwamoto each had three RBIs to lead the top-ranked Raiders over the Wolfpack in a game shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule.

PAC-FIVE (0-10) 000 00— 0 2 2

'IOLANI (10-0) 327 06—18 18 0

Christian Morimoto, Jordan Kumasaka (2), Kelsey Uyehara (3), Trevor Hu (5) and Reid Morihara. Kela Marciel, Brett Watanabe (2), Tyson Tsutsumi (4), Curtis Martin (5) and Grant Iwamoto. W — Marciel. L — Morimoto.

Leading hitters — Pac-Five: None. 'Iolani: Jensen Park double, 2 runs; Breland Almadova 2-3, double, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Jarrett Arakawa 3-5, double, 2 runs; Buen Hatanaka double, 3 runs; JR Bunda 3-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Iwamoto 2-3, double, 3 RBIs; Kevin Barayuga 2-3, double, 2 runs, 2 RBIs.

Reported by Nick Bradley.

NO. 5 MID-PACIFIC 19, MARYKNOLL 8:

Michael Arakaki sparked a nine-run second with a grand slam, Justin Protacio had two doubles and three RBIs, and Robert Dittrick also homered to power the host Owls over the Spartans.

MID-PACIFIC (7-3) 291 115 — 19 17 1

MARYKNOLL (1-9) 001 313 — 8 8 5

Lawrence Chew, Davis Chang (4), Rylen Kuboyama (6) and Dane Fujinaka, Colin Sakamoto (3), Tyler Nishimoto (6); Tyler Todd, Aaron Tom (2), Jeffery Hagino (4), Kyle Hirata (5), Matthew Hara (6), Trevor Saiki (6) and David Nishiki, Brandon Hinck (5). W — Chew. L — Todd.

Leading hitters — Maryknoll: Nathan Choy 2-3, 3-run homer; T. Saiki 2-3. Mid-Pacific: Justin Protacio 4-5, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs; Matt McDaniel 2-3, 3 RBIs; Robert Dittrick 2-2, double, homer 2 RBIs; Michael Arakai 2-3, grand slam, 4 RBIs.

Reported by Nick Bradley.