'Iolani recorded two five-run innings to defeat Kamehameha, 10-3, in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball tournament yesterday at 'Iolani.

The teams play again today at 3:45 at 'Iolani in the finale of the double-elimination tournament. It was Kamehameha's first loss of the tournament and the winner of today's game is the tournament champion. The Raiders (18-3) clinched the ILH regular-season title. If 'Iolani wins today, it is the overall ILH champion. If Kamehameha (15-4) wins, the teams play again Saturday to determine the league's overall champion.

Both already qualified for the state tournament.

Although the Raiders are guaranteed a postseason berth, "No one likes to lose, and for us, we want that top seed," 'Iolani starter JR Bunda said. "We want to go into states a little more comfortable."

Kamehameha scored in the first inning on two hits and two walks off Bunda. Warriors leadoff batter Jacob Meyer walked, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Kalei Hanawahine, and scored on an RBI single by Kewby Meyer.

"As a pitcher I have some things to work on, and we've been working on it throughout the season," Bunda said. "It's getting better and I'm starting to get my rhythm.

"But when I'm up to bat, it's a whole different story. I try to leave what is on the mound on the mound and what's at the plate at the plate."

Bunda hit a grand slam to left field, highlighting a five-run first inning by the Raiders. 'Iolani's Sean Nada led off with a single, eventually scoring after Jarrett Arakawa reached base on an error. Arakawa would later score on Bunda's home run, along with Breland Almadova and Buen Hatanaka.

Kamehameha scored again in the fourth after Josh Wong was hit by a Bunda pitch and advanced to second on a balk. A single by Piikea Kitamura moved him to third, and Kewby Meyer singled him home to make it 5-2.

The Raiders struck again with another five-run inning in the sixth with another home run, this time by Almadova.

"It was already going to be tough with Arakawa out there, but when they added those runs in the last inning, it was really going to be tough," Kamehameha coach Vern Ramie said of 'Iolani's Arakawa, who came on in relief in the fifth.

Nada scored Bunda and Kurt Yoshikawa with a two-out single to left field, paving the way for Almadova's shot to right, which brought home Nada and Grant Iwamoto.

"I was looking for anything to put in play, anything to keep the inning going," Almadova said.

The Warriors scored their final run in the seventh on Kash Kalohelani's pinch-hit RBI single.

The Warriors left 12 runners on base, with at least one per inning. The Raiders stranded only two.

"Even though we were down 5-1 in the first inning, we had a lot of opportunities," Ramie said.

Added 'Iolani's Bunda: "We always practice situational hitting and we put ourselves in pressure situations, so when we're up there, we feel a little bit more comfortable."

The Raiders are enjoying the thought of already having qualified for the state tournament, which is allowing them to take luxuries with their lineup.

The last time 'Iolani made it to the state tournament was 2001.

"Obviously we're here to win, but it's so unusual for us to be in this scenario, we weren't going into the tournament with the idea that we were going to burn pitchers and do-or-die with one guy," 'Iolani coach Dean Yonamine said. "Going into today we didn't expect to throw Jarrett unless it got to a situation like that when we had the lead late."

KAMEHAMEHA (15-4) 100 100 1— 3 10 1

'IOLANI (18-3) 500 005 X—10 10 1

Chris Pascual and Keanu Carmichael. JR Bunda, Michael Diebold (4), Jarrett Arakawa (5) and Grant Iwamoto. W — Bunda. L — Pascual.

Leading hitters—Kamehameha: Piikea Kitamura 2-4; Kewby Meyer, 2-4, 2 RBIs. 'Iolani: Sean Nada 2-3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Breland Almadova 2-3, home run, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; JR Bunda 2-3, 2 runs, 4 RBIs; Grant Iwamoto 2-3.