Punahou's K.J. Harrison dives safely into third for a triple against Kamehameha. Evan Asato | SL

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042313_EA_BASE_Pun-Kam_4-23-13 38.jpg - Evan Asato | SL

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Punahou batted around in a five-run sixth inning to rally by Kamehameha, 9-5, Tuesday in a play-in game to the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I double-elimination game at Ala Wai Field.

The Warriors (4-9), fifth in the five-team ILH D1 regular season, is done for the season, while the Buffanblu (6-7), fourth during the regular season, open the double-elimination tournament at top-seeded and regular season champion Mid-Pacific at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

"We're still breathing," Punahou coach Kenny Harrison said. "That's the main thing."

The other opening-round game has third seed 'Iolani playing second seed Saint Louis, 3:30 p.m. Friday at Ala Wai Field.

As regular season champions, the Owls (11-1) have earned one of two state berths awarded to the ILH. If a team other than MPI wins the tournament, a playoff will determine the overall champion that gets the seeded state berth, which comes with an opening-round bye.

Left-hander Dylan Combs pitched three scoreless innings of relief to settle a game that saw four lead changes after Punahou took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

"He kept us in the game, gave us a chance," Harrison said. "All season, our pitchers come in spot relief and they've done a good job. Today, we came through with some clutch hits."

Combs entered the game in the fifth, when Kamehameha loaded the bases with no out against the left-handed Bo Coolen, who gave up back-to-back singles and a walk. Punahou still had a 4-3 lead.

Combs struck out Ethan Rosehill, but Hoku Botelho's sacrifice fly to right scored James DeJesus and moved courtesy runner Ulu Fam to third, as Tyler Meditz held first. After Meditz stole second, pinch hitter Will Young singled to deep shortstop to score Farm, but shortstop Niko Takayesu threw Meditz out home to end the inning, but the Warriors took a 5-4 lead.

But Combs didn't allow the Warriors to score, despite hitting two batters in the sixth and allowing a two-out double to Botelho in the seventh.

"My fastball was working, but not my other pitches," Combs said. "I was just able to get the first strike most of the time and try to work ahead."

Six Kamehameha errors accounted for six unearned runs.

"That's been the story of our season," Kamehameha coach Vern Ramie said. "We've struggled defensively. It's been something we've been working on, but we've been very inconsistent defensively. It put us in some bad situations."

Meanwhile, the Buffanblu, who committed three errors that weren't as costly at Kamehameha's, executed all of their plays offensively. They were credited with four sacrifices, including a squeeze, and had two sacrifice flies.

Nate Higa led off the Punahou sixth by getting hit by Lum's first pitch. Brad Chan's second sacrifice of the game moved pinch runner Drew Ogomori to second, where he scored the tying run on Reece Kato's single to center; Kato took second on the throw home.

Pinch hitter Jake Fujimoto's bunt single to third moved Kato over to third. After Fujimoto stole second, Kamehameha brought its infield in and Jason Rosen hit a grounder to second baseman Botelho, who bobbled the ball, but still had time to throw to first as the runners held their bases. But first baseman Jason Murakami also broke for the grounder, leaving first base uncovered, allowing Rosen to reach on an infield single to load the bases.

Aaron Fong's squeeze scored Kato to give Punahou a 6-5 lead and move the other runners as well. After KJ Harrison was intentionally walked to load the bases, Lum was pulled for left-hander Trey Smith. Beau Branton hit a liner to third that was dropped, allowing a run to score and reload the bases to set up Cole Kanazawa's two-run single to make it 9-5 before Higa ended the inning by popping out to shortstop.

Lum was charged with nine runs, only three earned, in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits and three walks, while striking out one.

"Keenan pitched well," Ramie said. "We had couple guys in the pen ready to go. Keenan was still pitching well, but we just didn't support him defensively."

Kamehameha chased Punahou starter Thomas Morris after 2 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs, two earned and two hits, but walked four.

Though the Buffanblu survived the elimination game, they still have to deal MPI, Saint Louis or 'Iolani in the upcoming tournament.

"Hopefully, we have some momentum, get on a roll," Combs said.