Dawson Yamaguchi pitched four more innings of shutout ball to help preserve the Crusaders' 1-0 lead in the continuation of a suspended game. Tyler Guieb | SL

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03281638_TKG_5101.jpg - Tyler Guieb | SL

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Dawson Yamaguchi picked up nicely where he left off 13 days ago and No. 5 Saint Louis squeezed by No. 6 Punahou, 1-0, Monday to complete a game suspended by rain.

The Crusaders (7-3) pulled into a three-way tie for first with Mid-Pacific and Kamehameha in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I race. The Buffanblu (5-5) remain in fourth place, two games behind the pack, but two games ahead of fifth-place Iolani.

A change in venue – the game originally started at Goeas Field in Hawaii Kai – did not affect the Crusaders' left-hander, who spaced three hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out five in the complete-game win.

"Dawson was very good today," Saint Louis coach George Gusman said of Yamaguchi. "He's been working on his breaking ball a little bit and he was able to throw it for strikes. They chased a few pitches."

Since the start of the game on March 15, Yamaguchi blanked Iolani, 1-0, on March 22. With Monday's start, he has thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings.

"Today, what I was trying to do was establish my fastball early," Yamaguchi said. "Then I kind of incorporated a new pitch today. I'd rather not say what it is, but it just came to me just last week."

Yamaguchi's curveball was an effective counter to his fastball.

"In this league, if you can throw two pitches for a strike, you're going to be effective," Punahou coach Keenan Sue said.

The game picked up in the top of the fourth with visiting Saint Louis leading, 1-0. Kahi Bisho was Punahou's original starting pitcher, but when action resumed Monday Riley Guieb inherited a full count on Aaron Renaud and struck him out. Guieb scattered four hits in the final four innings, keeping the Crusaders off the board.

"Riley is usually our first reliever/closer," Sue said. "Because it's a shortened game, it's pretty much a relief opportunity. We needed to shut them down and stop the bleeding at 1. Riley did a good job. They (the Crusaders) didn't hit, we didn't hit and the game's over."

Nearly two weeks ago, Saint Louis grabbed the lead with the only run of the game in the second inning. Renaud walked with one out and took third on John Kea's single. DJ Stephens squeezed home the only run of the game before Hunter Guarco flied out to left to end the inning.

Punahou threatened in the bottom of the fourth. Jerick Nomura reached on a throwing error by shortstop Keith Torres to start the inning, took second on a passed ball and an out later, went to third when Kai Terada-Herzer grounded out to shortstop. Andrew Matsueda was hit by a pitch, but Yamaguchi retired Asa Kurasaki on a called strike three to kill the threat.

The Crusaders left their lineup the same, except for right fielder Matt Wong, who started the game. But he left Saturday's game against Mid-Pacific with a hip flexor issue. Charles Lopez took over in right field when play resumed Monday.

Saint Louis has a quick rematch against the Owls, 3:45 p.m. Wednesday at Goeas. The Buffanblu return to Ala Wai Tuesday to play Maryknoll at 3:45 p.m.

NOTE: When the two teams played originally on March 15, the Crusaders were ranked No. 1 and the Buffanblu were ranked No. 3. The rankings used in this story reflects the current rankings as of Monday, March 28.