Punahou brings a league-best 4-0 record into a weekend showdown against 3-0-1 Kamehameha in a pivotal ILH softball game. ScoringLive photo illustration

Purchase image 1 of 1

A pair of unbeatens will square off in a pivotal Interscholastic League of Honolulu softball game when Punahou visits Kamehameha Saturday morning.

The Buffanblu, the No. 4 team in the ScoringLive/OC16 Power Rankings, bring a league-best 4-0 record against the Warriors, who stand at 3-0-1 after a 6-all tie against Maryknoll Wednesday.

Top-ranked Kamehameha held a 3-0 lead over the Spartans after three innings and a 5-2 lead after four innings, but allowed three runs in the top of the sixth. Dallas Millwood's solo home run — Kamehameha's third of the game — tied it up at 6 in the bottom of the seventh before the game was called due to darkness.

"I'm glad the players kept their composure to tie it back up and not give up after we gave up our lead, so we're feeling good, but it's just the little things that we have to put together to get where we need to be and that comes with more games," Warriors' first-year coach James Millwood said.

Millwood said the group is still experiencing some growing pains having played a total of just nine games together so far this season.

"We're still getting to know one another," Millwood said. "We had a late start and we only played five games in the Mililani tournament and that was our whole preseason, and then the four games in our regular season so we're still growing."

Kamehameha's annual song contest will keep the team from practicing Friday night.

"That's my worry," Millwood said. "It can be a late night with song contest, so we'll have to come in focused and be ready to play against a very well-coached Punahou team that won't beat themselves. The tie (against Maryknoll) was an eye-opener, hopefully, and they don't like the feeling of not pulling out the victory — and we were lucky enough to tie it up — but we'll use it as a positive to go from here."

The Warriors will likely turn to Kamalani Dung, a Fresno State signee, or Christine Hipa, who threw a five-inning no-hitter against Pac-Five last week, in the pitching circle Saturday. 

Meanwhile, it's no secret the Buffanblu will hand the ball to Nicole Nishizawa, its second-year ace.

Nishizawa is one of five seniors that have been a key factor in Punahou's success, according to coach Bob Makahilahila.

"We're led by our very good seniors, in terms of leadership and ability, and I think that's helped us out a lot starting off the season," Makahilahila said. "It hasn't been any one person that's been doing it all for us. A lot of people have stepped up at one time or another, but the collective leadership of our senior group has helped us a lot."

Makahilahila also said a preseason trip to Kauai to play in the Waimea tournament provided much more than some extra innings.

"It was a great opportunity to bond," Makahilahila said. "We're still learning about each other and we try to just learn with each game we play. We played (eventual tournament champion) Mililani twice on Kauai and it was a real good game experience for us because it helped us learn where we were and what we're capable of."

Aside from a 13-3 win over Sacred Hearts, each of Punahou's three other regular-season games have been decided by two or fewer runs.

"We've had a lot of close games so it gives me a lot of heartache, but for the girls it was a good learning opportunity for them, in terms of dealing with pressure," Makahilahila said. "The girls are playing together well and we're very humbled to be 4-0 at this point."

Makahilahila said part of the early success is due to the players having bought into a "team-first" mentality.

"We really preach 'team' and everybody taking care of their piece and doing their job and the five seniors have done a great job of making sure that the underclassmen are involved and they're pro diving leadership on and off the field," Makahilahila said.

Makahilahila spoke with great reverence of the Warriors two days before their showdown.

"Kamehameha is awesome," Makahilahila said. "They just have so much talent, their whole roster is so good. We're looking forward to Saturday. Kamehameha is a great team, they're No. 1 in the state and it's a good opportunity for us. Hopefully we can go to their field and give them a good game."

First pitch between the Buffanblu and Warriors is set for 10 a.m.