Saint Louis might have lost key players to graduation from last year's Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship team, but it didn't look like it lost a step.

The Crusaders slugged two home runs and two doubles to roll over defending state champion Punahou, 15-2, to capture the Mid-Pacific Institute/Richard Kitamura preseason baseball tournament title at MPI. The game was called after 4 1/2 innings because of the 10-run differential rule.

Saint Louis sent 14 batters to the plate in a 10-run third inning that was capped by a grand slam by Dallas Tuumalo to back starting and winning pitcher Bradon Nelson, who allowed two runs (one earned), a hit and four walks with one strikeout in three innings.

Despite finishing 10-1 in preseason - the Crusaders open the ILH season Wednesday against Kamehameha at Central O'ahu Regional Park, field 1 - second-year Saint Louis coach George Gusman said it is hard to gauge how well his team is really playing because the teams are looking at a number of players before settling on regulars for the real season.

"We lost Chris Chung (Advertiser Pitcher of the Year), who was ILH player of the year and state player of the year," Gusman said. "We lost Noah Siegfried...(second baseman) Jordan Fukumoto, (DH) Moses Samia. We had Kini Enos at shortstop, so those are big shoes to fill. We'll just have to see where we are."

Tuumalo was 2 for 2 with five RBI, Travis Shaw was 1 for 2 with a three-run home run, Kaeo Aliviado was 1 for 1 with three RBI and Derek Nakasato was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBI.

Punahou starting pitcher Marcus Yoshii lasted 1 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (three earned), three hits and three walks.

Freshman catcher KJ Harrison had Punahou's only two hits of the game, including an RBI single.

Punahou played with a split squad, as the other half had a game at Kailua.

Punahou opens its season Wednesday against 'Iolani, 3:45 p.m. at Ala Wai Field.


FINAL DAY RESULTS

3rd Place: Moanalua 10 Mid-Pacific 4

Consolation championship: Roosevelt 10 Mililani 3

---