A tense crowd of about 350 at MPI's cozy Damon Field watched the Buffanblu improve to 9-1 and tie the Owls (9-1) for first place atop the ILH standings heading into Saturday's 6 p.m. showdown vs. Kamehameha (8-2) at Hans L'Orange Field.

"It's definitely good momentum heading into Saturday," said Punahou sophomore Aaron Fong, who went 2 for 4 with the go-ahead RBI double and also made a spectacular diving, run-saving catch while making his first start in left field. "We're going to practice hard all week, we're pumped up."

The Buffanblu have a right to be, after mounting the improbable rally while trailing 3-1 and Mid-Pacific ace Travis Garcia-Perreira just one pitch away from a complete game.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Niko Takayesu drew a 1-2 count before hitting a sharp grounder to the right side, where it took an in-between hop and skipped off the fielder's right shoulder and straight up into the air. That allowed Zak Muenster to score from third and Tyler Loui to advance from second to third.

Fong, the next batter, then drew a 1-1 count and a wild pitch brought home Loui to tie score at 3-3. Garcia-Perreira was then immediately replaced, and Fong ripped the relief pitcher's first offering into left field to drive in pinch runner Lanson Yamamoto with the go-ahead score. 

"(The count) was 2-1, so I was just looking for a ball I could handle," Fong said. "It was a fastball, right down the middle."

After the next batter grounded to second to retire the side, Muenster switched from designated hitter to closer and set the Owls down in order to earn the save.

"In this tough atmosphere, against a team, we just hung in there," said first-year Punahou coach Kenny Harrison. "We've been preaching resiliency and never giving up. There were some crazy things happening out there, and we've got some inexperienced guys on this team, guys who are in their first year on the varsity. But you gotta stay patient, and they hung in there."

The entire game was reminiscent of classic Punahou-MPI battles of yesteryear with either league titles or state tournament berths on the line.

Punahou took a 1-0 lead in the third inning after Rick Nomura drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored on Muenster's slap single to right field. 

The Owls tied it in the fourth as Skyler Tengan led off with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on Cal Muramaru's grounder to second and scored on Brent Sakurai's squeeze bunt down the first base line.

Mid-Pacific then took a 2-1 lead in the fifth after Garcia-Perreira singled with one out, courtesy runner Quinton Collier stole second, advanced to third on Bryce Asao's groundout and scored on Dylan Oda's single to left.

The Owls led 3-1 in the sixth after Nik Alarcio was hit by a pitch with one out, stole second, took third on Isiah Kiner Falefa's sacrifice bunt and stole home.

Muenster started the Buffanblu's seventh-inning rally with a single to right, and -- after a flyout to center -- Loui followed with a single up the middle on a 3-2 pitch.

That set up Takayesu's ground single, followed by the game-tying wild pitch and Fong's clutch go-ahead double.

"I just had a hunch," said Harrison, who informed Fong about his surprise start about 90 minutes before the 3:30 p.m. first pitch. "I knew we had a lefty (Garcia-Perreira) matchup so we needed another right-handed bat, and the kid (Fong) works hard. He had two big hits today and that catch he made (in the fourth inning) was an ESPN highlight reel play. 

"He came through."

Fong said he was not overly nervous despite getting the starting nod on such short notice.

"I was excited to be playing the No. 1 team in the ILH," he said, "but I just felt I would do the best I can and see what happens. I didn't feel there was a lot of pressure."