Punahou pounces on Kaiser early


Punahou's Matt McConnell makes a throw to first for an out against Kaiser in the quarterfinals. CJ Caraang | SL

Punahou got enough offense going in the first two innings to advance.

The Buffanblu scored two runs apiece in the first two innings to down Kaiser, 4-1, Thursday evening at Iron Maehara Stadium in the quarterfinals of the Wally Yonamine Foundation Division I Baseball Championships.

Matt McConnell was also solid on the mound with five strikeouts in a complete-game performance to lift Punahou to the semifinals where it will meet Hilo Friday in a 4:00 p.m. semifinal.

Kade Morihara tripled and drove in two runs to lead the Buffanblu at the plate. Koa Eldredge also tripled and scored a run while Kirk Terada-Herzer batted 2-for-3 in the nine-hole spot.

Curtis Chung Jr. was the game's losing pitcher and was charged with all of the Buffanblu's runs.

Landon Shigeta replaced him in the second inning with no outs and pitched the rest of the way to keep Punahou at bay. He also drove in the Cougars' lone score of the game in the third inning.