Mid-Pacific courtesy runner Jarrod Infante scores one of game-high three runs against the Buffanblu. CJ Caraang | SL

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Mid-Pacific courtesy runner Jarrod Infante scores one of game-high three runs against the Buffanblu. CJ Caraang | SL

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WAIPAHU — The rubber match between the two teams turned out to be one-sided affair.

Chase Wago and Ryne Yamashiro combined for six hits and five RBIs to back the strong pitching of Alex Oley to lead No. 2 Mid-Pacific over No. 6 Punahou, 10-3, Friday night at Hans L'Orange Park.

Combined with Kamehameha's loss to Maryknoll earlier, the Owls (9-3) moved into sole possession of first place in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I.

Winning pitcher Oley threw six innings, allowing two runs, seven hits and two walks, while striking out two. Three relief pitchers pitched in the seventh inning, including Wago, who retired two batters, striking out one of them. 

Punahou starter Noah Goss, who started in all three meetings with the Owls, was tagged for five runs (four earned), eight hits and a walk with one strikeout as the Buffanblu dropped to 6-6 in the league standings.

The Owls pounded out 14 hits, but Wago's double was the only one for extra bases. Wago batted 3 for 4, scoring twice and driving in two. Yamashiro was 3 for 3 with a run scored and three RBI.

"Now we've been coming around with our hitting," said Wago. "In the beginning of the season it was hard to get hits, we had to squeeze runs and things like that. Now we're starting to get the hang of it.

A five-run top of the seventh essentially sealed the game for the Owls, winners of six in a row. Ironically, their last loss was to Punahou, 6-5, on March 18.

Mid-Pacific swung the bats early and plated two runs in the top of the first. A fielder's choice to put out leadoff hitter Jacob Maekawa at second allowed Oley to reach first safely and Wago's double to right field drove in courtesy runner Jarrod Infante for the first run of the game. Wago would later score on Cameron Wong's sac fly two batters later.

"Since they beat us the last time, I felt like this time we had to come out banging," said Wago. "Luckily we did that. Hats off to Goss, he did a great job. He kept us off balanced and he had me a couple of times."

Punahou leadoff hitter Cole Cabrera was able to score on Easton Takamato's RBI triple in the bottom of the first, but Mid-Pacific added another run in the top of the third to maintain a two-run lead.

Even when the Buffanblu made it 3-2 after four innings, the Owls still racked up runs and hits on the box score on inning later to make it a three-run game.

"When you hit the ball real well, if you don't play well on the defense and stuff it just kinds of cancels that stuff out," said Mid-Pacific coach Dunn Muramaru.

Punahou was able to get a bases loaded situation with one out thanks to two Mid-Pacific errors in the bottom of the fifth, but Oley struck out Noah Loughlin and Andrew Matsueda flew out to center field to end the frame.

"We didn't execute on offense at all," said Punahou coach Keenan Sue. "With Mid-Pac, if you make mistakes they're going to capitalize on it, that's why they're such a good team. They made mistakes as well that we didn't capitalize on. We really didn't deserve to win that game." 

Riley Guieb took over for Goss in the sixth and pitched one and one-third inning before getting pulled. Guieb, Kahi Bisho and David Zane all took turns pitching in the seventh to stop the bleeding from the Mid-Pacific offense.