The Punahou Buffanblu have withstood the turbulence of the high-pressure storm known as ILH baseball.
As of Saturday, with a 4-2 win over Saint Louis, the Buffanblu (10-7) find themselves sharing the drivers’ seat of the league’s double-elimination playoff tournament.
“This is more like a fresh start to the season,” pitcher/designated hitter Noah Goss said. “We could get back at these guys because they swept us.”
It wasn’t just about Geoffrey Moore’s poised performance on the mound or the timely hitting of Cole Cabrera, Goss, Logan Williams, Easton Takamoto, Andrew Matsueda and more. It was more about Punahou’s growth over the ILH season.
It began with a tough loss at Mid-Pacific for an exuberant, occasionally overexcited bunch. So much so that one baserunner failed to step on home plate a moment after a teammate had clouted a home run. That cost Punahou two precious runs in a close loss.
The intensity remains, but the mellow maturity is the result of renewed focus and the rough road of the ILH. Coach Keenan Sue is beyond impressed by his team’s inner growth. And toughness. Junior Riley Guieb, who got the final five outs for a save, is prepared to do what it takes.
“If they need me to do something, my arm is OK,” he said.
He confessed, though, that even if his arm hurt a little, he’d say it was OK anyway.
“As long as I can throw effectively, spot start, close, start, I’m ready,” Guieb said.
Punahou, which rose four spots to No. 6 in the today’s Star-Advertiser Baseball Top 10, meets regular-season winner Mid-Pacific today at CORP (3:30 p.m.).
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