The mark of a good pitcher, it's been said, is to win even without your best stuff.

And Iolani senior Wally Marciel is a good pitcher.

Marciel, a hard-throwing left-hander, struggled with his command yesterday but still managed to toss a four-hitter and help the Raiders defeat visiting Mid-Pacific, 8-5.

Iolani, which lost its first regular-season game Tuesday, improved to 4-1 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu to regain sole possession of first place. MPI dropped to 3-2.

The Raiders scored four runs in the third inning — highlighted by freshman Reyn Nagamine's towering three-run homer over the right-field fence — to lead 5-1. But the Owls scored four runs in the fifth to tie it at 5-5 after two hits, two walks and a hit batter.

Iolani answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame, after Jarvis Nohara dashed home on a flyout in foul territory and Marciel blooped an RBI double to short left field. C.J. Johnson then smashed a solo home run to make it 8-5 in the seventh.

Marciel allowed only one base runner (on a walk) in the final two innings. He threw 90 pitches — including 22 in the first inning — and finished with two strikeouts, four walks and two hit batters.

"I felt good before the game, but in the first couple of innings I couldn't find my release point and everything was going high," said Marciel, who has signed a national letter of intent with Kansas. "I had a slow start, but I just had to come back and adjust."

Mid-Pacific coach Dunn Muramaru said his young team helped out Marciel more than it should have, and Marciel took advantage.

"We let him off the hook — getting a 2-0 count and swinging at ball three, swinging the bat in a sacrifice situation ..." Muramaru said. "But give him credit; he's tough and he knows how to win."

Raiders coach Dean Yonamine said he had confidence in Marciel, a four-year varsity starter, despite his struggles.

"Wally's a veteran and he's a battler," Yonamine said. "We knew he'd find his way out of it."

MID-PACIFIC (3-2) 100 040 0 — 5 4 2

IOLANI (4-1) 104 021 X — 8 12 1

Rick Goto, Austin Sloan (2), Kase Kaneko (3), Robert Dittrick (5) and Aaron Fujiki; Wally Marciel and Jarvis Nohara. W — Marciel. L — Dittrick.

Leading hitters — MPI: Fujiki 2-4, 3 RBIs. Iolani—Marciel 2-3, double, RBI; Case Miyahira 2-3, RBI; C.J. Johnson 2-4, home run; Reyn Nagamine home run, 3 RBIs; Mike Hirokawa 2-4; Nohara 2-2.

SAINT LOUIS 8, DAMIEN 1

Justin Doane drove in four runs, including a three-run homer in the fifth inning, and the Crusaders beat the Monarchs at Mid-Pacific.

Gavin Mendez allowed one run over five innings and struck out six Damien batters in the win.

SAINT LOUIS (2-3) 200 041 1 — 8 10 1

DAMIEN (1-3) 100 000 0 — 1 8 4

Gavin Mendez, Kamakani Usuf (6) and Justin Doane. Evander Ledward, Jonathan Awa (6), Oliver Taoy (6) and Kai Higa. W — Mendez. L — Ledward.

Leading hitters: Saint Louis — Cameron Bayne 2-4, double, 2 RBIs; Doane 2-4, homer, 4 RBIs; Rick Miyamoto 2-4. Damien — Taoy 2-3, double; Duncan Ebert double.

Reported by Donnie Martin

KAMEHAMEHA 3, PUNAHOU 1

Aaron Nichols hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the fourth inning and Kapono Chang allowed one run over five innings to lead the Warriors past the Buffanblu at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

Ashkon Kuhalua pitched two scoreless innings to earn the save.

KAMEHAMEHA (3-3) 000 210 0 — 3 7 1

PUNAHOU (1-3) 100 000 0 — 1 6 0

Kapono Chang, Ashkon Kuhalua (6) and Stuart Kam. Scott Hiramoto, Jeeter Ishida (5) and Zachary Kometani. W — Chang. L — Hiramoto. S — Kuhalua.

Leading hitters: Kamehameha — Waylon Sing-Chow double; Aaron Nichols 2-4, 2 RBIs. Punahou — Maika Murashige 2-3, double; Matt Suiter 2-2, double.

Reported by John Krason

OIA EAST

KAISER 9, KALANI 8

Russell Sasaki gave up two runs over 4 2/3 innings and the Cougars held on to edge the Falcons at Kahala Field.

Terrence Lum drove in three runs for Kalani, which scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Kaiser is tied with Kailua and Moanalua atop the Eastern Division at 4-1.

KAISER (4-1) 202 140 0 — 9 11 0

KALANI (4-2) 000 206 0 — 8 8 6

Russell Sasaki, Evan Garcia (5), Andy Uehara (6), Scott Uehara (6) and Jarryd Maeda. Micah Takahashi, Jordan Sumida (1), Darren Takemoto (3), Shamus Kumashiro (5) and Jason Lee. W — Sasaki. L — Takahashi. S — S. Uehara

Leading hitters: Kaiser — S. Uehara 3-4, double, 2 RBIs; Mychael Kawashima RBI; Maeda 2-4, RBI; Kahanu Chan 2-3, RBI; Alex Talavera RBI; Noel Okuma RBI, 2 runs; Colby Ho 2 runs. Kalani — Joshua Markwith 2-5, RBI; Jordan Sumida RBI; Ridge Carpenter 2-3, 2 RBIs; Kumashiro RBI; Terrence Lum 3-3, double, 3 RBIs; Chris Pieper 2-3.

Reported by Shannon Hirai

MOANALUA 10, KAIMUKI 0

Shaun Kaulukukui, Keith Kunitake and Jordan Hirata combined on a three-hitter and Na Menehune routed the Bulldogs.

Peter Arakawa homered and doubled for Moanalua.

KAIMUKI (0-4) 000 000 — 0 3 2

MOANALUA (4-1) 422 101 — 10 12 2

Kamahoi Goodman, Ikaika Ayers (3), Swaine Seto-Mook (5) and Chase Nanod. Shaun Kaulukukui, Keith Kunitake (4), Jordan Hirata (6) and Wayde Iwanaga, Bryce Onaga (3), Sheldon Mow (4). W — Kaulukukui. L — Goodman.

Leading hitters: Kaimuki — Daren Muramoto 2-2. Moanalua — Peter Arakawa 2-2, double, homer; Jordan Monico triple; Trevan Kawaoka double; Devin Nakama double; Mow double; John Estores 2-3.

Reported by Monique Albano

OIA WEST

MILILANI 7, RADFORD 3

Ryne Miyamoto drove in three runs and the Trojans beat the Rams.

Kylen Cadiam gave up three runs over six innings to earn the victory.

RADFORD (2-2) 101 001 0 — 3 9 1

MILILANI (3-3) 030 031 X — 7 10 0

Wes McCormick, Justin Lord (5) and Chris Strutz. Kylen Cadiam, Bryce Rivera (7) and Richie Mariano. W — Cadiam. L — McCormick.

Leading hitters: Radford — Kyle Blair 3-4, 2 runs; Jesse Mayeaux 2-3. Mililani — Ryne Miyamoto 2-3, 3 RBIs; Tojo Ishida 2-3.

Reported by Dean Sato

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.