The outcome of yesterday's Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball regular season finale between 'Iolani and Punahou had no significant bearing on the standings, since Punahou had already clinched first place and 'Iolani had locked up second.

But the three-time defending state champion Buffanblu enjoyed their 11-10 victory over their arch rivals just the same, completing a rare undefeated (12-0) run through the always-treacherous ILH schedule.

"Every time we play 'Iolani, it matters," said Punahou junior shortstop Josh Bninski, whose one-out single to center field tied the score at 10-10 in the bottom of the seventh inning. "We're still trying to win."

The next batter, Paul Snieder, then walked on a 3-1 pitch with the bases loaded to score Tyler Hanzawa with the winning run.

The victory clinches a spot for Punahou in the ILH championship game on May 4, should the Buffanblu fail to win next week's league postseason tournament. Only the ILH overall champion will receive a state tournament berth.

"It's still gonna take winning at least three more games," Punahou coach Eric Kadooka said. "It's important that we re-focus, because there's a chance we're going to have to go through everybody again."

True, but Kadooka, longtime 'Iolani coach Dean Yonamine and former longtime Punahou coach Pal Eldredge could not remember any team finishing the ILH regular season undefeated.

"We've just been fortunate," Kadooka said. "It's a tough schedule, and we just try to play hard every game. As long as we're one game ahead of everybody else, that's the main thing. Today was real unusual (having already clinched), but any time we play 'Iolani, we're gonna play hard."

Due to the circumstances, both teams started several reserves and changed pitchers often. 'Iolani (9-3) used seven different pitchers, and Punahou used six.

"Our approach was to throw different pitchers and give guys some reps," Yonamine said. "That's the first time (starting pitcher) Kela (Marciel) has thrown all year. If we're going to win this (ILH title), it's going to take six games, so we have to find some arms. We were still going for the win, but at the same time, our main objective was to give other guys some innings."

As a result, there were plenty of runs scored and errors on both sides. The Raiders took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Buffanblu tied it in the bottom of the second and then exploded for six runs in the third, helped by three errors.

'Iolani closed it to 9-8 in the sixth inning on Breland Almadova's three-run, inside-the-park home run after he hit a shot over the center fielder's head.

The Raiders went up, 10-9, in the seventh after Darren Sonobe hit a run-scoring triple and then scored on a wild pitch.

But Punahou answered with Bninski's RBI single to center and then the bases-loaded walk.

"It feels great," Bninski said. "All our games were close, but we still found a way to win."

'IOLANI (9-3) 300 113 2 — 10 7 7

PUNAHOU (12-0) 126 000 2 — 11 8 3

Kela Marciel, Robson Bunda (3), Dustin Shitanishi (4), Ronnie Hirokawa (5), Breland Almadova (6), Sean Takahashi (7), Sheldon Lee (7) and Ryan Barayuga, Grant Iwamoto (6); Evan Yamamoto, Jeremy Fujimoto (2), Evan Lim (4), Cheyne Okawa (5), Bryson Nakamura (6), Reid Okita (7) and Nick Lee, Travis Tanaka (4). W — Okita. L — Takahashi.

Leading hitters — 'Iolani: Almadova home run, 3 RBIs; Case Miyahira 2-4; Grant Liu triple, RBI. Punahou: Reece Kiriu double, 2 RBIs; Lee double, 2 RBIs; Josh Bninski 2-3, RBI.

MID-PACIFIC 9, KAMEHAMEHA 5

The host Owls (8-4) scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning and held off the Warriors (6-6) to finish in third place in the ILH for the regular season.

KAMEHAMEHA (6-6) 211 000 1—5 10 2

MID-PACIFIC (8-4) 500 031 X—9 8 0

Ashkhon Kuhaulua, Scott Fisher (5), John Worthington (6) and Lane Nakamura. Jeffrey Khan, Austin Sloan (4), Michael Nagamine (7) and Aaron Fujiki. W — Khan. L — Kuhaulua.

Leading hitters — Kamehameha: Keoni Lum 2-3; Waylen Sing Chow 2-3, homer, 2 RBIs; Mitchell Kauweloa double; Nakamura 2-3, solo homer; Piikea Kitamura 2-3. Mid-Pacific: Todd Nagamine 2-3, double, RBI.

Reported by Pua Hayashi

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.