Three-time defending state champion Punahou might be the team to beat again, but two teams are getting a head start. At least in scheduling.

'Iolani will play host to defending Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Kamehameha in the league season opener at 3:30 p.m. today. It is the only ILH game on tap, as most of the league gets started next week.

The Raiders moved up several games because they are going on a trip to Anaheim, Calif., later in the month to play four games against California teams.

Ready or not, the season starts with two teams stocked with returning starters.

Junior Kelsey Outram is scheduled to start for the Raiders against senior Ashkon Kuhaulua in a battle veteran right-handers.

"He throws hard, from mid-to-high 80s (mph)," 'Iolani coach Dean Yonamine said of Outram.

"Last year, (Kuhaulua) was more of a thrower," Kamehameha coach Vern Ramie said. "Now with a year under his belt, he's been changing speeds, hitting his spots. He has a good fastball."

Today's tough matchup looks to be a regular occurrence this year.

The Buffanblu, ranked 41st in the nation by Baseball America, returned from Maui, where they faced tough competition and still scored 10 or more runs in four games. They return most of their infield and all-state utility Jeeter Ishida, who is only a junior.

The Warriors, who won the ILH, but lost to the Buffanblu in the state championship, return three starting pitchers, including all-state right-hander Kapono Chang.

The Raiders return all of their infielders, including all-state first baseman Reyn Nagamine, who is just a sophomore.

"He'll be in the middle of our lineup," Yonamine said. "We'll be counting on him a lot."

Saint Louis is coming off a strong preseason that included a win against Kamehameha-Hawai'i in a Kaua'i tournament. Second-year coach Duane Fraticelli sees that as a good confidence-booster.

Mid-Pacific has an underclassmen-dominated team, but like most of the league, the players saw considerable action last season.

"Sometimes we forget they're juniors and sophomores out there," Mid-Pacific coach Dunn Muramaru said.

Pac-Five and Damien also return enough talented players to keep the league interest up until the end.

"If we can pitch, we'll be all right," Damien coach Terry Derby said.

DAMIEN

COACH: TERRY DERBY

Key players: RHP/DH Duncan Ebert; LHP Robert Cuizon; LHP Evander Ledward; CF Kai Higa; C Darby Ventura; 1B Scotty Talaesea; SS Travis Derby; 3B Bryson Namba; 2B Brennan Alejo; RF Dylan Mopas; LF Lyle Ishikawa.

IOLANI

COACH: DEAN YONAMINE

Key players: 1B Reyn Nagamine (first-team all-state in 2006); 3B Case Miyahira; 2B Brennan Nacario; SS Kela Marciel; RHP Kelsey Outram; RHP JR Bunda; C Grant Iwamoto.

KAMEHAMEHA

COACH: VERN RAMIE

Key players: LHP/CF Waylen Sing Chow; RHP/1B Ashkon Kuhaulua; RHP Kapono Chang (first-team all-state in 2006); 2B Pi'ikea Kitamura; 3B Parker McCready; RF Mitchell Kauweloa.

MID-PACIFIC

COACH: DUNN MURAMARU

Key players: C Aaron Fujiki; 1B Mike Nagamine; 2B Russell Doi; SS Wade Tamaru; 3B Seop Yoon; DH Easton Torigoe; LHP Matt McDaniel; RHP Rob Dittrick; RHP Dane Kinoshita.

PAC-FIVE

COACH: TODD KOISHIGAWA

Key players: RHP Ryan DeMello; RHP Samson Aina; 3B/SS Tony Onitsuka; OF/1B/LHP Ross Yamato; LF/DH Kama Moises.

PUNAHOU

COACH: ERIC KADOOKA

Key players: RHP/3B/1B Jeeter Ishida (first-team all-state in 2006); SS Josh Bninski, CF Matthew Suiter; RHP/3B/1B Paul Snieder; RHP/2B Reece Kiriu; C Zachary Kometani.

SAINT LOUIS

COACH: DUANE FRATICELLI

Key players: RHP Grant Costa; RHP Kamakani Usui; LHP Josh Saio; CF/RHP Tamatoa DeMello; U/RHP Kyle Gonzaga; LF/LHP/1B Jayson Fukumoto; SS Danny Higa; 2B Ryan Iaea.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.