Defying its greatest odds yet, Punahou rode a freshman arm to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Kailua last night and claimed a record sixth straight Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA Baseball Division I State Championship.

A vocal crowd of 3,291 at Les Murakami Stadium watched the Buffanblu finish 15-8 in the regular and postseason and finish on top despite losing seven starters — including several now playing NCAA Division I ball — from last year's lineup.

"It just makes it that much sweeter," said senior pitcher Jeremy Fujimoto, who earned the save last night and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after notching a victory and two saves in four games. "Being a senior, I couldn't ask for anything more."

Fujimoto came on in the top of the sixth inning after the Surfriders closed to 3-2 with two runs off freshman starter Zachery Muenster. With a large, blue-clad Kailua cheering section reaching a crescendo, Fujimoto got a strikeout to end the rally and strand runners on first and third.

He then struck out the first two batters in the seventh and got the final out on a grounder to third. Fujimoto's outs came against the top four batters in the Surfriders' lineup.

"(Fujimoto) was throwing hard, and he was also mixing speeds," Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said. "They're intelligent baseball players, and I give (Punahou coach Eric Kadooka) credit. He does the work in the offseason, preseason and regular season. They're very well-coached, well-prepared."

The Buffanblu took a 3-0 lead with single runs in the first, second and fourth innings.

They made it 1-0 in the first after Michael Suiter was hit by a pitch to lead off, stole second and scored on Alaka'i Aglipay's two-out single to right field.

The Buffanblu got their leadoff man, Tyler Hanzawa, aboard again in the second after he walked on four pitches. Hanzawa then advanced to second on Ryan Yamane's sacrifice bunt and to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Dylan Leong's groundout to second.

Punahou made it 3-0 in the fourth, again after getting the leadoff batter (Hanzawa) aboard, this time on a double. He moved to third on another sacrifice bunt by Yamane and scored on a wild pitch.

"That's our game," Kadooka said. "We want to put pressure on, get guys into scoring position and just believe in the next guy."

Muenster, meanwhile, gave up five hits but no runs over the first five innings. He played the entire regular season on the JV and was called up to the varsity only after the Buffanblu secured their state tournament berth by beating Mid-Pacific in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's third-place game on April 30.

Muenster was the winning pitcher in Thursday's quarterfinal victory over No. 1 seed Pearl City, and got the call just before last night's game after Kadooka penciled in another starter.

"I didn't think I'd get the call (to pitch) in this tournament," said Muenster, a right-hander. "I thought I'd be here just for support."

He finally ran into trouble in the sixth, when courtesy runner Chason Louis-Soares scored on Bob Lastimosa's bloop two-out single to right. Sophomore Marcus Yoshii then came on in relief, but Lastimosa — who advanced to second on an outfield error and to third on Elia Lono's bloop single to right — scored on an infield error.

Fujimoto then came in and got the inning-ending strikeout.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. Read his blog on high school sports at www.preptalk.honadvblogs.com

KAMEHAMEHA 4, MOANALUA 1

Jacob Meyer went 2 for 2, including a run-scoring single, as the Warriors took third place.

KAMEHAMEHA (19-6) 120 001 0—4 9 2

MOANALUA (13-6) 000 100 0—1 4 2

David Lee, Tucker Troy (3), Jordyn Ah Chong (5), Alika Pruett (6) and Keanu Carmichael, Preston Hao (3), Brawnson Adams (5), Josh Wong (7). Regan Lum, Jordan DuPonte (3) and Jordan Paulachak, Brandon Kong (3). W — Ah Chong. L — Lum.

Leading hitters — Kamehameha: Jacob Meyer 2-2, triple; Kainoa Inafuku double. Moanalua: none.

'IOLANI 5, PEARL CITY 0

JR Bunda pitched a three-hitter, striking out three and walking none, for the Raiders in the fifth-place game.

PEARL CITY (16-2) 000 000 0—0 3 1

'IOLANI (20-5) 302 000 X—5 8 0

Micah Nakasone, Edwin Izumigawa (2), Jordan Schweitzer (3), Isaac Shim (3), Royce Murai (4), Kahana Neal (5), Chace Numata (6) and Carlton Tanabe, Kory Nakamura (4). JR Bunda and Grant Iwamoto. W — Bunda. L — Nakasone.

Leading hitters — Pearl City: none. 'Iolani: Breland Almadova 2-3; Jarrett Arakawa 2-3, double, 2 runs; Bunda 2 RBIs.

MILILANI 3, WAIAKEA 1

Travis Inouye had an RBI triple and Travis Goto had an RBI single in a two-run sixth to lift the Trojans in the consolation final.

WAIAKEA (12-4) 000 010 0—1 3 1

MILILANI (11-8) 001 002 X—3 3 0

Jacob Marciel, Sheldon Shishido (3), Matthew Loeffler (4), Michael Kenui (6) and Bryson Aoki, Raycen Wong (5). Preston Pacolba, Devin Oda (5), Micah Kajiwara (6), Brent Dubuque (7) and Jacob Matsukawa, Kasey Miyasato (5). W — Kajiwara. L — Kenui.

Leading hitters — Waiakea: none. Mililani: Travis Inouye triple.