Mid-Pacific missed out on a state tournament berth last year for the first time since 2009. It was an uncharacteristic season for the Owls, who are used to grinding out games with sound fundamentals and disciplined hitting.

After Saturday morning’s 5-0 win over No. 5 Punahou at Ala Wai Field to improve to 2-0 in the ILH season, the third-ranked Owls appear ready to take a place back among the top teams.

“A lot better than last year. We have a statement to make,” senior pitcher Michael China said. “It was one of the worst seasons ever and we just have to prove that it was just that season, I guess.”

China tossed a gem for Mid-Pacific, going the distance and needing just 73 pitches to do so. The southpaw stifled the Buffanblu with his mix of speeds and locations, all from the same arm slot. He scattered four hits in seven innings with no walks and two strikeouts. He was also buoyed by a smooth defense that committed zero errors.

“It’s good when you shut the other team out,” Mid-Pacific coach Dunn Muramaru said. “China threw a good game. He did a really good job today. We hit the ball when we could, left a lot of runners but we shut them out. We did OK.”

The Buffanblu (1-1) trotted out Kahi Bisho, a Kansas signee, to start the game. Bisho displayed high velocity throughout his start, but labored through the first inning with 31 pitches. The senior gave up three hits and walked two in the first inning alone but got out with minimal damage. He got tagged with the loss, surrendering nine hits in four innings with two walks and a strikeout after 74 pitches.

Matt McConnell took over on the mound in the fifth for Punahou facing a 1-0 deficit. The Owls doubled their lead in that inning when Punahou first baseman Kade Morihara’s costly error with two outs allowed Cale Yoshino to score from second.

Yoshino scored again in the top of the seventh after a throwing error on a double steal allowed him to score from third. The Owls broke open the game after consecutive hits by Cameron Ching and Micah Pi, including Pi’s second double of the day.

Punahou coach Keenan Sue praised Mid-Pacific’s two-out hitting and defense and said that his squad can use it as a learning experience. He also hopes to see better outings from his ace, but appreciated his approach.

“I think Kahi didn’t have his A-game today,” Sue said. “He was probably at his 80 percent today, but he gave 100 percent of it, if that makes any sense.

“I think he felt that he got squeezed on a couple of calls in the first inning, but he didn’t let that bother him. He settled down after that and did a pretty good job.”

The Owls totaled 13 hits, highlighted by a 4-for-4 performance from catcher and cleanup hitter Mackenzee Higuchi, who is just a freshman.

“I was just looking for something to hit, something in the zone that I could drive,” he said. “I had to work hard during the offseason and to get here feels like a really big accomplishment to me.

“It’s been pretty surprising. I was expecting something a little different. It feels different but at least (Higuchi’s teammates) are happy and include me.”

Of the connection between Mid-Pacific’s battery, China said that it’s “really strong.”

“I mean, I knew this guy since 10, 11 years old,” China said. “I trusted him and he trusted me and we completed a game with no runs.”