The way the Punahou baseball team has been going, all Saint Louis had to do was be patient enough to pick up another victory.

Pono Anderson worked into the sixth inning and Rayson Romero drove in a pair of runs as the Crusaders beat the Buffanblu 7-3 at Central Oahu Regional Park on Saturday.

Saint Louis improved to 5-1, while Punahou dropped to 1-5-1.

The Crusaders challenged the Buffanblu to throw first-pitch strikes, swinging at the first offering just 10 times, four of them on attempted sacrifice bunts. Punahou pitchers fell behind 22 of 38 batters and gifted the Crusaders with eight walks. It wasn’t a specific strategy by Saint Louis, just the way it goes about things.

"We have been trying to work on being patient," Saint Louis coach George Gusman said. "We talked a lot about not getting ourselves out. If it looked like we were (taking a strike) it wasn’t that way, it was just us being patient."

The patience paid off quickly for the Crusaders, who forced Punahou starter Bo Coolen to throw 31 pitches in the second inning and plated four runs.

Devan Stubblefield led off with a single to left, and after Jacob White popped a bunt attempt to the pitcher, Ryder Kuhns singled through the hole on a hit and run, and Tanner Atibucco and Brendan Uchima followed with five-pitch walks to force in the first run for Saint Louis.

Romero plated two more on a double to the gap in right field, and Saint Louis scored another on an error on a tough play by Punahou second baseman Allan Dong.

The Buffanblu, who lost to Mid-Pacific 15-3 late Friday night at the same complex, fought back with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Mason Asato drove in a pair of runs with a single to right field and came in to score on a single to center by Cole Cabrera.

Anderson got out of the dilemma by forcing Aaron Fong to ground out to third, the third of 11 ground-ball outs for him in the game. The Buffanblu loaded the bases against him in the fifth, but Anderson got out of it with another ground ball on an inside curveball to Asato.

"I probably shouldn’t have been in that situation in the first place," Anderson said. "But once I did it was just focusing on first-pitch strikes and keep the ball low to provide ground balls for my infield."

Anderson fell into a little bit of trouble in the sixth, but Peyton Oshiro took his place and struck out Cole Kanazawa with a runner on first.

Oshiro then closed the door in the sixth on a single, a double play and strikeout.

The Crusaders play ILH top dog Mid-Pacific at Central Oahu Regional Park on Wednesday.

Punahou will try to get its first win since March 12 when it plays Kamehameha at Hans L’Orange Park on Friday.

"It’s tough, hopefully the kids’ heads are still on straight," Punahou coach Kenny Harrison said. "We still have a chance, plus you have a tournament, too, so it’s not time to pack it in yet."

Pono Anderson, Peyton Oshiro (6) and Jordan Yamamoto. Bo Coolen, Josh Winkler (3), Michael Viola (6) and KJ Harrison.

W–Anderson. L–Coolen.

Leading hitters–StL: Rayson Romero 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Ryder Kuhns 2-4, RBI.

Pun: Harrison 2-4, 2b; Mason Asato 2-3, 2 RBI. 

OIA RED EAST

Moanalua 9, Castle 3

Kenji Yamaguchi went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs to lead Na Menehune past the Knights.

Jeremy McGoldrick went 2-for-3 with a run for Castle.

Tanner Inouye, Jorden Takushi (6) and Brayton Sakai. Logan Madrona, Bronson Josue (6) and Jordan Harvest.

W–Inouye. L–Madrona.

Leading hitters–Moan: Kenji Yamaguchi 3-3, run, 2 RBIs. Cas: Jeremy McGoldrick 2-3, run.

Kaiser 6, Kalaheo 2

Jeshua Bitanga had two hits and drove in two runs as the Cougars defeated the Mustangs.

Luis Omphroy, Noah Sakatani (4) and Kelan Yoshioka. Iokepa Lapera and Kaliu Lapera. W–Sakatani. L–Lapera.

Leading hitters–Kalh: Thomas Capllonch 2-4; Jack Bell 2-3; Chase Focht 2-4, 2b, RBI. Kais: Shawn Miyashiro 3b; Omphroy 2-3, RBI; Jeshua Bitanga 2-3, 2 RBIs.

OIA RED WEST

Leilehua 5, Mililani 3

Ricky Van Gelder had two hits, including a double as the Mules defeated the Trojans.

Cole Nakachi, Micah Chinen (6) and Blaine De Mello. Wayne Abear, Mikah Takashige (7) and Cody Segawa.

W–Abear. L–Nakachi.

Leading hitters–Mil: Dallas Chung 2-3; Justice Nakagawa 3b. Lei: Ricky Van Gelder 2-3, 2b.

Waipahu 11, Pearl City 0, 5 inn.

Dylan Sugimoto had two hits, including a home run, as the Marauders shut out the Chargers.

Tanner Tokunaga, Chevy Sumile (2), and Shaye Higa. Dylan Sugimoto and Patrick Villanueva.

W– Sugimoto. L–Tokunaga.

Leading hitters–Waip: Sugimoto 2-3 HR; Shiloh Baniaga 2-3; Villanueva 2-3; Ohaland Scanlon 3-3; Colby Russell 2-2, 2b, 3b.

OIA WHITE

Waianae 24, McKinley 3

The Seariders’ offense exploded in the seventh inning, scoring 20 runs in their win over the Tigers.

Darion Domingo went 4-for-4 with double, triple and home run for Waianae.

Sheaven Delima-Fereira, Kaleo Chun (3), Iokepa Kaauwai (7) and Ejay Kuakini, Darion Domingo (3), Kuakini (7). Noah Diaz, Jantzen Hatakenaka (7), Chevas Pacheco (7) and Chevas Pacheco.

W–Chun. L–Diaz.

Leading hitters–Wain: Kekoa Kaluhiokalani Jr. 2-5, 2b, 3 runs; Cameron Cardus 2b, run, 2 RBIs; Delima-Fereira 2b, Tavita Lalau 3-4, 3b, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Darion Domingo 4-4, 2b, 3b, HR, 3 runs, 3 RBIs; Kaauwai 3b, run, 2 RBIs; Niko Kala-Mahiai 2-3, 2 runs, 3 RBIs. McK: Kennedy Togafau 2b, 3 RBIs. 

Kaimuki 13, Kahuku 12

Kevin Maligon had three hits and drove in five runs to lead the Bulldogs past the Red Raiders.

Kevin Maligon, Austing Inouye (3), Jason Herrera (7) and KB Palsis. Josaiah Vea, Isaiah Aipia, (1) and Nassem Au, Hiapo McCandles (3). W–Inouye. L– Aipia.

Leading hitters–Kaim: Inouye 2-3, 2b; Herrera 2-4, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Maligon 3-4, 3 runs, 5 RBIs. Kah: Moon Parkin 3b, 2 runs; J.P. Heuchling 3-4, 4 runs; Vea 2-3, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Clifford Samseyer 2-4; Aipia 2-4, 3b. 

Radford 7, Farrington 2

Ethan Harms went 2-for-3 as the Rams beat the Govs.

Kody Leiu, LJ Sio (5) and Austin Riley-Echiberi. Caleb Myers, Kevin Klein (4), Nickolas Martinez (6) and Dominic Albalos, Dylan Cox (6). W–Myers. L–Leiu.

Leading hitters–Farr: Jordan Sataraka 3b, King Togia 2b. Rad: Ethan Harms 2-3; Albalos 2b; Brett Morrow 3b.