After diving for a foul ball in a game Thursday, ‘Iolani’s Pikai Winchester got up gingerly and slowly limped back to his spot at third.

After the very next pitch, he came off the field.

Saint Louis went on to beat ‘Iolani 10-5, and after the game, Crusaders senior Pono Anderson walked over to the other dugout to check on Winchester, giving him a T-shirt.

For six years, dating back to their intermediate days, Anderson and Winchester, along with Kamehameha’s Kekai Rios, have battled each other again and again each spring.

They had always known of each other, but didn’t know much about the others.

"We’ve always been usually kind of the talks of our schools when we face each other because Saint Louis’ top guy was always Pono and Pikai was always the top guy at ‘Iolani, so we knew of each other," Rios said. "But we didn’t hang out or anything."

It wasn’t until last summer, when Anderson and Winchester played on the same travel team, that any of the two wore the same uniform.

All three will have to get used to it in the fall when they trade in their high school threads for University of Hawaii uniforms.

The Rainbow Warriors signed four players from Oahu to their 2016 recruiting class, but Campbell’s Ian Kahaloa is likely headed for the pro route as a high draft prospect.

Unless professional opportunities arise for the big three out of the ILH, they will all head to UH together with a chance to make a big difference for the hometown team.

"We’re excited because it should be a good experience," Anderson said. "I know I’m just excited that we’re all going to be on the same team and I don’t have to worry about (pitching against) them."

Their bond as the next group of Hawaii baseball recruits has brought them together. They admit they text each other regularly now and even hang out on the weekend.

But over the next two weeks, that may not necessarily be the case.

Rios and Winchester are chasing what Anderson achieved last season — a state championship — heading into the final week of the ILH season.

Kamehameha closes the regular season on Tuesday playing Mid-Pacific, while ‘Iolani hosts Punahou.

The Crusaders are a half-game up on the Warriors, who, with a win against the Owls, would force a tiebreaker against Saint Louis for second place in the regular season.

It could be a big deal in the tournament with only one state tournament berth up for grabs.

MPI has clinched the regular season title and first tourney berth. The winner of a potential tiebreaker would get the second state berth by either winning the tournament or finishing second to MPI.

"I think no matter what, we’re guaranteed to face Saint Louis (in either a tiebreaker or the first game of the tournament), and they always seem to throw Pono against us," Rios said. "So far this year he has our number and I don’t know what it is. He’s a gamer and that’s what I like about him."

Anderson has recorded three of his five wins against Kamehameha and given up one run in 17 innings.

His best performance of the season came in a 2-0 win in which he threw a three-hitter with five strikeouts.

"Yeah, that was one of my better ones," Anderson said. "But I’ve been giving up a certain amount of runs that I don’t really like. I’ve been off my game lately and have to bounce back and start throwing strikes again. I’ve got to keep my walks down."

Anderson gave up a season-high five runs last weekend against Punahou in his only start that didn’t go at least six innings.

Saint Louis still managed to pull out the win and has now won five in a row after starting the season 2-5.

"We had a four-game losing streak and none of us liked the feeling," Anderson said. "We’ve had to come together as a team."

Rios, who played shortstop last season, is back to his regular catching spot and has excelled.

In addition to hitting two home runs and batting over .350, Rios has negated the running game of every team he’s played.

In a game against ‘Iolani at Les Murakami Stadium, the Raiders got the first runner on, only for Rios to throw him out stealing second.

The next batter that got on was picked off at first on a quick throw from Rios after a called strike.

"(Catching) is where I’m most comfortable," Rios said. "I’m glad to be back there, but I’d play anywhere."

Winchester, who had to sit out Saturday’s loss to Kamehameha with a knee sprain, was fitted for a brace on Monday and wasn’t sure he’d be able to play Tuesday.

He’s hitting .455 with 11 RBIs and was especially good against Saint Louis before he got hurt, smacking an 0-2 breaking ball to the opposite-field gap for a double and then lining a 1-1 fastball in his next at-bat over the center fielder’s head for another extra-base hit. He has six total in 33 at-bats.

"I feel like I’m seeing the ball a lot better this year and I’m much more calm at the plate," Winchester said. "My hands, I guess, have gotten a lot quicker."

Anderson, who plays first base when he doesn’t pitch, always strikes up a conversation when either Rios or Winchester is standing on first.

Rios isn’t shy to say a few words to a hitter behind the plate, but knows better when Winchester steps to bat.

"No, I don’t say anything to him because he can (crush) the ball," Rios said.

Saint Louis coach George Gusman says he still hasn’t figured out how to pitch to Winchester.

"I don’t know what to do with Pikai," Gusman said. "If we go inside, he’ll hit the ball out. If we go away, he’ll drive the ball deep to left-center. That’s how good he is."

It’s also exactly what UH is looking for.

THE TOP 10

Voted on by coaches and media from statewide. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, etc.

BASEBALL

Also receiving votes: Kaiser 17, Kamehameha-Hawaii 7, Leilehua 5, Punahou 5, Maryknoll 4, Moanalua 3, Keaau 2. No longer ranked: Kaiser (No. 9), Punahou (No. 10).

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Also receiving votes: Punahou I-AA 9, Kahuku 6, Kalaheo 6, Lahainaluna 2, Hana 2, ‘Iolani 1.

SOFTBALL

Others receiving votes: Lahainaluna 13, Kailua 3, Kamehameha-Hawaii 2.