Don’t look now, but the defending state champions are starting to find their form.

Saint Louis, respected enough to earn a No. 6 ranking in the Star-Advertiser Top 10 despite a sub-.500 record on Monday, won its fourth straight game, 10-5 over ‘Iolani, to move into second place in the ILH on Thursday at Ala Wai Field.

Travis Tanaka went 2-for-3 with a double and four RBIs and Pono Anderson added two hits and two RBIs for the Crusaders (6-5), who have defeated Kamehameha twice, Mid-Pacific and ‘Iolani in the past eight days.

"We’ve been struggling offensively all year but the last couple of games we’ve been better," Saint Louis coach George Gusman said. "Our starting pitching was not very good today, but it was only three runs (given up) and then we had our big inning."

‘Iolani (2-8) led 3-1 in the fifth when the Crusaders exploded for eight runs. Tanaka gave the Crusaders the lead with a two-run double and Brendan Uchima extended it with another double to score two more runs.

Anderson, who earned the win against Kamehameha on Wednesday to finish a game that was suspended two weeks ago, added a two-run single to turn the game into a blowout.

Tanaka, who had a sacrifice fly to score Saint Louis’ first run of the game, added an RBI single in the sixth

inning to make it 10-3.

"My approach got better," Tanaka said. "I really was struggling the past few games but it didn’t really matter because my team helped me out. They got the wins to start this winning streak and whatever I could do offensively really helped today."

Tanner Atiburcio, who threw a complete game in a win over Mid-Pacific last Saturday, couldn’t make it out of the third inning.

‘Iolani third baseman Pikai Winchester took an 0-2 pitch opposite field for an RBI double in the first inning and led off the third inning smashing a 1-1 fastball deep over the head of DJ Stephens in center for another double.

Catcher Josh Inaba doubled in Winchester for a 3-1 lead and chased Atiburcio after 22/3 innings.

Reliever Noah Abreu walked the only two batters he faced to load the bases before Royce Hirayama came in to get the inning-ending ground out.

Hirayama put up three consecutive zeros after that and left with one out in the seventh to earn the win.

"Royce is a guy that is always around the plate. He’s always been that way," Gusman said. "I’m glad for him to have some success. He’s somebody we can count on down the road."

Winchester, who along with Anderson have signed to play for Hawaii next season, left the game in the top of the sixth inning after diving for a foul ball.

‘Iolani coach Brent Shimokawa said it was a knee bruise and would know more about the extent of the injury on Friday.

"We need him," Shimokawa said. "He’s our beast."

at Ala Wai Field

Tanner Atiburcio, Noah Abreu (3), Royce Hirayama (3), Brendan Uchima (7) and Taylor Meilleur. Ezra Heleski, Kaimana Bartolome (5), Bronson Ichimura (5) and Josh Inaba. W–Hirayama. L–Heleski.

Leading hitters–StL: Travis Tanaka 2-3, 2b, run, 4 RBIs; Pono Anderson 2-4, run, 2 RBIs; Uchima 1-4, 2b, run, 2 RBIs; Keith Torres 0-1, 4 bb, 3 runs. Iol: Pikai Winchester 2-3, 2 2bs, 2 runs, RBI; Inaba 1-3, 2b, RBI; Everett Lau 2-3, run, 2 RBIs.

OIA RED EAST BASEBALL

Castle 17, Kaimuki 4

Peyton Yoshioka homered and drove in four runs while teammate Logan Madrina dove in three runs as the Knights defeated the

Bulldogs.

At Kaimuki

Sean Kamaunu, Bronson Josue (3), Keoki Gaspar-Takahashi (5), Noa Brown-Santiago (6) and Logan Madrina. Kobe Hedgar, Keith Masui (1), Reymundo Gomez Jr. (2), JC Palsis (6) and Tyler Fujita, Hedgar (6).

W–Brown-Santiago. L–Hedgar.

Leading hitters–Castle: Inoa Robello 2-4, RBI, 3 runs; Maui Gaison 3-5, 2b, run; Madrina 2b, 3 RBIs; Peyton Yoshioka 2-4, HR, 4 RBIs, run; Noah Sawyer 2b, run. Kaimuki: Austin Inouye 2-4, 2b, 3b, 2 runs; Masui 3-4, 2 RBIs, run.

MIL BASEBALL

Baldwin 5, Maui 2