Punahou earns highest ranking in 8 years

For the first time since the preseason poll in 2011 following a seventh straight state championship, the Punahou Buffanblu baseball team is ranked in the top two in the state.

Punahou (12-2 ILH), which can clinch its first back-to-back state tournament appearance since that run of state titles from 2004 to ’10 with a win over Kamehameha this afternoon at Goeas Field, jumped to No. 2 in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Baseball Top 10 released today.

The Buffanblu moved up a spot despite losing to Saint Louis on Saturday. The Crusaders also jumped a spot with Waiakea falling from No. 2 to No. 4.

The Warriors lost at Division II Kamehameha-Hawaii 5-2 on Saturday.

Baldwin, which was impressive in a sweep of Maui last week, received all 10 first-place votes and held onto the top spot for the seventh straight week dating back to the final poll of last season after winning the state title.

It matches the longest run at No. 1 since Mid-Pacific held the top spot for 15 straight weeks in 2013-14.

Campbell (7-1 OIA West) moved up a spot to No. 5 and KS-Hawaii, which is undefeated in the BIIF after beating then-No. 2 Waiakea, jumped up three spots to No. 6. It’s the highest ranking ever for KS-Hawaii in the history of the Star-Advertiser poll and it matches the highest ranking by a Division II team (Hawaii Prep and Maryknoll have also been No. 6 as a D-II team) in the eight-year history of the poll.

‘Iolani (9-5 ILH) continued its freefall down to a tie for seventh in the rankings with Mililani (8-1 OIA West).

After missing in the polls for the past two weeks, Kamehameha (9-5 ILH) made its return to the rankings at No. 9 ahead of No. 10 St. Francis (8-3 ILH), which is ranked for the third straight week.

MPI (five) and Maui (one) also received at least one vote.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser Top 10