Logan Yee figured out the antidote for a hot-hitting Saint Louis squad on a cool, overcast Tuesday afternoon.

The ‘Iolani relief pitcher clicked on contrary mode, using a 66-mph change-up to stifle a bases-loaded scenario for the visiting Crusaders, who had cut a six-run deficit to two runs. The Raiders held on for an 8-5 win at Father Bray Athletic Complex to open Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular-season play.

Top-ranked ‘Iolani used experience and consistency up and down the lineup to overcome a dangerous, young Saint Louis team that entered the game ranked No. 4 in the Star-Advertiser Baseball Top 10.

“We escaped with a victory. They battled,” Raiders coach Kurt Miyahira said. “Trevor (Ichimura) didn’t have his best stuff. He did his best, and Logan did a great job. Saint Louis is a good team. They swing the bat and they’re only going to get better and better.”

At one point in the midst of the Crusaders’ crowd-silencing comeback, they had 10 hits, one walk and one hit batter in their first 24 plate appearances. Yet, they still trailed when Yee entered in relief Ichimura.

“I know Saint Louis is always a fastball-hitting team,” said Yee, a senior. “I knew they would be excited. I slowed it down even more than I usually would.”

With ‘Iolani clinging to a 6-4 lead with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth, Yee struck out Kupono Loo on one of his slow-motion change-ups, then induced Noah Tory into a fielder’s choice groundout to end the threat.

Then came the bottom of the fifth, when Matt Inaba was hit by pitch and Micah Yonamine walked. Shane Sasaki’s sacrifice bunt proved pivotal when Cade Yonamine delivered a line-drive single to right, plating both baserunners to give the Raiders some breathing room with an 8-4 lead.

“I thought that ball was foul,” Saint Louis coach George Gusman said. “It was inside (the foul line) but landed foul.”

Yonamine politely disagreed.

“I was looking for a fastball, any pitch up and inside so I could get it to the outfield,” he said of the pitch from Saint Louis reliever Kanoa Meredith. “I saw it fair down the line. It could’ve gone either way.”

Yee continued along his way, undeterred by a solo shot to left field by Saint Louis’ freshman catcher, Caleb Lomavita, in the top of the seventh.

“We’re a very young team. For many of these guys, this is a step up, playing varsity baseball,” Gusman said. “They clutched up and we couldn’t. ‘Iolani’s got a lot of experience. They’re tough to beat.”

The Raiders scored twice in the first inning and four more times in the second against Saint Louis starting pitcher Richie Vidal. Leadoff hitter Shaydon Kubo and Inaba went after first pitches, resulting in a double and a single. Kubo came home on a sacrifice fly to center by Sasaki. Cade Yonamine then singled to center, scoring Inaba from second base for a 2-0 lead.

Preston Chong led off the bottom of the second with a double and Jacob Hinderleider singled. Aaron Ujimori singled to right, scoring Chong, and when the throw from right field went astray at third base, Hinderleider raced home to give the Raiders a four-run cushion.

Moments later, Inaba walked and Ujimori scored from third on a wild pitch. Micah Yonamine’s single to left brought Inaba home from second base for a 6-0 ‘Iolani lead.

The resilient Crusaders got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning. Lomavita (3-for-4) led off with a single before Stanley McKenzie (3-for-4) blasted a towering home run to left. With two outs, Tory walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. Cade Kashimoto, who also went 3-for-4, delivered a single, scoring Tory from second base.

The inning came to an end when Charles Lopez singled to right-center and Kashimoto fell after making a turn at second base. He was tagged out on the throw to the infield.

In the top of the fifth, with all momentum of their side, the Crusaders threatened again. Makana Ontai, Lomavita and McKenzie singled to load the bases with one out. Mathew Saelua walked to force Ontai in, cutting the score to 6-4.

Yee then entered and got his team out of trouble.

The Raiders don’t play again until Tuesday against Mid-Pacific. The Crusaders play Pac-Five, which moved to Division I this season, on Saturday at Ala Wai Field.