Cherise Horita throws a pitch to the plate against Aiea. She tossed 10 strikeouts and homered twice in the Falcons' win. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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PALOLO VALLEY — Cherise Horita excelled in the circle and at the plate to help Kalani roll Aiea, 13-4 for a key league win Tuesday afternoon.

The freshman pitcher homered twice and tossed 10 strikeouts in a complete game effort to help the Falcons improve to 7-2 in league play. 

The victory gives Kalani a half-game lead over Aiea (7-3) for second place in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II standings. The top two teams in the standings at the end of the regular season will clinch a berth into the Division II state tournament and a first round bye in the league's six-team Division II playoffs.

"(This) was pretty big because it gives us motivation for playoffs and it lets me and our team know that we got it and it just boosted our confidence," said Horita. 

Horita located her zone well early on and got ahead in the count against most of the batters she faced to notch her sixth win of the year.

"Cherise, for a freshman pitcher, is about a year ahead of her time," Kalani coach Kellet Hussey said on Horita. "She's still learning on her pitches and what she's doing, but she's really growing up."

Kalani set up the short ball early on with bunts before taking advantage of Palolo Valley District Park's open outfield in the later innings. The Falcons racked up 12 total hits and used a five-run fourth inning and a four-run fifth inning to put the game out of reach for Na Alii.

In addition to her two home runs, Horita was 3 for 3 at the plate with a season-high four RBIs and three runs scored. Cleanup hitter Toni-Lynn Ibara added two runs and a 3 RBI home run and leadoff hitter Jacianne Furuya batted 2 for 3 with an RBI and three runs to round out Kalani's top batters.

It was the Falcons' second win over Aiea this season.

"I don't know why, but we just play better the second time around we see somebody," said Hussey. "The understand what the pitchers (are doing) so they bat way better. I'm proud of them today."

Chantelle Shimabukuro took the pitching loss for Aiea and was chased after four and one-third inning after being charged with 11 hits and 10 runs, seven earned.

Furuya, the lone senior in the lineup, started the bottom of the first inning off with a ground ball that rolled through the middle of the infield. April Kochi followed with a bunt single and Horita moved both runners over with a sac bunt.

The Falcons got its first run of the game thanks to an uncaught strike three. With catcher Mikelle Gonzales and first baseman Piikea Tauala combining to get Ibara out, Furuya was able to score from third. Kalani doubled its lead one batter later when Kylie Pagud reached on an error, allowing Kochi to score to make it 2-0.

"We had a couple of plays that we should have made," said Aiea coach Alan Higuchi.

Horita added to the Falcons' lead with a solo home run in the third inning. Aiea's left fielder was camping in shallow territory, which allowed Horita's hit to go deep into the open field.

Ibara followed suit with a hit into right field that was misplayed by Na Alii. The error allowed the ball to roll into another field to give Kalani a 4-0 lead.

Aiea got on the board with a run in the fourth, and three more in the fifth, but could not stop the Falcons' offense. Ibara's 3 RBI home run powered a five-run fourth inning and Horita's final deep ball plated two runs in the fifth inning.

"Most of the fields that we play in usually have a fence, but it was still good shots," said Higuchi. "They still hit the ball hard."

Shimabukuro led Na Alii at the plate with two hits, one double and a run scored.