Kalani's Reece Kakugawa celebrates as he reaches home plate to score the winning run in an eight inning walk-off win over Waipahu. CJ Caraang | SL

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WAIPAHU—Facing a full count with the bases loaded, Kohl Suehiro drove in the winning run to lift ninth-ranked Kalani (12-2 overall) past Waipahu (5-10 overall), 3-2 in eight innings in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I Playoffs semifinals at Hans L'Orange Park.

"I feel Kalani was due and this was the season," said Suehiro, who went 2-for-3 at the plate.

"It was so clutch and it was the first time I seen him hit in a situation like that. He's been due for one for a long time," said pitcher Duke Fujii, on Suehiro's hit.

The Falcons, the East's top seed, advance to their first OIA title game since 1971 to face Kailua at Hans L'Orange Park.

Waipahu finished sixth in the West standings, but they found new life in the playoffs as they knocked out Moanalua, 4-1 and beat No. 6 Mililani, 4-1 to get to this point. The Marauders will play Pearl City for third place on Saturday at 3 pm.

"The boys took it upon themselves and it was a good run with the Aiea game to get in and the Moanalua and Mililani games. I told them to keep their heads up," said Waipahu coach Jared Abreu.

Both teams clinched spots in the Wally Yonamine Foundation/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I Baseball State Championships that will be played at Iron Maehara Stadium on Maui.

Reece Kakugawa singled to left field to start the bottom of the eight inning and would advance to third on an error. Connor Zalewski flew out to right field for the first out and the Marauders decided to intentionally walk Bronson Matsumoto and Payton Awaya to load the bases. Staring at a 3-2 count, Suehiro hit a single to left field to score Kakugawa to win the game.

"I knew he had to throw to me because it was 3-2 and it was right there and I took a swing," said Suehiro.

"I told him he had to believe in himself. I had more faith in him and I told him in some point in time he had to step up and he did it big time especially with a full count," said Hirai. "

Duke Fujii pitched a complete-game to walk two and threw nine strikeouts for the win.

"I kept focus and tried to throw strikes mostly fastballs. I have to thank my team for everything, they scored runs for me and fielded for me," said Fujii.

"He's done it all year. He's a sleeper and he's just been lights out all year. This is probably his toughest test being in this situation. All guts and he was getting tired. What I was worried about his composure and he did a hell of a job," said Hirai.

"We battled, but that kid got some good stuff," said Abreu, on Fujii.

Waipahu drew first blood in the top of the first as Jaron Sugimoto singled to left field and Cole Phillips was hit by a pitch. Kobie Russell, a University of Hawaii commit, brought in Sugimoto with a RBI single to left. Russell went 2-for-2 for the game and Sugimoto was 3-for-4 and scored a run.

"It was hard luck in the first inning, but we had to bounce back from there," said Fujii. "The defense never gave up on anything and they are the best I could ask for."

Russell crushed a triple deep to right field that bounced off the fence to lead off the third inning. Fujii struck out Steven De Silva and walked Khaine Viliamu. Russell scored off of Michael Price's sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.

"It was a challenge and we had each others' backs," said Suehiro.

Suehiro led off the third inning with a single and moved to second off of Noah Nakamura's sacrifice bunt. Hunter Lau singled to score Suehiro and Jarryn Wee hit a single to left center to tie the game at 2.

Price pitched four innings to allow two runs, walked two and threw a strike before Gabriel Ballesteros came in to pitch the remainder of the game.

The Falcons got 10 hits for the game led by Zalewski, who went 3-for-4 and a double.

Waipahu had an opportunity to do damage in the seventh inning. Fujii struck out Blazsen Ferreira but Sugimoto singled to right center and Phillips doubled to left field. Russell was intentionally walked to load the bases. Fujii pitched himself out of a jam as he struck out De Silva and forced Viliamu to ground out to keep the Falcons going.

"Hard luck," said Abreu. "Someone had to win and someone had to lose."