The Falcons celebrate after winning the OIA Division II championship. CJ Caraang | SL

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Cherise Horita (11) launched a two-run homer over the left field fence in the third inning. CJ Caraang | SL

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KAKAAKO — The eight-year wait is finally over.

Kalani fought off Aiea, 4-3, in the final inning to win their first Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II title since 2010 at McKinley's Tiger Softball Stadium on Saturday.

The Falcons avenged last year's title defeat to Na Alii to cap an undefeated OIA season at 14-0 and received the league's seeded berth and first round bye in the state tournament in May.

"I'm proud of what our team has been doing and how far we've come," junior pitcher Cherise Horita said.

"We came close last year and we've been working on this for four years. Our seniors were freshmen and I told them it would be a process. Everybody worked hard and I'm proud of them. I told them to live for the moment, win or lose we did our best," Kalani coach Kellet Hussey said. 

Aiea (11-5) lost to Kalani twice in a three-day span back on March 27, 10-0, and 13-2 on March 29. However, the third time around proved to be tight from start to finish.

"Alan (Higuchi) is a great coach and we knew he was going to be prepared for us. We had to prepare for the other teams before us and Kaimuki was the most-improved and played us tough. I'm happy with what came about," Hussey said of the playoff journey.

Cherise Horita (11) launched a two-run homer over the left field fence in the third inning. CJ Caraang | SL    Purchase image

Horita once again got the job done in the circle and on the plate. In the first meeting she threw a perfect game with nine strikeouts and two days later tossed five strikeouts and allowed two runs. Tonight she recorded eight strikeouts, one walk for the win and went 2 for 3 to drive in two runs.

"She is what we lean on and she's a great leader. She shows her leadership on the mound and she follows the lead of the seniors and the seniors did a good job and they're a tight team," Hussey said.

Horita fanned Rachelle Strom-Okimoto and Brie Valenciano, but Jaenah Padasdao fired an 0-2 double to right field to keep Na Alii's hopes alive in the top of the seventh. Jernie Padasdao battled at the plate with a 3-2 count and fouling twice before flying it deep to Eeron Wong, who made the game-clinching out.

"It didn't surprise me," Hussey said of his team's mental toughness. "They've been tough and in the preseason and played a Division I schedule. We didn't win many but we had to be mentally tough to play the Campbell's and Pearl City's."

"My heart definitely stopped a little bit. It looked like it was going to go over. I trusted Eeron's speed and her glove and she made the catch and it was a really nice play," Horita said of the game-sealing catch.

Na Alii and the Falcons endured through two scoreless innings before April Kochi led off the bottom of the third inning with a single and Horita launched a two-run homer over the left field fence. Toni-Lynn Ibara singled to right and scored on Jazlyn Furuya's double for a 3-0 lead.

"I saw an inside changeup coming and I wasn't looking for anything big, I was looking for something small to start a rally going," Horita said on her home run.

In the top of the fourth, Horita struck out Kehau Arke and Mikelle Gonzales flew out to center for the first two outs, but Na Alii scattered five-consecutive hits to tie the game up. Mikayla Gonzalez and Jada Valenciano singled and scored on Strom-Okimoto's double. Brie Valenciano's pop single dropped feet away from the plate and Jaenah Padasdao's RBI hit to left tied the game up at 3 before Valenciano was picked off at third.

Despite giving up a five-hit, three-run inning, Horita would retire eight of the next 10 Aiea batters.

"Our defense did a solid job, especially the outfield. I want to thank the defense," Horita said.

Kalani recaptured the lead after Shandi Matsumoto reached on a fielder's choice then made it to third on Ibara's double. Kylie Pagud's sacrifice fly deep to left scored Matsumoto and the Falcons threatened with two walks to load the bases, but heads up defense by Aiea got the final out at home.

Aiea had a chance in the sixth with Gonzales' double but was caught stealing. Horita doused the threat by striking out Gonzalez, and Jada Valenciano flew out to center for the third out. 

Arke took the loss allowing eight hits, four runs, all earned, along with three walks and two strikeouts. The eight Na Alii hits tonight topped the seven-combined hits in the two regular-season losses.

"I knew they were going to come back strong and I knew their bats were going to be alive, but I tried to keep them off balanced," Horita said.

Both teams along with Kaimuki (8-7) and Waialua (10-5) earned spots to the DataHouse/HHSAA Division II Softball Championships running May 8-11.