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WAIPIO-The future looks bright for the Campbell Sabers.

Sophomore pitcher Summer Palipti made freshman catcher Kawehi Kahana's first-inning two-run home run stand up to lead the Sabers over Kailua, 2-1, on Good Friday for the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red softball championship at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.

It was the defending state champion's first league crown since 1992 and third overall. Campbell won the inaugural championship in 1977.

The Sabers, who lost in last year's OIA semifinals, but won the state title as an unseeded team, will draw a first-round bye in Division I state softball tournament May 3 to 6 at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. As defending champions, they are likely in contention for the top seed.

"It feels good to win this one," Campbell coach David Perreira said. "This is our third time trying since I've been coaching. It's first since '92 and we brought it back home. It's awesome."

Campbell's baby battery performed like season veterans in the spotlight of live TV. Palipti, who faltered in the seventh inning in the Sabers 7-6 semifinal win against Castle Thursday, was determined to finish.

She scattered six hits and a walk with three strikeouts, allowing her only run in the first inning. But Kahana got her off the hook in the bottom of the first when she crushed a two out, two-run home run to dead center against Kailua ace Shealee Koki.

"I tell them after the first game, they're no longer rookies," Perreira said. "They practice hard. We drill'em at practice the mental approach to the game, physical approach, being ready for games. I know they've got it. I got confidence in them."

Palipti had to be at her best because her counterpart, junior right-hander Koki, was solid herself, allowing just three hits and two walks with two strikeouts.

"It was awesome," Kahana said of Palitipi's performance. "We're like sisters. It can't get any more better than that."

Kailua coach Tamara Kaluau was impressed with the pitchers' duel.

"Awesome, both sides," Kaluau said. "Summer did awesome, Shealee did awesome. Great battle."

The Surfriders scored with two out in the first. Jayna Hanawahine lined a single to center and took second when center fielder Collette Black had trouble fielding the ball cleanly. Destinee Chang was hit by a pitch and Sharla Kumai-Farrell drilled a single to right to score Hanawahine .

But that lead didn't last long.

Koki walked Sabers' lead-off batter Sharae Esprecion on four pitches, but was forced out at second when Palipti grounded to third. Palipti was lifted for courtesy runner Cloey Ganancial, who stole second before Nicole Arata struck out. Kahana fell behind 1-2 before homering to center to give the Sabers the lead.

"That was a juice down the middle," said Kahana, whose brothers Robert and Rayven play on the Sabers' baseball team. "She just served me. I was thinking off-speed, but she gave me inside."

Kailua threatened in the second when Koki led off with a triple to center. But Palipti struck out Amanda Kaleo. Lindsey Farley beat out a grounder to third for a single, but third baseman Arata had froze courtesy runner Brianna Kassebeer at third. The runners could not advance again when Johnna Pedro grounded out to short and Toni Damo-Agcaoili grounded out to third to strand the runners.

Palipti allowed two singles and a walk over the next five innings, but no Kailua runner got beyond first base.

"It feels good," said Palipti, a catcher as a freshman last season. "We've been working all season just for this one since 1992. We finally got it."