Leilehua’s postseason revival started right at the top.

The Mules’ first two batters in the order — Chenoa Au and Tiana Cantero-Kawelo — combined to score five runs and drive in six in Leilehua’s 13-3 win over Kailua in the first round of the OIA Red softball playoffs Wednesday.

Au singled on the game’s first pitch at Kailua’s Bernard Victor Softball Field and Cantero-Kawelo followed with a triple to kick-start the Leilehua offense, and the Mules advanced to a quarterfinal matchup with Mililani, the top seed from the OIA Red West, on Thursday.

Leilehua (6-7) split its regular-season meetings with the Trojans, winning the first meeting, then dropping the second during a late-season slump. After finishing fifth in the OIA Red West, the Mules earned a rematch by surviving the one-and-done opening round of the OIA playoff bracket.

"We just keep reminding them the (regular) season is done," Leilehua coach Stacy Araki said. "We just told them whatever happened in that last part is done. This right here is a new season."

Araki said she moved Cantero-Kawelo into the middle of the order late in the regular season to try to shake up the offense. But the change didn’t take and she reunited Au and Cantero-Kawelo back at the top of the lineup for the playoff opener.

They responded by recording hits in each of their plate appearances in the first three innings.

"I think they’re comfortable being in a certain place in the lineup, so I got them back together again and I think it worked," Araki said.

After scoring Leilehua’s two runs in the first inning, they both delivered RBI singles in Leilehua’s three-run second inning to score Chasity Stalcup and Chloe Pojas. 

The Mules then broke away by sending 13 batters to the plate in a seven-run outburst in the third inning. Mahea Calizo’s RBI double scored Chelsea Lobitos with the first run of the inning and Calizo scored on Au’s single up the middle. Cantero-Kawelo drove in her third and fourth runs of the game with a single to right field.

"That’s Stacy’s style, the short game, very disciplined girls at the plate," Kailua coach Tamara Kaluau said. "No surprises, they executed, they were prepared to come and play. … Credit to Leilehua."

Leilehua pitcher Taezha-Ann Cordero allowed two hits and threw just 26 pitches in her three innings in the circle as the big lead allowed Araki to keep her fresh as the Mules moved on in the bracket.

"We have to save her," Araki said. "She’s going to be a workhorse."

Kailua, the fourth seed from the OIA Red East, rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning before ending its season at 6-7. 

The four winners of Wednesday’s first-round games — all from the OIA Red West — opened up multiple paths to the state tournament. The most direct route comes via a win in Thursday’s quarterfinals. The losers will still have a shot to advance through the fifth-place bracket.

Taezha-Ann Cordero, Chasity Stalcup (4) and Ash Salausa. Shaelyn Kumai-Farrell, Delcie Williams (3) and Leilani Lastimosa. W–Cordero. L–Kumai Farrell.

Leading hitters–Lei: Chenoa Au, 3-4, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Tiana Cantero-Kawelo, 3-3, 3B, 4 RBIs; Salausa, RBI; Shanaye Mattson, 3 RBIs; Chelsea Lobitos, 2-4; Mahea Calizo, 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs; Stalcup, 2-4; Chloe Pojas, 2-3, 3B, 3 runs. Kai: Teah Kauhi, 2B; Skyler Nojima, 2 RBIs; Kumai-Farrell, RBI.

OIA RED PLAYOFFS

Pearl City 6, Castle 0

Kristin Frost threw a two-hitter and homered to lead the Chargers by the Knights.  Pearl City plays at Waianae on Thursday.

Kristin Frost and Robi Kami. Brandee Lane and Ariel Hendricks. 

W–Frost. L–Lane.

Leading hitters–PC: Kami 3-5; Naomi Hernandez 2-4, 2 RBIs; Frost 2-4, HR.

Kapolei 6, Roosevelt 3

Laugatausala Pedebone struck out 13 batters to lead the Hurricanes over the Rough Riders. Shaycelynn Hoohuli batted 3-for-4 for Kapolei, which plays at Moanalua on Thursday.

Katie Debusca and DestinyHolani. Laugatausala Pedebone and Alecia Kupihea. 

W–Pedebone. L–Debusca.

Leading hitters–Roos: Holani 2b, RBI. Kap: Shaycelynn Hoohuli 3-4; Kamrynmae Kanae 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Makana Meyers 2 RBIs

Campbell 17, Kahuku 1, 5 Innings

Carah Morris, Kyra Hoohuli and Sierra Mariano homered for the Sabers. Campbell plays at Kaiser on Thursday.

K. Kaowili and J. Alo. Elisa Favela and Kiana Ulufale.

W–Favela. L–Kaowili.

Leading hitters–Kahu: Alo HR. Cam: Caragh Morris 3-4, HR, 3 runs; Kyra Hoohuli 3-runHR; Sierra Mariano 3b, HR; Nashlynn Anguay 3-3. 

Also

MIL 

Division II

SeaburyHall 9, Molokai 8

Baseball

Exhibition

Mid-Pacific 6, Kalani 2