Moments after Kalani’s OIA playoff win on Wednesday, Falcons coach Shannon Hirai was on the phone arranging transportation for a Thursday afternoon trek to Ewa Beach.

Hustling to handle the logistics of the quarterfinal game was a welcomed change for Hirai compared to the previous three seasons when the Falcons packed up the gear after a first-round loss.

Reece Kakugawa helped extend the Falcons’ season this time around with a complete-game performance on the mound and three hits at the plate and Kalani rolled to a 9-0 win over Waipahu at Kahala Community Park.

"It’s a big win for him and for us because we haven’t won the first game in three years," Hirai said.

"We told them what happened in the past. It’s just like an extended season, everybody starts brand new. If we can somehow get on a roll we can get into the state tournament."

By surviving the one-and-done opening round of the OIA Division I tournament, Kalani earned two shots at qualifying for the state tournament. The first comes Thursday when the Falcons drive west to face top-ranked Campbell, the OIA Red West champion, and a probable matchup against hard-throwing Sabers ace Ian Kahaloa.

"We’ve seen him in the summer," Hirai said. "It’s going to be a challenge."

The winner secures one of the OIA’s six state berths. The quarterfinal losers can still play their way in through the fifth-place bracket.

Before the Falcons could entertain such possibilities, they first had to end their trend of first-round exits and jumped ahead early against Waipahu. 

Kakugawa sparked a three-run rally with a leadoff single in the bottom of the second then stifled the Marauders on the mound. Relying primarily on a cutter, Kakugawa consistently worked ahead in the count and finished with seven strikeouts against two walks and held Waipahu to four hits.

"It wasn’t so much nervousness," Kakugawa said of getting the starting assignment with the season on the line, "it was getting mentally prepared to come here and focus and do what I have to do."

Waipahu was forced to alter its pitching plans when starter Justin Kaeka left the game with a hip injury after his second pitch of the second inning. Hunter Lau singled in Kakugawa with Kalani’s first run and Kohl Suehiro flared an RBI single into right field later the inning. 

The Falcons added three more in the third with Kakugawa and catcher Bronson Matsumoto hammering back-to-back doubles and Lau delivering his second RBI single. Jarryn Wee extended the lead by driving in runs in the fourth and sixth innings.

"This was a microcosm of our season," Waipahu coach Jared Abreu said. "We get down, can’t get back in the game and snowball effect. Next thing you know it’s 7-0."

Justin Kaeka, Michael Price (2), Oakland Scanlan (3), Dustyn Mori (6) and Grayson Fuentes. Reece Kakugawa and Bronson Matsumoto. W–Kakugawa. L–Kaeka.

Leading hitters–Waipahu: Rustin Ho, 2-2, 2B. Kalani: Jarryn Wee, 2 RBIs; Kakugawa, 3-3, 2B, RBI; Matsumoto, 2B, RBI; Hunter Lau, 2-4, 2 RBIs; Kohl Suehiro, RBI.

Leilehua 10, Castle 0

Trayson Kubo threw a no-hitter, striking out 10 and blanking the Knights in a mercy-rule shortened six-inning gem.

Kubo also helped himself at the plate where he drove in two runs and represented one of four Mule batters to collect two hits.

Leilehua advances to quarterfinal round to face East No.1 Kailua on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Ezekeil Keama, Stephen Lee (5) and Maui Gaison. Trayson Kubo and Kebi Dellatan. W–Kubo. L–Keama.

Leading hitters–Leilehua: Nainoa Paragoso 2-4, RBI; Trey Yukumoto 2-4; Dellatan 2-3; Kubo 2-3, 2 RBIs; Ricky Tagami 2 RBIs; Nolan Tumacder 2b, 2 RBIs; Ricky Van Gelder 2b; Jared Academia 2b, RBI; Jaryn Kanbara 3b.

Pearl City 3, Roosevelt 2

Dane Kaneshiro hit a walk-off single to left with two outs to help the Chargers advance.

Pearl City moves on to the quarterfinals to face East No. 2 Kaiser on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Aaron Emoto and Jared Tamashiro. Trenton Darley and Shaye Higa. 

W–Darley. L–Emoto.

Leading hitters–Roosevelt: Jonah Sasahara 2-3, 2b, RBI. Pearl City: Tyler Kushima 2-4, 2b; Matt Tsutomi 2-3, RBI.

Moanalua 5, Radford 4

Nicholas Enrico singled home Adam Tanoue in the home half of the seventh to propel Na Menehune to victory in walk-off fashion.

Moanalua advances to the quarterfinal round to face West No. 2 Mililani on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Landyn Bartness, Nickolas Martinez (4) and Dominic Albalos. Tanner Inouye, Dez Oki-Takahashi (7), Andrew Oasay (7), Skyler Yamamoto (7) and Kekaulike Kalua. W–Yamamoto. L–Martinez.

Leading hitters–Radford: Jacob Gonzalez HR, 3 RBIs; Jacob Nishitomi 3-4. Moanalua: Adam Tanoue 2 RBIs; Kenji Yamaguchi 3-3, 2b, RBI; Dilan Casupang 2b.

Other scores

MIL

Kamehameha-Maui 1, Lahainaluna 0

ILH SOFTBALL

No. 2 Maryknoll 14, St. Francis 3, 5 inn.

Shearyna Labasan doubled and drove in four runs as the Spartans defeated the Saints in a mercy-rule shortened contest.

Shearyna Labasan and Nohea Hee. Rasela Vili, Shaye Simms (3) and Jessica Hudson.

W–Labasan. L–Vili.

Leading hitters–Maryknoll: Shearyna Labasan 2b, 4 RBIs; Kamalei Labasan 2b, 2 RBIs; Chynna Mekaru 2-2, 2b, 2 RBIs; Shayna Ige 2-4; Tamia Hirano HR, RBI. Danielle Antolin 2-2. 

No. 3 Kamehameha 6, ‘Iolani 3

Mahina Sauer sparked a rally by opening the second inning with a home run as the Warriors defeated the Raiders.

Kama Dung and Rachel Ogasawara. Marcee Nakamura, Kennedi Lopes (3), Nakamura (5), Alyssa Espiritu (6) and Cassie Ho. 

W–Dung. L–Nakamura.

Leading hitters–‘Iolani: Kawai Scanlan 2-3; Ho 2b. Kamehameha: Mahina Sauer 2-2, HR, RBI; Jordan Millwood 2-2; Kiana Burnett 2-2, 2 RBIs.

No. 5 Punahou 10, No. 10 Mid-Pacific 7, 8 inn.

Bailey Akimseu was hot at the plate going 4-for-5 including a two-run double in the top of the eighth inning to help lift the Buffanblu past the Owls.

Jolie Fujita and Sara Jinee Buck. Kamaile Hanawahine, Breeze Morita (5), Kaili Akimseu (7) and Jenna Kumabe.

W–Fujita. L–Hanawahine.

Leading hitters–Punahou: Sarah Sumida 2-4; Janell Sato 2-3; Krystin Wong HR, 2 RBIs; Bailey Akimseu 4-5, 2b, 2 RBIs; Heaven Wong 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs. Mid-Pacific: Makenna Silva 2b, RBI; Lia Nakamoto HR, 2 RBIs; Nicole Lopez HR, RBI; Akimseu HR, RBI.

Pac-Five 14, Sacred Hearts 3, 6 inn.

Karley Ann Yoshioka collected a triple and three RBIs to help the Wolfpack blitz the Lancers.

Kaua Huihui-Awa and Divine Victorino. Megan Yoshioka and Kailee Russell. 

W–Yoshioka. L–Huihui-Awa.

Leading hitters–Sacred Hearts: Alexic Nono 2-3, 3 runs; Nichelle Chang 2b; Kiley Ozaki 2 RBIs; Malua Kaluau 2b. Pac-Five: Karley Ann Yoshioka 2-5, 3b, 3 RBIs; Shazzareigh Nakoa-Chun HR, RBI; Alisha Candelario 2 RBIs; Brazzlyn Tovio-Asato 2b, 2 RBIs.