Kamehameha coach Tommy Perkins had a strategy to keep starter Codie Paiva fresh for the next three days of the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Baseball Championships.

To do that, he needed his offense to jump out to an early lead.

The Warriors did just what their coach wanted, scoring seven runs in the first two innings, allowing Perkins to pull Paiva after six outs in a 9-4 win over Kaiser on Wednesday night in the first round of Division I play at Les Murakami Stadium.

By HHSAA rule, a pitcher may pitch a maximum of 48 outs but no more than 39 outs on three consecutive days. Paiva can pitch 42 more outs if he takes a day off in the quarterfinals or semifinals. 

Kekai Rios and Paiva hit run-scoring singles in the first inning and Brandon Henderson’s two-run single gave Kamehameha (11-7) a 7-0 lead off Kaiser starter Noah Sakatani.

Perkins went to sophomore Hunter Breault for the third inning and the 6-foot right-hander kept Kamehameha comfortably ahead, allowing two runs over 31/3 innings to earn the win.

"We scored (early), which is something we have to do," Perkins said. "We stuck to our game plan where if we had a decent lead, we would save Paiva."

Breault gave up a leadoff walk to start the third before retiring five in a row with two strikeouts.

His back-to-back walks with two outs came back to hurt him when Kaiser catcher Emmett Covello hit his second double of the game to drive in both runners.

Breault then retired the next five before giving way to Taylor Torres in the sixth.

"After we scored a couple of those runs, coach (Perkins) told me to get hot so I figured I’d be coming in for at least a couple of innings," Breault said. "I think I could have improved on a few at-bats but I can’t do anything about that now and just have to get ready for my next outing."

The Warriors will play fourth-seeded Hilo on Thursday at 10 a.m. in the first of four quarterfinal games.

Kamehameha had been held to two runs or fewer in its past three games before breaking out against the Cougars (9-7), who finished fourth in the OIA.

Leadoff hitter Matthew Yokota went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and two of Kamehameha’s six stolen bases.

Rios, who signed to play for Hawaii next year, singled, drew two walks and was hit by a pitch, allowing courtesy runner Nicholas Penzetta to score twice and swipe two bags.

Pinch-hitter Revan Wong added an RBI double in the sixth and scored on Micah McNicoll’s base hit that made it 9-4.

Taylor worked the final 1 2/3 hitless innings for Kamehameha, allowing only one walk with a strikeout.

"We had a decent lead but I wasn’t real comfortable with it," Perkins said. "Our pitching has been keeping us in games and the next two pitchers did their job.

"We feel that (Breault) is where we want him to be and throwing a lot better. I think he’ll be OK and he’s going to help us out in this tournament."

Covello finished with two doubles and three RBIs and leadoff hitter Luis Omphroy singled, drew a walk, scored twice and stole two bases to lead Kaiser offensively.

Codie Paiva, Hunter Breault (3), Taylor Torres (6) and Kekai Rios. Noah Sakatani, Jace Kaito (3), Brandon Heu (6), Shawn Miyashiro (6) and Emmett Covello. W–Breault. L–Sakatani.

Leading hitters–Kam: Matthew Yokota 2-3, bb, 2 runs, 2 sbs; Paiva 2-4, bb, RBI; Brandon Henderson 1-3, 3 RBIs; Micah McNicoll 2-4, run, RBI, 2 sbs; Revan Wong 1-1, 2b, run, RBI; Nicholas Penzetta 2 runs, 2 sbs. Kais: Covello 2-3, 2 2bs, 3 RBIs; Luis Omphroy 1-3, bb, 2 runs, 2 sbs.

Moanalua 5, Maui 1

Kekaulike Kalua hit an RBI single and Andrew Osay hit a run-scoring triple, capping a three-run first inning that propelled Na Menehune (11-6) past the Sabers (11-5).

Oasay added a double and scored a run and Dilan Casupang went 2-for-3 with an RBI triple to lead Moanalua into the quarterfinals against top-seeded Campbell at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Tanner Inouye allowed one run on four hits in six innings to earn the win.

Brandon Yonashiro drove in Maui’s only run with an RBI double.

Parker Maxwell, Logan Cabrera (2), Kingsley Ballao (5) and Bryant Nakagawa. Tanner Inouye, Dez Oki-Takahashi (7) and Kekaulike Kalua. W–Inouye. L–Maxwell.

Leading hitters–Maui: Ballao 1-2, 2b; Kaipo Paschoal 1-3, 2b; Brandon Yonashiro 1-2, 2b, RBI. Moanalua: Andrew Oasay 2-3, 2b, 3b, run, RBI; Randy Tabura 2-3; Dilan Casupang 2-3, 3b, RBI.

Mililani 3, Pearl City 1

Koa Eastlack tossed a complete game three-hitter and Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi hit a solo homer to lead the Trojans into the quarterfinals against third-seeded Baldwin on Thursday at 1 p.m.

Jarin Morikawa went 2-for-3 with a double and drove in a run for Mililani (13-3), which split its two regular-season meetings against the Chargers (9-8).

Eastlack walked three and struck out seven to improve to 6-0 for the season.

Dane Kaneshiro went 2-for-3 with a double to lead Pearl City.

Koa Eastlack and Sean Sonognini. Trenton Darley, Chevy Sumile (6) and Shaye Higa. W–Eastlack. L–Darley.

Leading hitters–Mil: Kaimana Souza-Paaluhi HR; Ryan Kono 2-4; Jarin Morikawa 2-3, 2b, RBI. PC: Dane Kaneshiro 2-3, 2b. Higa 1-1, 2b, bb.