WAILUKU » Peak performance is precisely what the Mid-Pacific Owls are enjoying.

The second-seeded Owls got 4-for-4 outings from Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Quintin-John Collier, their first two hitters the lineup, en route to a 5-1 win over defending champion Waiakea on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Wally Yonamine Foundation/HHSAA State Baseball Championships.

Kiner-Falefa, the shortstop, and second baseman Collier boosted an 11-hit attack by the ILH champions. Pitcher Trey Saito was efficient for the most part, throwing just 80 pitches in a complete-game effort. He struck out two and walked four, the latter being a high number for the senior.

"I was kind of off today, but I tried to get ground balls for my defense. I had to throw strikes, can’t walk people," said Saito, who finished with a three-hitter. "Everything was working. Waiakea is really aggressive and you can’t underestimate any team. We’re one step closer, trying to get that state championship home."

MPI coach Dunn Muramaru was glad his ace overcame a rough fourth inning, when he walked two batters, gave up a run and threw 27 pitches.

"He was a little bit off today, walked four guys, but he did a good job adjusting," Muramaru said.

MPI (12-3) will play Campbell in a 4:30 p.m. semifinal today.

"This gives us a lot of momentum going into tomorrow," Collier said.

Still, the Owls weren’t overly excited, not yet.

"We lost in the quarters both years I’ve been on the (varsity) team. This win isn’t our goal. The state championship is our goal. We just want to take it one game at a time."

With one of last year’s championship-run aces, Kodi Medeiros, a late scratch, the Warriors turned to freshman Caleb Freitas-Fields.

It was a tough task. The freshman gave up three runs in the first three innings but went the distance.

"I don’t want to see (Freitas-Fields) in two years," Muramaru said.

The Owls didn’t look at the freshman any differently because of his age.

"I don’t look at it really as what grade they’re in. He’s a pitcher," said Collier, who had two of his singles on bunts. "He pitched Isiah a lot of curveballs and he came at me (with fastballs)."

Kiner-Falefa was busy early. He doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Fentriss to give the Owls a 1-0 lead in the first.

In the third, he singled and scored on a fielder’s choice groundout by Marcus Doi. Bryce Asao later singled to left, bringing Doi home from third, and the ILH champs led 3-0.

The Warriors got a run off Saito in the fourth. Bryce Felipe’s sacrifice fly brought home courtesy runner Tyler Aburamen, but they left two runners on base.

The Owls answered in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out single to center by Kiner-Falefa to score Cameron Igarashi. After Quintin-John Collier walked and Doi reached base on a catcher’s interference call to load the bases, Fentriss drew a walk to force Kiner-Falefa home from third for a 5-1 lead.

"It felt good. The win felt better, though," Kiner-Falefa said. "I think I’m an underrated player. I don’t think a lot of people know about me, so they come at me."