With an ILH championship at stake, Kamehameha’s Katelyn Mahelona did something she hadn’t done all season long.

The Warriors outfielder launched a three-run homer over the fence in center field to cap a five-run fifth inning that allowed Kamehameha to repeat as league champion with a 6-3 win over visiting Mid-Pacific on Saturday.

Mahelona, Kamehameha’s nine-hole hitter, hadn’t homered all year before driving the first pitch she saw from MPI’s Kaili Akimseu deep to give the Warriors a commanding 6-1 lead.

"I saw my two teammates on the bases and I was like, ‘It’s the championship and I’ve got to do this for my girls,’ " Mahelona said. "I tried to calm myself and then I got a fatty down the middle."

Kamehameha (12-3) survived a three-way tie for first at the end of the regular season to earn the ILH’s seeded berth in the state tourney.

Mid-Pacific (12-4), which beat Maryknoll on Thursday, locked up the league’s second berth. A tournament will take place next week to determine the ILH’s third team to advance to states.

Kamehameha coach Aloha Yamaguchi is just thrilled it isn’t her team playing next week.

"It’s been a work in progress, but it definitely feels good after a big win like this," Yamaguchi said. "I believe in everyone from one to nine, and (Mahelona) has been hitting the ball well consistently and she’s aggressive early (in counts)."

Akimseu retired seven of the first eight batters she faced before Rachel Ogasawara lifted a solo homer to right to tie the game at 1 in the third.

All five Kamehameha runs in the fourth inning came after Akimseu recorded the first two outs.

Five straight Warriors hitters swung at the first pitch as Brooke Sauer and Kiana Burnett reached on singles before starting pitcher Kamalani Dung came to the plate.

Dung hit a dribbler to the pitcher that Akimseu bobbled.

Second baseman Jenna Kumate fielded the rebound and hurried a throw to first that was errant of the bag, allowing Sauer to score and tie the game at 2-2.

Lia Tom followed with an RBI single to give the Warriors the lead and Mahelona went deep on the next pitch  for a 6-2 lead.

"We want them to see their pitch, and if they want to be aggressive at that first pitch, then go for it," Yamaguchi said.

Dung went the distance to earn the win for Kamehameha, allowing three runs on five hits.

Nicole Lopez hit an RBI double in the first and Sarah Onishi homered in the third for the Owls (12-4).

Dung walked seven in the game, including four in the sixth inning to force in a run. She had thrown 12 straight balls and was behind 3-0 to Kumate before bouncing back to record her fifth strikeout to end the inning.

Dung walked two more to lead off the seventh, but got through it unharmed.

"That was a stressful game," Dung said. "Right now it feels tiring. The last couple of innings were exhausting, but these girls pulled through."

Kaili Akimseu and Taylor Oda. Kamalani Dung and Rachel Ogasawara. W–Dung. L–Akimseu.

Leading hitters–MPI: Nicole Lopez 2-4, 2b, RBI; Sarah Onishi 1-4, HR, RBI. KS: Ogasawara 1-3, HR, RBI; Katelyn Mahelona 2-2, HR, 3 RBIs.