Waianae captured the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II baseball championship for the fourth time in the past six years by holding off a seventh-inning Radford rally for a 6-4 victory Saturday.

It nearly got away from the Seariders at Les Murakami Stadium. With two out in the seventh, the Rams scored two runs and had runners on second and third base when Seariders reliever Braiden Ayala struck out pinch hitter D.J. Kabua for the final out.

“I was nervous, but I just had to pitch strikes and let the defense play behind me,” Ayala said. “It was deep pressure, but I had to do my job. This (the title) is great. Later, we’re all going to prom and celebrate.”

The drama between Waianae (12-0) and Radford (9-3) might not be over, because it’s quite possible they’ll meet again in the upcoming state tournament.

Trailing 6-2 in the seventh, Radford’s Ryan Southard hit a bases-loaded, two-out bloop double down the left-field line to cut the gap to 6-4. It could have been worse for Waianae because the ball bounced, banged off the glove of Matt Orian and rolled deep into foul territory, but the Seariders were fortunate to retrieve it quickly enough to hold runners on second and third.

“I was due and when I saw the ball land, I was like, ‘Thank God, finally,’ ” Southard said. “We couldn’t (get more home), but we know we’ll get them again at states.”

Up stepped Kabua, who faced four pitches from Ayala — a called strike, a swinging strike, a foul tip and an outside fastball that he swung on and missed, ending the game.

“Ayala has always been a battler, since his freshman year, when he came up and wanted to challenge the seniors at everything from baseball to ping-pong,” Waianae coach Bernard Beaver said.

“We made too many mistakes,” Rams coach Jacob Sur said. “We had chances on offense early in the game, too, and didn’t capitalize. That’s baseball. We still got states. There’s a lot of fight left in this team. It’s a good learning experience.”

Bradly Benito gave Radford a 2-1 lead with a two-run double in the top of the third, but the Seariders went up 3-2 in the bottom half when Brayden Chong clubbed a two-run double to deep center.

“Brayden is a big boy and he swings to go deep,” Beaver said.

Ej Keamo-Young’s RBI double in the fifth and Ayala’s two-run single in the sixth gave the Seariders what appeared to be a comfortable four-run lead. It turned out to be anything but comfortable.

“Almost every inning, there was intensity,” Beaver said. “Radford played us tough. That’s why we coach. For the excitement. For the fans. I’m very proud of this team. States is a whole different level. We’ll go back to basics. Hawaii kids have a tough attitude and every game is going to be a battle.”

The Seariders also won the OIA D-II championship in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The Rams were denied their first league D-II title since they took it back-to-back in 2010 and 2011.

OIA DIVISION II BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

Waianae 6, Radford 4
At Les Murakami Stadium

>> Radford (9-3) 002 000 2 — 4 6 2
>> Waianae (12-0) 012 012 x — 6 7 2

Richard Akana and Cole Courtney. Kaleo Akiona, Konan Keliikoa (5), Braiden Ayala (6) and Ej Keamo-Young. W—Akiona. L—Akana. S—Ayala.

Leading hitters—Radford: Jack Dillon 2B; Matt Lukins 2 SBs; Isaac Grant 2 runs; Bradly Benito 2B, 2 RBIs; Ryan Southard 2B, 2 RBIs. Waianae: Ayala 2 RBIs; Matt Orian 2 SBs, 2 runs; Keamo-Young 2B, RBI; Brayden Chong 2-2, 2B, 2 RBIs; Kaleo Akiona 2-2.

Farrington 6, Kaimuki 2
At Farrington

>> Kaimuki (5-7) 000 100 1 — 2 4 1
>> Farrington (10-3) 100 311 X — 6 6 0

Bailey Uehara, Raymundo Gomez Jr. (4), Jamon Young (5) and KB Palsis. Trey Kaawa, Treven Isobe (7) and Treven Isobe. W—Kaawa. L—Uehara.

Leading hitters—Kaim: none. Farr: Bishop Rapoza 1-4, 2b, run, RBI; Reese Shioji 2-4, 2b, 2 RBIs.