Punahou's Jaci Young throws a pitch to the plate against Campbell Evan Asato | SL

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Punahou teammates congratulate pitcher Jaci Young after a complete game victory over Campbell. Evan Asato | SL

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Punahou's Sarah Sumida makes contact with a pitch by Campbell's Summer Palipti. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Punahou baserunner Paige Kawai slides into home for a run against Campbell. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Campbell's Jessica Arata attempts to make a running grab of a fly ball against Punahou. Evan Asato | SL

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Punahou's Kylie Popovich makes contact with a pitch against Campbell. Evan Asato | SL

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Punahou avenged losses from state tournaments past with an 8-2 win against second-seeded Campbell Thursday in the semifinals of the DataHouse Division I state softball tournament at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The Buffanblu, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up, return to the title game for the first time since 2010, when it lost to Campbell, 5-1. In fact, the Sabers had been a thorn in Punahou's side in recent tournaments. Punahou lost to Campbell in last year's quarterfinals, 4-2.

"They had Katie Manuma (in 2010) and they beat us, 5-1," Punahou coach Bob Makahilahila said. "Last year, they knocked us out in the quarterfinals, so it's really good to have a chance to go on to the championship."

Campbell's power-hitting - the Sabers hit three homers the night before - was neutralized by Punahou pitcher Jaci Young's off-speed pitches. She allowed two runs, both unearned, four hits and a walk and struck out 12. It was appropriate that her battery mate was Kylie Popovich. Both were freshmen on Punahou's state runner-up team in 2010.

"Both (Young) and K.P. (Popovich) are students of the game," Makahilahila said. "I think they watched that game last night. They saw that Campbell had a lot of power, so they off-set the power with variations of pitches. You could see it; they were lunging at balls. So give credit to the two of them; they put in the time to make it work for us."

Actually, they didn't watch the game, Popovich said. Instead, she watched a recording of Campbell's game against Kapolei in the OIA championship.

"One of our coaches stayed last night to watch (the Sabers) play against Mililani, so he gave us some tips," Popovich said. "And we know some of the Campbell girls (their tendencies) from outside league, so I just went with what was working."

Popovich also had good day in the batter's box, batting 2 for 3 with three RBI.

At the outset, it looked like the Sabers were going to flex their muscles.

Tiana Rosario led off the first with a double and an out later, scored when Caragh Morris reached on an error. Morris went to second on Nashlynn Anguay's sacrifice and scored on hot-hitting Kawehi Kahana's double to put Campbell up 2-0. Kahana was 2 for 3.

But Young settled after that, allowing no more than one base runner in each ensuing inning. In fact, the farthest advancement a Campbell runner made after the first inning was to second base.

"She had good mix," Campbell coach Shag Hermosura said of Young. "She has a rise, drop, a change. Fastball. Don't take anything away from her. She's a good pitcher. I think great things will happen for her in the future, wherever she plays."

Campbell starter Summer Palipti wasn't as fortunate. She allowed eight runs, but five were unearned, as well as nine hits and four walks while striking out three.

The roof caved in on the Sabers in the the Buffanblu's five-run fourth when nine batters went to the plate despite having a runner thrown out at the plate in an apparent missed squeeze play. The Sabers committed three of their five errors in the inning that also featured an RBI double by Ari Hashimoto, a two-run single by Popovich and run-scoring single by Nicole Nishizawa.

Punahou put the game away for good with a three-run sixth on an RBI single by Popovich, an RBI double by Nishizawa and when Vanessa Va'a reached on an error.

"They put the bat on the ball," Hermosura said. "(Palipti) wasn't hitting spots. When that happens, the batter's going to hit the ball…She wanted to stay in; it's her senior year and I'll give her the chance."

Makahilahila felt that Campbell coming back to play the 5 p.m. game after playing the late game the night before might have had an effect on its play.

"I know we did that on Tuesday (play at 7 p.m.) and had to play (at 3 p.m.) on Wednesday - it was hard," Makahilahila said. "I think that kind of affected them a little bit, too."

Punahou beat Waipahu, 6-1, in the opening round on Tuesday, then had to fight off a late Baldwin charge in a 7-4 win in Wednesday's quarterfinals.