WAIPIO-Defending state champion Campbell will try to do what it couldn't last season: Win an O'ahu Interscholastic Association crown.

Sharae Esprecion came into relief from second base to extinguish a seventh-inning threat and Kayce Konohia's three-run home run carried the Sabers over Castle, 7-6, Thursday night in the semifinals of the OIA Red tournament at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.

The Sabers, who lost to the defending OIA champion Knights in last year's semifinals, will face Kailua - both second seeds of their respective divisions - for the league championship at 7 p.m. Friday at CORP. It will be televised live on OC 16.

Campbell is seeking its first title since 1992, under then-coach Loke Huddy, or when present coach David Perreira was an underclassman at the 'Ewa Beach school.

"The last time we won, I was a freshman or sophomore," Perreira said with a laugh. "It's been a while."

With the game tied at 3, the Sabers regained the lead in the top of the fifth on Kawehi Kahana's RBI single after Summer Palipti doubled with one out. Nicole Arata walked and the runners advanced when Daylene Antonio grounded out to the pitcher. Konohia then drove a 3-1 offering over the center-field fence to make it 7-3.

"I got it inside and I just drove it," said Konohia, the designated player. "I was just trying to make a base hit to help out my team."

Konohia has been hot of late. She was 3 for 3 in the Sabers' 9-2 against Leilehua in Tuesday's quarterfinals.

"Kayce deserves everything she gets," Perreira said. "She wasn't a starter (at the outset). She worked rnhard every day at practice, always hustling...That (homer) was huge. Huge."

Meanwhile, Sabers' starting pitcher Palipti got in a rhythm after serving a two-run, game-tying home run to her counterpart, Leisha Li'ili'i, in the third inning. After a nice backhanded stop by third baseman Arata to retire Dacosin and a back-through-the-fence catch by left fielder Antonio on Kalena Lessary's drive, Palipti retired 10 of the next 11 batters handily, allowing only a chop single to Roblyn Silva in the fifth.

But the relentless Knights weren't done fighting. Maycee Moe and pinch hitter Brittney Lane drew successive walks by Palipti to start the bottom of the seventh. Brittany Hawn singled to center with the lead runner stopping at third, only to score on the throw back to the infield to make it 7-4.

Palipti was pulled for second baseman Esprecion, who gave up an RBI single to Silva and sacrifice fly to Li'ili'i before getting Dacosin on a foul pop to first and Lessary on a grounder to third to strand the tying run on first.

"I told her, 'Don't worry about it. You pitched a good six innings,'" Perreira said of Palipti, who lasted six-plus innings, allowing six runs, six hits and four walks with three strikeouts. "That's why we play a team sport. As long as they stick together and everybody's got their back, we' re fine."

"I felt nervous, but at the same time I had to pull through for my team," said Esprecion, who got credit for a save.

The Sabers saved themselves with nice defensive plays. Palipti handled Li'ili'i's wind-altering drive nicely on Lessary's sacrifice fly. Also, Antonio's catch against the fence robbed Lessary of a homer that would've put the Knights ahead, 4-3.

"Dayday is tough, too," Perreira said of Antonio, who switched to catcher during the pitching change. "She can play any position we ask of her."

The Knights took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Dacosin's run-scoring triple. But the Sabers tied in the second on Collette Black's RBI single and took a 3-1 lead on Esprecion's two-run double. The left-handed hitting Li'ili'i pulled two-run homer to right to tie the game at 3 in the third.

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