The Falcons (9-2) will play West runner-up Leilehua (8-3) at 4 p.m. today at Kahala. The winner advances to tomorrow's fifth-place game for the OIA's final state tournament berth.

"He's small, but he has a big heart," Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said of his starting pitcher.

Kent used an assortment of off-speed pitches to keep the Falcons' batters off balanced. He walked one and struck out four. But basically, he let his defense take care of business.

"My defense made every play," Kent said. "Every time a ball was hit that I thought would drop, they made every play, every catch."

The biggest defensive play came in the bottom of the third inning after Kailua had taken a 1-0 lead in the top half on Kekoa Su'a's sacrifice fly. With two outs, Joshua Markwith singled and stole second, but was gunned down trying to score on Trevor Teraoka's single to right. Right fielder Matt Kinoshita threw to first baseman Ryan Rodrigues, whose relay to catcher Michael D'Alessio beat Markwith to end the inning.

"That was big," Kent said. "A big momentum turner."

The Falcons were determined to make the Surfriders make two perfect throws.

"We were going to be aggressive," Kalani coach Shannon Hirai said of the play. "It was a perfect relay throw. (Markwith) is one of our faster guys."

Kent faced three batters over the minimum — his only walk was erased by a first-inning double play — in keeping pace with Kalani starter Micah Takahashi, who scattered six hits and four walks with five strikeouts.

"This is what I live for," Kent said of the tight ball game. "That's why I play baseball."

Only five times he reached a three-ball count.

"Everything he was throwing was for strikes," Ishigo said. "It didn't matter what count. That's what kept these Kalani hitters off-balanced."

In the Kailua third, Keli'i Klobucar led off with a walk, reached second on D'Alessio's sacrifice and made it to third when Tyler Harrison reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Su'a's sacrifice fly to left then scored Klobucar.

For the Surfriders, it was their second consecutive win at their opponents' field.

"We love going to other people's houses and beating them," Kent said.

Yet despite being the East's fifth seed, Kailua will be home today because of Pearl City's 12-10 upset of West runner-up Leilehua in another quarterfinal yesterday.

The Falcons aren't through, but must win their next two to earn a state berth.

"I think this team will bounce back," Hirai said. "They've done it all year. We've been playing from behind all year, too. Today just wasn't our day."

• Kailua (9-3) 001 000 0—1 6 0
• Kalani (9-2) 000 000 0—0 4 3

Aaron Kent and Michael D'Alessio. Micah Takahashi and Preston Pires. W—Kent. L— Takahashi.

Leading hitters: Kailua—Preston Nakata 2-3, stolen base; Kekoa Su'a 1-3, sacrifice fly. Kalani—Trevor Teraoka 1-2, walk; Joshua Markwith 1-3, stolen base.