The Warriors (18-5), who will play the winner of Kailua-Mililani in tonight's 8 o'clock semifinal, rallied from a 4-0 deficit after the first inning and 11-10 after the fifth inning with a three-run sixth in which they benefitted from a hit batsman, two walks, a balk to score the tying run, and a dropped fly to center for two more runs. A two-run double by Eli Chee in a four-run seventh provided insurance in a game that certainly needed it.

Kaleo's ability to settle the game gave the Warriors time to rally.

"That's exactly what we needed," Kamehameha coach Vern Ramie said. "We really needed a pitcher to step up."

The Maui Interscholastic League champion Bears (14-4) play the loser of Kailua-Mililani at 3 p.m. today in a consolation bracket game.

Ramie said he had wanted to start Kaleo tonight, but Kaleo was ready for the task yesterday.

"Whatever it takes," Kaleo said. "If it's close, this is the kind of game you want to be in."

Kaleo, who picked up the win in relief, did not walk a batter and had eight strikeouts. It was in contrast to Baldwin's pitchers, who issued 15 walks, hit two batters and committed a balk. It was uncharacteristic of the Bears' pitching. Head coach Kahai Shishido said he doesn't recall using more than two pitchers in any game during the MIL season. The Bears used five yesterday, each charged with at least one run and at least two walks.

"Credit Kamehameha for swinging the bats when they had to and being disciplined enough to not expand the strike zone," Shishido said. "We just didn't do the job we needed to."

The Warriors committed five errors that led to five unearned runs; the Bears had three leading to three unearned.

"We didn't take care of the ball very well defensively," Ramie said. "They took advantage of every error. We were very fortunate we were able to get back into the game."