A week ago, 'Iolani had its back against the wall in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu softball race and St. Francis appeared to be in the driver's seat.

Two big road victories later, including yesterday's 7-0 shutout of St. Francis at Kamamalu Field, the Raiders are tied for first place with the Troubadours at 9-3.

'Iolani exploded for eight hits in a six-run fifth inning and Kelly Imada finished with a three-hitter as the Raiders climbed into the tie for first with two regular season games remaining.

"We're still far from it," said 'Iolani shortstop and leadoff hitter Kaz Masutani, who went 2 for 4 and drove in the first of the six runs in the fifth with a double to center field. "We still have to play Maryknoll and Sacred Hearts, so right now we're just focusing on beating two more tough teams."

Things weren't looking good last week, after the Raiders were upset by Punahou, 4-0, and fell two games behind first-place St. Francis. But 'Iolani rebounded with a 7-6 victory at Kamehameha on Saturday, while Punahou pulled another upset by knocking off the Troubadours, 3-2.

That set up yesterday's showdown.

The Raiders took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second after Kryn Masutani singled and advanced to second after the ball was misplayed in center. She then scored on Jana Tokuhama's double.

Allison Chu started the fifth-inning rally with a one-out single and Raechele Takara followed with another single. Kaz Masutani then blasted her double to center field, scoring Chu. Lauren Oyadomari and Kai Masutani each added RBI singles, and Tara Odo reached first on a squeeze bunt that scored Oyadomari.

Kylie Ahlo then followed with a two-run triple to left and scored on Kryn Masutani's grounder to short.

Tokuhama led 'Iolani's 14-hit attack by going 4 for 4.

"We had been struggling offensively, so to score seven runs in back-to-back games, that's big for us," Raiders coach Chris Shimabukuro said. "Especially since the loss to Punahou, I've seen a re-focus and re-dedication on (the girls') part."

St. Francis coach Mark Glushenko said 'Iolani's big inning took away almost all hope the Troubadours had for a comeback.

"I don't think we've had an inning like that all season," Glushenko said. "And we had it against the wrong team, at the wrong time. After that, they had all the momentum."

Imada did the rest, striking out two and trusting her defense to make plays (only one error).

"She was fearless out there," Shimabukuro said. "She showed a lot of heart, and to hold St. Francis to zero runs, that's an accomplishment."

'IOLANI (9-3) 010 060 0 — 7 14 1

ST. FRANCIS (9-3) 000 000 0 — 0 3 0

Kelly Imada and Kai Masutani. Brittney Akana, Kayla Sakamoto (5) and Ashley Smith. W — Imada. L — Akana.

Leading hitters — 'Iolani: Kaz Masutani 2-4, double, RBI; Kylie Ahlo triple, 2 RBIs; Jana Tokuhama 4-4, double, RBI; Tara Odo 2-4, RBI. St. Francis: Kayln Lee 1-3; Sasha Koki 1-3; Jandee Taira 1-3.

KAMEHAMEHA 3, SACRED HEARTS 2

Melissa Awa scored on a fielding error with two outs in the top of the fourth and the Warriors (8-4) beat the Lancers (5-7) at Crane Park. Awa got on with a single and advanced to third on consecutive hits by Shaleese Javillo and Dara Pagaduan to load the bases. Hoku Nohara's liner to shortstop was mishandled and allowed Awa to score the winning run.

KAMEHAMEHA (8-4) 200 100 0 — 3 9 3

SACRED HEARTS (5-7) 200 000 0 — 2 3 4

Nani Kalakau and Kahea Alohikea. Joslyn Eugenio, Corry Abellanida (6) and Chelsey Kamai. W — Kalakau. L — Eugenio.

Leading hitters — Kamehameha: Shaleese Javillo 3-5; Dara Pagaduan 2-4; Jamie Millwood double, RBI. Sacred Hearts: Abellanida RBI.

Reported by Ty Sing Chow

MID-PACIFIC 4, PUNAHOU 3

Mari Tanaka doubled in the bottom of the seventh to score Corrie Murashige with the winning run as the host Owls (4-8) beat the Buffanblu (4-8)

PUNAHOU (4-8) 001 110 0 — 3 10 2

MID-PACIFIC (4-8) 010 000 3 — 4 4 3

Jasmine Ioane and Sara Sameshima. Shari Shobu and Mari Tanaka. W — Shobu. L — Ioane.

Leading hitters — Punahou: Sameshima 2-3; Kelli Miyahira double; Erin Moon 2-3; Taylor Yamaguchi 2-2. Mid-Pacific: Corrie Murashige double; Tanaka double.

Reported by Michele Miyamoto

MARYKNOLL 2, PAC-FIVE 1

Ariel Silva scattered six hits and also drove in a run to lead the Spartans over the Owls at Moili'ili field.

PAC-FIVE (5-7) 000 010 0—1 6 0

MARYKNOLL (4-8) 011 000 X—2 3 0

Courtney Gibo, (4) Sheridan Mahelona and Anela Palmerton. Ariel Silva and Kim Okaneku. W — Silva. L — Gibo.

Leading hitters — Pac-Five: Chante Tesoro solo homer; Keline Yoshimura 3-4; Britney Hajihara triple. Maryknoll: Brooke Perriton double; Silva RBI.

Reported by John Uekawa

OIA PLAYOFFS

RED CONFERENCE

CASTLE 3, LEILEHUA 2

Chandelle Dacosin's RBI single to right scored Tiffany Farias with the winning run in the bottom of the sixth as the host Knights (8-5) held off the Mules (2-11) in the first round of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference Tournament.

Leilehua, the West No. 6 seed, scored a run on Julie Brister's single in the top of the seventh, but stranded the tying and winning runs, both in scoring position, to end the game. Castle, the East No. 3 seed, visits West No. 2 Mililani (10-2) at 3:30 p.m. today.

LEILEHUA (2-11) 001 000 1—2 4 0

CASTLE (8-5) 200 001 X—3 7 0

Alex Smith and Ciara Paracuelles. Jenna Kon, Chandelle Dacosin (6) and Kelsea Berinobis. W — Dacosin. L — Smith.

Leading hitters — Leilehua: Kristen Campogan triple, RBI. Castle: Ryanne Dacosin 2-3; Kehau Fung double, RBI; Kon 2-3, RBI; C. Dacosin RBI.

Reported by Jon Berinobis

ROOSEVELT 12, 'AIEA 7

Chelsie Wilson and Kathleen Nakata both drove in two runs and the Rough Riders (6-7) beat Na Ali'i (5-8) at Stevenson Middle School. Emily Tausaga had a pair of homers for 'Aiea, the No. 5 from the West. Roosevelt, the East's No. 4 seed, plays at Campbell (11-1) at 3:30 p.m. today.

'AIEA (5-8) 001 131 1 — 7 9 3

ROOSEVELT (6-7) 524 100 X —12 10 2

Ashley Scharsch, Rayna Strom-Okimoto (3) and Sasha Andrade. Lianna Bajarin and Chelsie Wilson. W — Bajarin. L — Scharsch.

Leading hitters — 'Aiea: Strom-Okimoto 4-4, solo homer; Andrade 2-4; Emily Tausaga solo homer, 3-run homer. Roosevelt: Charisse Tanabe 3-5; Chelsie Wilson 3-4, 2 RBIs; Kathleen Nakata 2-4, double, 2 RBIs.

Reported by Kamalei Pitoy

WAIPAHU 6, KALAHEO 5

Michelle Samson scored the winning run on a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh as the host Marauders (6-7) rallied past the Mustangs (4-9). Waipahu, the West's No. 4 seed, plays at East No. 1 Moanalua (11-1) today at 3:30 p.m. Kalaheo, the East No. 5 seed, got home runs from Caira Pires and batterymate DeAnn Horswill.

KALAHEO (4-9) 302 000 0 — 5 5 3

WAIPAHU (6-7) 111 110 1 — 6 5 2

Caira Pires and DeAnn Horwill. Elsa Apo and Lei-Sha Quiday-Kapihe. W — Apo. L — Pires.

Leading hitters — Kalaheo: Pires homer; Horswill double; Mariah Panapa double; Jasmine Napihaa 2-4. Waipahu: Sina Nu'u 2-4, homer; Michelle Samson double; Apo double; Quiday-Kapihe double.

Reported by Sheri Elarco

KAPOLEI 10, KALANI 0

Kishti Kamaka tossed a two-hitter and the host Hurricanes (9-4) routed the Falcons (3-10). Kapolei, the West's No. 3 seed, meets East No. 2 Kailua (9-3) today at 3:30 p.m.

KALANI (3-10) 000 000 0 — 0 2 0

KAPOLEI (9-4) 400 042 X —10 14 0

Desha'le Neves and Jamie Higa. Kishti Kamaka and Ashlyn Ashby. W — Kamaka. L — Neves.

Leading hitters — Kapolei: Tehani Ka'aihue 3-3, double, triple, RBI; Kaili Smith 2-3, 2-run homer (first); Ashby 2-3, RBI; Alisa Dumlao 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Alysha Holt triple, RBI; Lauren Langi RBI.

Reported by DeWayne Malachi

WHITE CONFERENCE

KAISER 3, WAI'ANAE 1

Alex Tuohy went 2 for 3 with a double and the Cougars (3-9), the East's No. 4 seed, upset the West regular-season champion Seariders (5-5) in the first round of the OIA White Division Tournament. Kaiser plays East No. 2 Farrington today at 3:30 p.m. at Hau'ula Playground.

KAISER (3-9) 020 001 0 — 3 3 1

WAI'ANAE (5-5) 100 000 0 — 1 4 2

Kayla Alcoran and Bailey Miller. Desirae Hanamaikai and Chaelyn Manuel. W — Alcoran. L — Hanamaikai.

Leading hitters — Kaiser: Alex Tuohy 2-3, double.

Reported by Alvin Ainoa

FARRINGTON 7, NANAKULI 2

Felicia Tui pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts as the East No. 2 Governors (9-3) beat the West No. 3 Golden Hawks (3-7) at Lanakila Field. Jori Keremius had two hits and two RBIs for Farrington.

NANAKULI (3-7) 002 000 0 — 2 2 3

FARRINGTON (9-3) 002 131 X — 7 9 2

Ambree Hauhio and Olafell Suava. Felicia Tui and Kinci Ngiralmau. W — Tui. L — Hauhio.

Leading hitters — Farrington: Moea Sexton 2-4, double, 2 runs; Jori Keremius 2-3, double, 2 RBIs; Chanal Scanlan-Sevao 2-3.

Reported by Glenn Zukeran

MCKINLEY 20, RADFORD 8

Trudy Hong went 3 for 5 and the visiting East No. 3-seeded Tigers (8-3) topped the West No. 2-seeded Rams (5-5). McKinley plays East No. 1 Kahuku (10-1) today at 3:30 p.m. at Hau'ula Playground.

MCKINLEY (9-3) 211 426 6 — 20 9 1

RADFORD (5-5) 012 041 0 — 8 12 7

Gloria Hong and Trudy Hong. Erin Larent, Briana Salanoa (2) and Leiandra Esclito, Nina Perez (4). W — G. Hong. L — Larent.

Leading hitters — McKinley: Chelsie Madanaga 2-3, 2 doubles; T. Hong 3-5; Joanna Devirgilio 2-4. Radford: Lilly Sevao 2-2, homer; Loren Bredenkamp 2-4, homer; Sabiola Ordonez 2-4; Samantha Sevao 3-4.

Reported by June Salanoa

BASKETBALL

OIA WHITE

WAIPAHU 52, WAIALUA 43

Robert Donley scored a game-high 27 points and Castro Masaniai added 12 to lead the visiting Marauders (4-2) past the Bulldogs (2-4) in an OIA White Division game.

WAIPAHU (4-2) 14 4 13 21 — 52

WAIALUA (2-4) 9 18 1 15 — 43

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.