WAIPI'O — That was a wild one.

In a game where the "No lead is safe" mantra was put to the test, Kailua held off Mililani, 12-11, yesterday in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association semifinal baseball game.

The game at Central O'ahu Regional Park seemed destined for a rout after Kailua (11-1) scored nine runs in the fourth for a 12-4 lead.

But Mililani scored four in the fifth on five hits, and Richie Mariano belted a three-run homer to left in the sixth to make it 12-11.

Kili Vierra, who threw 82 pitches in a complete-game victory the previous day against Castle, pitched a perfect seventh for the save.

"It was pretty tender," Vierra said of his right arm. "But last night I used Icy Hot and whatever. It was adrenaline just pumping and I felt I could pitch one more inning."

Vierra fielded a hard comebacker and sprinted to first base for the final out in a game where the teams combined for 29 hits.

"This was a tough win for us today," Kailua coach Corey Ishigo said. "Mililani is a tough team and they can hit the ball really well. We knew it was going to be a dogfight until the end even with the lead."

Kailua, the East champion, will face West No. 3 Pearl City in the final at 6:30 tonight at CORP.

"It's one of our goals to play in the OIA championship game and hopefully we can play well tomorrow," Ishigo said.

Tonight's winner will receive a first-round bye in next week's state tournament. All semifinalists had already qualified for the state tournament.

Mililani (9-3) will play Kaiser in the third-place game at 2 p.m. at CORP.

The Surfriders and Trojans each used five pitchers yesterday. Kailua left-hander Preston Nakata, who picked up the victory, went the first 3 2/3 innings and came back to pitch the sixth.

"We had to win so we came back with him," Ishigo said. "He would do whatever it takes to win. He didn't refuse to take the ball back again given a second chance."

As far as a starter for today's championship game, Ishigo said: "I think I have to sleep on that and hopefully the baseball gods give me an answer because we're pretty thin on pitching."

The Trojans collected three hits, drew a walk and reached on an error over the first three innings, but one baserunner was eliminated on a hidden ball play after a stolen base and two were picked off by Nakata.

Mililani scored four runs in the top of the fourth, including a two-run homer by John Abreu, to take a brief 4-3 lead.

In Kailua's big fourth inning, 14 batters came to the plate and it had seven hits, one walk and one hit batsman. The Trojans committed errors on back-to-back sacrifice attempts early in the inning, making eight of the runs unearned.

"It happens to us once in awhile," Ishigo said of his team's hot hitting. "It gets contagious. We can swing the bat pretty well."

In the fifth and sixth innings, Mililani had eight hits.

"We told them we have three more chances — (innings) 5, 6 and 7," Mililani coach Dean Sato said. "We don't have to get eight runs all one time. We can get two here, three here and try to come back in the last inning."

Zach Akamine, Vierra and Ryan Kinoshita each had two RBIs for the Surfriders.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadver tiser. com or 525-8041.

MILILANI (9-3) 000 443 0—11 16 3

KAILUA (11-1) 210 900 X—12 13 2

Kylen Cadiam, Richie Mariano (3), Preston Pacolba (4), Jay Yoshizawa (5), Ray Sugihara (6) and Mariano, Kacey Miyasato (3), Mariano (4). Preston Nakata, Keoki Reis-Moniz (4), Zach Akamine (5), Gavin Kido (5), Nakata (6), Kili Vierra (7). W — Nakata. L — Cadiam. S — Vierra.

Leading hitters — Mililani: Dustin Antolin 2-5, 2 RBIs; Cadiam 2-4; Travis Jones 2 runs; John Abreu homer, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Joshua Queja 2-4; Mariano homer, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Yoshizawa 2-2; Joey Aquino 2-4, 3 RBIs. Kailua: Akamine 3-4, triple, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Vierra 2-4, double, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Nakata 2-3; Jordan Limahai 2-3; Rob DeMarsh 2 runs; Ryan Kinoshita 2-3, 2 RBIs.

KALANI 8, CASTLE 3

Kenn Kamoto drove in three runs and the Falcons sent 11 batters to the plate in a six-run first inning against the Knights at Kahala field. Kalani will play Roosevelt today at 11 a.m. for fifth place and the OIA's final state tournament berth.

CASTLE (7-4-1) 002 100 0—3 5 2

KALANI (9-3) 620 000 X—8 10 2

Kainoa Tom, Pulama Silva (2) and Lyle Kitagawa. Kenn Kamoto and Jason Lee. W — Kamoto. L — Tom.

Leading hitters — Castle: Tom 2-3; Trevor Okumura 2-3. Kalani: Ridge Carpenter 2-4; Jordan Sumida 2-4; Kamoto 2-3, 3 RBIs; Jake Massey 2-3.

Reported by Shannon Hirai

ROOSEVELT 3, 'AIEA 2

Nick Wong batted 2 for 3 with two RBIs and the Rough Riders scored a run in the top of the ninth inning to beat host Na Ali'i.

ROOSEVELT (8-3-1) 100 001 001—3 6 3

'AIEA (9-3) 000 002 000—2 6 3

Nick Wong and Tyler Nitahara. Blane Higa, Randy Castillo (5) and Anthony Tsui. W — Wong. L — Castillo.

Leading hitters — Roosevelt: Justin Otuguro double; Wong 2-3, triple, 2 RBIs; Darin Fujii double; TJ Bac 2-4, double. 'Aiea: Ricky Itagaki 2 RBIs.

Reported by Kelcey Maeda

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.