Pearl City's continuously hot bats have propelled the Chargers into their first baseball state title game since 1993.

Pearl City pounded Kaiser, 11-4, last night in the Wally Yonamine Foundation Championship semifinals.

The Chargers improved to 13-3 in the regular and postseason, and will play three-time defending champ Punahou at 7 tonight at Les Murakami Stadium.

"It feels pretty good," said Pearl City senior center fielder/leadoff batter Rorry Nakayama, who reached base four times, going 2 for 3 with two walks, two runs and one stolen base last night. "We surprised some people by making it this far, but we've been picking it up toward the end."

That's putting it mildly.

In their past six games — all during postseason action — the Chargers have scored 56 runs. That includes six on five hits in the bottom of the first inning last night for a quick 6-0 lead.

"How do you stop a team like that?" Kaiser coach Peter Ho said. "We had some plays that we should have made in that inning, and that contributed to the six runs, but they're hitting the ball well."

Nakayama led off the barrage with a single to right field, then scored on Ryne Acosta's triple into the corner in right. Bryson Nakamura followed with a double to score Acosta, and Jordan Cesarez later had an RBI single to bring home Nakamura.

Chad Quillopo — the No. 8 batter — then slammed a two-run triple to left to make it 6-0.

"Every night, we try to jump on the other team early and make our pitchers more confident," Nakayama said. "Once we get it going, it's contagious and everybody follows."

The Cougars (11-6) left the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, and scored one run before stranding three runners again in the second.

"One hit could have changed the whole outlook of the game," Ho said. "If we had scored right away, that would have put some pressure on them. Right now, they're getting big leads early so there's no pressure. I would have liked to have seen how they played if they were behind."

Pearl City added three runs on three more hits in the fourth to make it 9-1, but Kaiser answered in the top of the fifth with three runs on four hits to cut it to 9-4.

But the Chargers scored two more runs in the sixth and reliever Cory Yuh shut out the Cougars in the final two innings.

CONSOLATION GAMES

Hilo 1, St. Anthony 1: Hilo won a tiebreaker after the game ended in a 1-all tie.

Hilo and Waiakea, both of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, meet for fifth place today.

The Vikings scored in the fourth when Jeremy Crivello singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Chad Uyetake, who stole second. Jarrin Shigemura singled to score Uyetake.

In the sixth inning, St. Anthony's Jordan Kahalekai-Bermoy walked, went to second on an error by the pitcher, and took third on a passed ball. Matthew McCraney reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Kahalekai-Bermoy to score.

Waiakea 10, Kamehameha-Maui 1: Thad Yasuhara went 2 for 4, with two runs scored and two RBIs in Waiakea's victory.

Yasuhara had an RBI triple in a four-run third inning, and an RBI single in a five-run fourth inning.

Eric Hernandez and Michael Kenui combined on a three-hitter.

Kaua'i 5, Kalani 4: Andrew Renaud struck out Kalani's final batter with a runner on third base in the bottom of the seventh inning to preserve the Red Raiders' victory.

Kaua'i plays Mililani for the consolation title today.

Jonathan Gebauer was 2 for 3 and Aaron Soong hit a two-run homer for the Red Raiders.

Mililani 4, Kailua 2: John Abreu hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning to lift the Trojans.

Abreu was 2 for 3.

Dustin Antolin pitched a two-hitter, striking out five.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.