Campbell pitcher Leinna Kalua last night ended two years of frustration to Kailua, and center fielder Juraishelei Murray-Thornton redeemed herself after a rough game defensively nine days ago.

Kalua pitched a six-hitter and Murray-Thornton started a crucial double play in the sixth inning as Campbell beat Kailua, 3-1, in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference semifinals at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

"Kailua, we've been losing to them every year that I played," said Kalua, a junior. "And this is the only year we ever beat them."

Campbell (13-1) will play Mililani, which defeated Moanalua, 6-3 last night, in tonight's final at 7. Kailua (10-4) will play Moanalua at 5. All four teams have already qualified for the state tournament.

The last time the Sabers won an OIA title was in 1992.

"This is huge for our team, for our school," Campbell coach David Perreira said. "It's been a long time since Campbell High School has been in a championship game for softball."

In the sixth, Kalua got into a bases-loaded, no-out jam after three consecutive singles, but Murray-Thornton saved the day.

Januari Santiago hit a flyball to left-center, and Murray-Thornton camped under it and threw the ball on the fly to catcher Anuhea Yamaguchi, who tagged out the runner trying to score from third. Kalua struck out the next batter to escape trouble.

"The play that killed us was that double play to center field," Kailua coach Bernard Victor said. "We thought we had something going then, but they put the fire out and that was it."

Murray-Thornton made two throwing errors in a loss to Kapolei on Oct. 10.

"All I could think about was, 'Shelei get underneath the ball and just throw, get rid of it fast,' " she said.

Murray-Thornton also made a running catch in left-center, leaping over the 4-foot white fence without knocking it over.

"As soon as I caught the ball I was trying to brace myself. I had to go over because my momentum was going over already," said Murray-Thornton, a senior who was the OIA West Division II volleyball player of the year.

Perreira added: "She had two throwing errors against Kapolei in the last game. (One) went over the catcher's head and they scored a bunch of runs. To come back and have the same situation and make the throw in a game like this, just shows senior leadership and being committed to getting better every day."

Kalua, who retired the first 11 batters, gave up a run in the fourth after a two-out single by Brittany Tokunaga and double to right-center by Santiago.

Kalua walked one and struck out four.

"The pitches that were working were the drop, inside and outside, and the screwball, which goes in and down," Kalua said.

The Sabers scored twice in the second. Brittany Garcia led off with a single and advanced to second when the right fielder bobbled the ball. She stole third and scored on Amber Kaulia's triple to right-center. Gerika Pantohan followed with an RBI single to left.

Campbell scored again in the fourth when Garcia led off with a double to right center. She advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Pantohan's double to left.

KAILUA (10-4) 000 100 0—1 6 1

CAMPBELL (13-1) 020 100 X—3 6 0

Ashley-Ann Hopfe, Krista Dumandan (4) and Brittany Tokunaga. Leinna Kalua and Anuhea Yamaguchi. W — Kalua. L — Hopfe.

Leading hitters — Campbell: Brittany Garcia 2-3, double, 2 runs; Amber Kaulia triple, RBI; Gerika Pantohan 2-2, double, 2 RBIs. Kailua: Tokunaga 2-3; Januari Santiago double, RBI.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.