Kamehameha's Mai Kalakau had her late-inning prayer answered yesterday against Sacred Hearts.

Kalakau lined a single to right to score Shaleese Javillo from second base with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as host Kamehameha beat Sacred Hearts, 1-0, in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu softball game.

The previous batter, Jamie Millwood, was intentionally walked with first base open and one out.

"We pretty much knew they were going to walk Jamie so I said a little prayer before I went up," Kalakau said.

She added: "I just asked for confidence and to be able to execute. And God gave it to me. That's why I got the hit."

Kamehameha's Amber Waracka pitched a two-hitter with one walk and 16 strikeouts.

"I'm not out there to throw strikeouts," Waracka said. "I'm out there to let them hit the ball so my defense can deal with them."

Kamehameha, ranked No. 2 in The Advertiser's Top 10 poll, improved to 7-1. Sacred Hearts dropped to 4-4.

In the eighth, Javillo singled to shortstop against Sacred Hearts left-hander Joslyn Eugenio with one out and stole second with Millwood, the No. 3 hitter, at the plate. The Lancers then intentionally walked Millwood.

Kalakau, a junior catcher, followed with her opposite-field single to right on an 0-1 pitch. The right fielder fired to the plate, but the speedy Javillo was able to score standing up.

"She's been hitting the ball well all season," Kamehameha coach Randy Tamura said of Kalakau. "She's moved up. She started as the (No.) 7 batter. Today she was fourth."

Waracka, a senior right-hander, threw 78 of her 100 pitches for strikes.

She struck out six consecutive batters in the early innings and struck out the side in the eighth. No Sacred Hearts base runner reached third.

"Amber keeps us off-balance, on our toes," said Sacred Hearts coach Wade Okamura. "She's really effective out there and is a tough pitcher to hit. When you do have the opportunity, you need to come through."

Waracka allowed only a single to center by Meleina Fraga in the first and a bad-hop single to shortstop by Raecha Kauaikaua in the sixth. Her lone walk was in the seventh when the rain started to fall steadily.

"She really hit her spots," Kalakau said. "I think the rain played a key for that walk because the ball was a little slippery."

Sacred Hearts' Eugenio allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out four.

In the fourth, Millwood lined a ball off Eugenio's left in-step, but it rolled to the third baseman, who threw to first for the out. Eugenio threw a couple of warm-up pitches and continued.

"She kept it together," Okamura said. "I know she was disappointed with her hitting (0 for 3) today, but still was mentally tough enough to go out there and pitch a good game."

Tamura wasn't happy with the Warriors' offense. All seven of their hits were singles.

"It's hard for us to lose when they score zero," Tamura said. "We need to score more runs. We can't be getting by with just one run. We have to hit the ball more."

Kamehameha rebounded from its first loss of the season: a 4-3, eight-inning defeat to Maryknoll on April 5.

"It shows our character, how we come back after a loss," Waracka said.

SACRED HEARTS (4-4) 000 000 00—0 2 0

KAMEHAMEHA (7-1) 000 000 01—1 7 0

One out when winning run scored.

Joslyn Eugenio and Chelsea Kamai. Amber Waracka and Mai Kalakau. W — Waracka. L — Eugenio.

Leading hitters — Kamehameha: Kalakau 2-4; Melissa Awa 2-3.

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

'IOLANI 5, ST. FRANCIS 4

Kylie Ahlo's line drive off the third baseman's glove scored Raechele Takara with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth as the Raiders (4-4) beat the Troubadours (3-5) at Ala Wai field.

Takara walked to start the eighth, was sacrificed to second by Kaili Taniguchi and reached third on Jana Tokuhama's ground out.

ST. FRANCIS (3-5) 300 010 00—4 9 2

'IOLANI (4-4) 012 100 01—5 13 1

Two outs when winning run scored.

Ashley Smith and Caitlin Basilio. Kelly Imada and Kai Masutani. W — Imada. L — Smith.

Leading hitters — St. Francis: Ululani Reyes 2-3; Brianna Tovio-Asato 2-4, 2 RBIs; Kelcee Santos 2-3, 2 RBIs. 'Iolani: Kim Souza 3-4; Kryn Masutani 2-3; Kai Masutani 2-4, 2 RBIs; Jana Tokuhama 2-4; Kelli Ann Lum 2-4; Kylie Ahlo 2-5.

Reported by Lance Watanabe

MARYKNOLL 4, PUNAHOU 3

Ariel Silva scattered six hits and struck out five, and the Spartans (5-3) scored four runs on five hits in the fourth inning to beat the Buffanblu (2-6) at Mo'ili'ili Field. Maryknoll's Silva, Shay Shibata, Kimi Okaneku and Joni Shimomura had two hits apiece.

PUNAHOU (2-6) 000 102 0—3 6 0

MARYKNOLL (5-3) 000 400 0—4 10 1

Sara Nishikawa and Taylor Yamaguchi. Ariel Silva and Kimi Okaneku W — Silva. L — Nishikawa.

Leading hitters — Punahou: Kellie Miyahira double. Maryknoll: Shay Shibata 2-4; Silva 2-2 double, triple, RBI; Okaneku 2-3, run; Joni Shimomura 2-3, run.

Reported by John Uekawa

PAC-FIVE 9, MID-PACIFIC 5

Angie Yoshizu drove in two runs, and Shante Tesoro, Sammy Ford and Keline Yoshimura had two hits apiece as the Wolfpack (5-3) scored eight runs in the first inning and beat the Owls (2-6) at Ala Wai field.

MID-PACIFIC (2-6) 111 110 0—5 9 3

PAC-FIVE (5-3) 800 100 X—9 10 3

Tori Hamura, Desi Dung (1) and Jaydi Kochi. Sheridan Mahelona, Annie Lariosa (4) and Britney Hagihara. W — Mahelona. L — Hamura.

Leading hitters — Mid-Pacific: Corrie Murashige 2-3; Kim Onishi 2-4, triple, 2 runs. Pac-Five: Shante Tesoro 2-4, double, 2 runs; Sammy Ford 2-4; Keline Yoshimura 2-4; Angie Yoshizu triple, 2 RBIs.

Reported by Mark Yoshizu

OIA

CASTLE 3, KAILUA 2

Chandelle Dacosin scattered eight hits, and sister Ryanne Dacosin batted 3 for 4 with a double, triple and two RBIs as the visiting Knights (6-2) beat the Surfriders (4-4).

CASTLE (6-2) 100 000 11—3 8 0

KAILUA (4-4) 200 000 00—2 8 3

Chandelle Dacosin and Kelsea Berinobis. Krista Dumandan and Shelby Lono. W — C. Dacosin. L — Dumandan.

Leading hitters — Castle: Ryanne Dacosin 3-4, double, triple, 2 runs; Leisha Liilii double. Kailua:

Lono 2-4, double, 2 RBIs, Sola Williams 2-2.