Kaua'i softball coach Darrell Borrero has such a potent offense he pretty much just waits for the big inning.

After a feeling-out process yesterday against Kaiser, the wait ended in the fourth.

Kaua'i scored five runs on four hits in the fourth in a 7-3 victory over Kaiser in the semifinals of the Data House Softball Division II State Championships at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

"We have a good hitting team 1 through 9," Borrero said. "It's just a matter of time. We haven't faced these pitchers before, so after three innings we knew what she had and we kind of zoned in on her pitches."

Kaua'i, the DII runner-up the past two seasons, will play Waialua for the title today at 5 p.m. at RWSS.

"We've been here twice already," Borrero said. "We know what we need to do. We just need to execute."

Kaua'i, the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion and No. 1 seed, broke a 2-2 tie against Kaiser with its five-run fourth.

No. 8 batter Carly Matsumoto drew a lead-off walk, was sacrificed to second and scored on a single to center by Alyssa Carvalho, who took second on the throw home. Naja Pungan followed with an RBI triple to right, Wailana Borrero had a run-scoring double to right-center and Jessica Iwata had an RBI double to left-center. Iwata capped the scoring by advancing to third on a wild pitch and coming home on a throwing error by the catcher.

"Once one player goes, our team spirit reaches high,'" Carvalho said. "We get each other pumped up. It's kind of contagious."

Kaiser starter Kayla Alcoran allowed four runs in the inning, and Jesse Hathaway allowed one.

"It's hard luck on Kayla," said Kaiser coach Deanedra Kahunahana. "The other team, Kaua'i, they just came around with their bats this time and just found holes. They came out swinging."

Wailana Borrero, the coach's daughter, allowed five hits, three runs (two earned) with two walks and four strikeouts.

"For some reason, she feels much more comfortable pitching in this stadium," Borrero said. "As a child, when she was 8 years old, her dream was always to play in this stadium, and fortunately, all four years in her high school career she had a chance to play over here."

Kaua'i (13-1) took a 2-0 lead in the second on Carvalho's two-out, two-run single through the hole on the right side.

Carvalho, the lead-off hitter, finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and three RBIs.

"Coach told me to be confident in there," Carvalho said. "That's what I kind of struggled with, striking out in previous game. I told myself to hit the ball normally and I just made contact."

Kaiser (14-2-1), the O'ahu Interscholastic Association runner-up, tied it in the third on an RBI double by Amy Austin, who scored on a single by Krysta Yasui and throwing error by the center fielder.

KAISER (14-2-1) 002 010 0 — 3 5 1

KAUA'I (13-1) 020 500 X — 7 9 4

Kayla Alcoran, Jesse Hathaway (4) and Chelsy Okuma. Wailana Borrero and Carly Matsumoto. W — Borrero. L — Alcoran.

Leading hitter—Kaiser: Amy Austin double; Krysta Yasui 2-4, double; Okuma double. Kaua'i: Alyssa Carvalho 2-4, 3 RBIs; Naja Pungan triple; Borrero 2-3, double; Jessica Iwata double; Jori Jasper double.

WAIALUA 2, KS-HAWAI'I 0

It's near the end of the season, and Waialua's Marissa Keao is hitting her "peak time."

Keao, a senior right-hander, pitched a two-hitter with seven strikeouts, and the Bulldogs scored twice in the sixth to beat the Warriors.

"She's getting the rhythm," said Waialua coach Jay Keao. "She's in the rhythm since the end of the season. This is her peak time right now. We're trying to work on her location and she's hitting her spots well right now."

Waialua, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion and No. 2 seed, will play Kaua'i in today's final. The Bulldogs have never won a state softball title.

"It's just an honor and a privilege," Jay Keao said. "It's one of the first times in history that softball went this far. We thank the community for being that extra player for us, and our bench that committed itself."

Keao allowed an infield single in the second and a single to center in the sixth against Kamehameha-Hawai'i, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion and No. 3 seed.

Keao walked one and another Kamehameha-Hawai'i batter reached on an error.

"We've faced pitchers that threw a little harder than her, but we just had trouble trying to track her ball," said Kamehameha-Hawai'i coach Toni Kaui.

Keao was aided by two double plays so she faced only 23 batters — two over the minimum.

"My riser, my outside and my inside. That's all I threw," Keao said.

Keao also played a part in the Bulldogs' rally in the sixth.

In a 6-0 quarterfinal victory over 'Aiea the previous day, Keao tossed a five-hitter with 10 strikeouts.

Alyssiah Hernandez drew a lead-off walk, and was replaced by courtesy runner Chelsea Almeida. Keao followed with a hit to right-center, and the Warriors second baseman dropped the throw from the center fielder, which allowed Almeida to score and Keao to advance to third.

Jay Keao said his daughter had been in a slump at the plate recently.

"I just had faith in myself, believed I could do it," Keao said. "I told my dad I could do it and I put the bat on the ball."

After a strikeout, Courtney Kilday singled to right to score Aulani Herrod, a courtesy runner for Keao.

Kamehameha-Hawai'i freshman Kiani Wong also pitched well.

She allowed five hits, walked four and struck out seven.

WAIALUA (13-1-1) 000 002 0 — 2 5 1

KS-HAWAI'I (11-3) 000 000 0 — 0 2 2

Marissa Keao and Alyssiah Hernandez. Kiani Wong and Kaala Ahu. W — Keao. L — Wong.