WAHIAWA — An early start helped the Campbell High School softball team improve its postseason standing.

Breanne Patton pitched a three-hitter and Leinna Kalua homered as Campbell defeated Leilehua, 7-1, in a key O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West softball game yesterday afternoon.

"It's a big win," Campbell coach David Perreira said. "We're trying to fight for that second seed and get the first-round bye."

The Sabers (8-3), ranked fourth in The Advertiser's statewide poll of coaches and media, remain in the hunt for the Red West's top two seeds for the upcoming playoffs. Fifth-ranked Kapolei (7-3) faces top-ranked and league leader Mililani (9-1) today in another Red West game with postseason seeding implications. The top two teams will receive a first-round bye.

"The whole team, we wouldn't be here (without them)," Kalua said. "It's not individuals, it's a team."

After its leadoff hitter popped out in the top of the first inning, Campbell loaded the bases with three consecutive walks. Chanel Baligaui then followed with a two-run double to start a big inning for the Sabers.

The Sabers scored four more runs, including Gerika Pantohan's two-run single that made it 6-0. Campbell sent 10 batters to the plate in the first.

From there, Patton's pitching allowed few opportunities for No. 6 Leilehua (8-4). She finished the game with five strikeouts and was backed by a solid defense that's helping the team turn its season around.

"I think we're improving," Patton said. "We had a rough start but we're back as a team."

Alex Smith, who entered the pitching circle for Leilehua in the top of the second inning, also held the Sabers in check the rest of the way, allowing four hits and striking out five. Smith gave up her only run to Kalua, who homered in the top of the fourth to make it 7-0.

Kalua said the pitch was a curveball on the outside. Her two-out shot kept rolling in centerfield as she rounded the bases at Ka'ala Elementary School, where the softball field has no outfield fence. The field is located behind the school and has an all-grass infield except for dirt in the pitching circle and around the bases.

"I didn't think it would go that far," Kalua said. "I saw coach and he said to keep running."

Kristen Campogan tripled to center field to lead off the bottom of the sixth for the Mules. Two outs later, Chasea Crawford drove in Campogan on her single to left field that made it 7-1.

Campbell second baseman Nicole Arata ended the game on a double play in the bottom of the seventh. With Leilehua's Amber McGraw at first, Kaylen Ynigues popped out to Arata, who threw to first base to get McGraw off the bag.

After the game, Leilehua honored its seniors with lei and gifts as each senior took a final run around the bases. Crawford, who avoided Smith's attempt to douse her with a cooler at home plate, said she'll miss her teammates the most.

"They're great," Crawford said.

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2451.

CAMPBELL (8-3) 600 100 0—7 8 4

LEILEHUA (8-4) 000 001 0—1 3 1

Breanne Patton and Anu Yamaguchi. Kaylen Ynigues, Alex Smith (2) and Chasea Crawfrod. W — Patton. L — Ynigues.

Leading hitters — Campbell: Leinna Kalua 2-3, homer, 2 runs; Gerika Pantohan 2-3, double, RBI. Leilehua: Kristen Campogan triple.

Reported by Stacy Araki

OIA RED

PEARL CITY 9, 'AIEA 3

Lauren Fujisaki tossed a four-hitter and batted 3 for 4, and Maya Nagata drove in three runs as the host Chargers (2-9) beat Na Ali'i (0-11). Brooke Kamahiai and Nagata had two hits apiece for Pearl City. Fujisaki struck out three batters in her complete-game victory.

'AIEA (0-11) 000 021 0—3 4 5

PEARL CITY (2-9) 010 125 X—9 12 3

Marcelle Hiruko, Rayna Strom-Okimoto (5) and Kori Nishi. Lauren Fujisaki and Maya Nagata. W — Fujisaki. L — Hiruko.

Leading hitters — Pearl City: Fujisaki 3-4, 2 runs; Brooke Kamahiai 2-3, 2 runs; Nagata 2-4, 2 runs, 3 RBIs.

Reported by Keoke Behic

OIA RED EAST

MOANALUA 11, KALAHEO 1

Sarah Robinson struck out 10 and went 2 for 4 at the plate to lead Na Menehune (10-1) over the Mustangs (1-10) at Aikahi Field. Caira Pires hit a home run for Kalaheo.

MOANALUA (10-1) 313 22—11 10 0

KALAHEO (1-10) 100 00— 1 3 0

Sarah Robinson and Kylee Oshiro. Kara Holtzman and Hiilea Olson. W — Robinson. L — Holtzman.

Leading hitters — Moanalua: Robinson 2-4; Britni Ronolo 2-3. Kalaheo: Caira Pires homer; Liliuokalani Cabral double.

Reported by Alan Cofran

ROOSEVELT 17, KALANI 5

Tiana Sugui hit two doubles, drove in three runs and scored three times to lead the Rough Riders (7-5) over the Falcons (1-10) at Stevenson Middle School. Cierra Kapea went 2 for 4 and scored three times for Roosevelt.

KALANI (1-10) 011 03— 5 3 4

ROOSEVELT (7-5) 053 36—17 18 3

Chelsea Yamamoto and Kristi Belshe. Lianna Bajarin and Kamalei Pitoy. W — Bajarin. L — Yamamoto.

Leading hitters — Roosevelt: Charisse Tanabe 3-4, 2 runs; Paika Frank 2-4, double; Pitoy 3-4, 2 runs; Lindsay Takekawa 3-4, double, 3 runs; Tiana Sugui 2-4, 2 doubles, 3 runs, 3 RBIs; Cierra Kapea 2-4, 3 runs.

Reported by Christina Johnston

OIA WHITE

MCKINLEY 5, 'ANUENUE 3

Kylie Sato went 2 for 3 and drove in a run and Trudy Hong tripled and drove in another run as the host Tigers (4-6) beat Na Koa (0-11). Kaena Kirkland went 2 for 4 with two RBIs for 'Anuenue.

'ANUENUE (0-11) 000 120 0—3 7 2

MCKINLEY (4-6) 100 121 X—5 5 4

Kala Lewis and Kaena Kirkland. Rachel Ragus and Trudy Hong. W — Ragus. L — Lewis.

Leading hitters — 'Anuenue: Lewis 2-4; Kirkland 2-4, 2 RBIs. McKinley: Kylie Sato 2-3, RBI; Hong triple, RBI.

Reported by Gloria Hong

FARRINGTON 14, KAISER 4

Amber Sales went 4 for 5 with two RBIs and Kinciana Ngiralmau went 3 for 5 with a triple and drove in two runs to lead the visiting Governors (8-4) over the Cougars (8-3). Chelsy Okuma went 2 for 4 and drove in a run for Kaiser.

FARRINGTON (8-4) 322 421—14 16 5

KAISER (8-3) 101 200— 4 5 3

Felicia Tui and Kinciana Ngiralmau. Kayla Alcoran and Chelsy Okuma. W — Tui. L — Alcoran.

Leading hitters — Farrington: Amber Sales 4-5, double, 2 RBIs; Ngiralmau 3-5, triple, 2 RBIs; Chanel Scanlan-Sevao 3-5. Kaiser: Okuma 2-4, RBI.

Reported by Veronica Perreira

ILH

KAMEHAMEHA 2, PAC-FIVE 1

Amber Waracka struck out 11 and earned the victory as the Warriors (10-1) beat the Wolfpack (6-5) at Ala Wai field. Joedee Lovell went 1 for 3 and drove in a run for Pac-Five.

KAMEHAMEHA (10-1) 100 100 0—2 6 2

PAC-FIVE (6-5) 000 100 0—1 7 1

Amber Waracka and Mai Kalakau. Sheridan Mahelona and Britany Hagihara. W — Waracka. L — Mahelona.

Leading hitters — Kamehameha: Kalakau 1-3 RBI; Ashley Morisako 2-3, run; Marche Llanos 1-2, RBI. Pac-Five: Joedee Lovell 1-3, RBI; Angie Yoshizu 2-3; Sammy Ford 2-3.

Reported by Randy Tamura

MARYKNOLL 3, 'IOLANI 1

Kori Nishitomi drove in the winning run in the top of the eighth inning as the Spartans (7-4) scored twice in the inning to beat the Red Raiders (5-6) at Ala Wai field. Kai Masutani went 3 for 4 for 'Iolani.

MARYKNOLL (7-4) 000 000 12—3 8 1

'IOLANI (5-6) 000 100 00—1 8 0

Ariel Silva and Kimi Okaneku. Brittney Guro, Kelly Imada (8) and Kai Masutani. W — Silva. L — Guro.

Leading hitters — Maryknoll: Kori Nishitomi 2-4; Joni Shimomura 2-4. 'Iolani: Jana Tokuhama 2-4, double; Masutani 3-4; Shanna Tashiro 2-3.

Reported by John Uekawa

SACRED HEARTS 13, PUNAHOU 6

Chelsea Kamai went 3 for 4 with a triple and three RBIs and Laura Abellanida also went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs to lead the Lancers (6-5) over the Buffanblu (2-9) at Crane Park. Taylor Yamauchi went 2 for 3 for Punahou.

PUNAHOU (2-9) 002 040 0— 6 7 3

SACRED HEARTS (6-5) 202 207 X—13 15 4

Sara Nishikawa and Taylor Yamauchi. Joslyn Eugenio, Corry Abellanida (5), Eugenio (5) and Chelsea Kamai. W — Eugenio. L — Nishikawa.

Leading hitters — Punahou: Yamauchi 2-3; Shaena Kuehu 2-3. Sacred Hearts: Tai Vegas 2-4, 2 RBIs; Kamai 3-4, triple, 3 RBIs; Eugenio 2-4, triple; Laura Abellanida 3-4, 3 RBIs.

Reported by Chester Hirano

ST. FRANCIS 7, MID-PACIFIC 3

Chelsea Kaluhiokalani and Ululani Reyes each drove in two runs to lead the Troubadors (6-5) over the Owls at Kamamalu Field.

MID-PACIFIC (2-9) 000 000 3—3 4 4

ST. FRANCIS (6-5) 000 142 X—7 8 3

Desi Dung, Tori Hamura (6) and Kaydi Kochi. Pitisi Tualau, Jessica Tang (7), Ashley Smith (7) and Briana Tovio-Asato. W — Tualau. L — Dung.

Leading hitters — St. Francis: Smith 2-3; Chelsea Kaluhiokalani 2 RBIs; Ululani Reyes 2 RBIs.

Reported by Jenny Scott